the bluetooth car weblog

Bluetooth now available in Minivans

This is pretty big news, methinks - Bluetooth connectivity has made it to the Minivan segment, by way of the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country.

Specifically, for those with a family in tow, the entertainment options seem plentiful:

Entertainment features include a dual DVD, multimedia entertainment system that can play different media at the same time, MyGIG(TM) CD/DVD/HDD/MP3/satellite radio with voice-activated capability, touch screen and real-time traffic and navigation, UConnect hands-free communication system with Bluetooth(R) technology...

At any rate, it's becoming clearer and clearer that Bluetooth connectivity from both ear mounted headsets and car audio systems are becoming more and more commonplace in the U.S. market.

 

Link to 2007 Detroit Auto Show - All-New 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country Minivans Raise the Bar for the Minivan Segment

Verizon Wireless Bluetooth Car Kit/Accessory Support Matrix

Verizon Wireless has an excellent support matrix now for all its Bluetooth phones, including PDFs of every phone, that has compatibility with each carphone kit for each firmware build.  This is really impressive, as they've enumerated support for Acura, Audi, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Infiniti, Lexus, Lincoln, Nissan, Renault, Jaguar and Toyota, and the different features they support as well.

 

This is a model every operator should follow, although an HTML version in addition to PDF would be great as well!

 

The direct links to the PDFs are provided here for convenience:

 

The charts below are for use with Verizon Wireless Bluetooth-compatible devices:*

BlackBerry®

• BlackBerry 7130e™
• BlackBerry 8703e™

Kyocera

• Kyocera v323

LG

• LG Chocolate
• LG VX5300
• LG VX8100
• LG VX8300
• LG VX8600
• LG The V
• LG enV

Motorola

• Motorola v325i
• Motorola v710
• Motorola e815
• Motorola MOTOKRZR K1m
• Motorola RAZR V3c
• Motorola RAZR V3m
• Motorola Q™

Nokia

• Nokia 2366i
• Nokia 6256i
• Nokia 6315i

Palm® Treo™

• Palm Treo 650
• Palm Treo 700w

Samsung

• Samsung SCH-i730
• Samsung SCH-i830
• Samsung SCH-a870
• Samsung SCH-a930
• Samsung SCH-a950
• Samsung SCH-a970
• Samsung SCH-a990

Verizon Wireless

• Verizon Wireless XV6700
  

 

Link to Bluetooth® Car Kit/Accessory Support Matrix

YouTube - Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Dodge Charger SRT-8

 

Jalopnik has a good video gadget review of the 2006 Dodge Charger SRT-8 that inlcudes UConnect bluetooth phone connect support. He introduces the NAV first, and you can see how the bluetooth works if you go 4:18 into the video.

Source: YouTube - Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Dodge Charger SRT-8

2006 Pacifica includes UConnect

Not much here, just an announcement.

A New Wave of Pacifica Rolls Ashore: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

2007 Jeep Compass to include UConnect

UConnect is an optional component in this new Jeep.

2007 Jeep Compass: official specs and photos - Autoblog

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2007 Dodge Caliber to include UConnect

More and more bluetooth connectivity in cars. Very nice.


2007 Dodge Caliber: A New Slant on One of the World's Most Competitive Segments



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Bluetooth connectivity now in Dodge sport pickups

For those of you that thought talking on your Bluetooth phone via your car's entertainment system was just for post-yuppies with Acuras, Audis, and BMWs, think again!

Chrysler has just announced availability of UConnect in its 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab and the 2006 Dodge RAM 1500.  No need to to take your phone out of your bag you throw in the tailgate - just make sure Bluetooth is turned on and talk away from the cab.  Nice.

Moto V710 works with Chrysler UConnect

a report from the field - thanks to "BKFulton" who has tested the Motorola V710 with Chrysler/Jeep UConnect and reports that everything works perfectly as designed. I have yet to see UConnect in action, but hope to soon.

UConnect is an aftermarket kit that can be installed at your Jeep Chrysler dealer - and will be available as a factory option the 2005 Jeep Cherokee models that have the controls in the rearview mirror. very cool.