BMW is First Automaker with BlackBerry Address Book Integration
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Another First for the First Automaker to Offer Bluetooth Compatibility
BMW is obviously not concerned that BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) is embroiled in a lawsuit with patent squatter NTP that could potentially force the communications giant to pay a stiff royalty or push them out of the U.S. market, because the German brand has just announced it will be the first automaker to offer BlackBerry address book integration, in its cars.
Of course, for the time being BlackBerry integration will only be available in Canada, where the NTP lawsuit would have no jurisdiction. Other markets, including here in the U.S., are expected to follow shortly.
The news will come as a positive to the thousands of business people who use the popular push-email device, and could even swing buyers over to BMW who might otherwise be considering a new Lexus, Infiniti, Audi or Mercedes-Benz. No doubt this is what BMW Canada, an especially successful division of the worlds most popular luxury nameplate, is hoping.
“As an industry leader in technological innovations that not only enhance the driving experience, but also provide premium levels of safety, comfort and convenience, BMW is once again breaking new ground,” stated Lindsay Duffield, President and CEO, BMW Group Canada. “We are thrilled that our development of this integration in conjunction with RIM, a Canadian business success story, will provide Canadian BMW and BlackBerry owners with a world first.”
The announcement will affect all 2006 Canadian-spec BMW models equipped with BMW Assist (Bluetooth technology) from September 2005 production. Such cars will be available with full address book integration from RIMs BlackBerry 8700 series devices, allowing the convenience of making cellphone calls via on-board controls or totally hands-free voice-activation.
“BMW and BlackBerry are two high performance brands with customer bases that obviously overlap. We are very pleased to see BMW support BlackBerry handsets and further enhance usability through BMWs on-board controls,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion.
The new 8700 series is the first among BlackBerry models to offer address book pairing functionality with BMW vehicles. If you dont happen to have one of the new 8700 models then it is possible to connect through to BMW Assist with address integration being available via a free software upgrade to BlackBerry handheld code v4.1, available early next year when it is hoped U.S.-specification BMW models will be available with the upgrade. When the time comes, make sure an check with your wireless carrier for availability.
The linkup from BlackBerry devices to BMW Assist is reportedly a relatively pain free one-time operation, taking only minutes, depending on the size of an individual address book. The address book is then available through iDrive or the Multifunction Steering Wheel, with call activation by scrolling through the address book entries, steering wheel buttons and voice command, the ability to pair BlackBerry devices with multiple BMW vehicles, and the ability to pair up to four Blackberry devices with a single BMW vehicle - although this last one is limited to only one device being used at any given time.
The BlackBerry announcement follows another world first that came late in 2002; BMW being the worlds first automaker to offer Bluetooth compatibility in the automobile segment.
It should be noted that BMW Assist is now available in every Canadian BMW model, and comes standard with the 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series and X5 4.8is, and optional on 3 Series, Z4, X3, X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i for $1,100 CAD ($943 USD). It is expected to available in the same models when configured for U.S. sales.
No doubt the BMW Assist option will become much more popular with the anticipation of BlackBerry integration.
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