Motorola and BMW Launch Phone System Now Standard on 2001 BMW 7 Series
17 January 2001
Motorola and BMW Launch Integrated Dual Band, Tri-Mode Digital Phone System Now Standard on Model Year 2001 BMW 7 SeriesIntegrated, Dual-Band Phone System Enhances Driver Comfort and Convenience DETROIT, Jan. 17 Going above and beyond customer demands for higher levels of performance and convenience, Motorola, Inc. and BMW announced today at the Detroit Auto Show that they have teamed up to introduce a new digital phone marketed as the BMW CPT 8000, which is based on the Motorola Timeport(TM), a fully integrated dual-band, multi-network system. In an agreement valued at more than $11 million annually, the phone system is now standard on all 7 Series and will become available on all other model year 2001 BMW vehicles. The sleek, lightweight and portable Timeport based phone is the latest in wireless in-vehicle communication technologies, keeping customers in touch on and off the road. Available in both Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), the digital signal strength and flexibility of this system helps provide customers with coverage and access to many national service plans including TDMA carriers, AT&T and Cingular, and CDMA carriers, Sprint and Verizon. The Timeport CDMA phone only, also comes equipped with an Internet mini-browser feature and is Motorola's first wireless phone with Tohoku Pioneer Corporation's patented Organic Electro-Luminescent technology. The green, red and blue text and icons appear on a black background, providing users with enhanced readability in most lighting conditions. "Offering the fully-integrated Timeport based CPT 8000 digital phone as standard equipment on the 7 Series demonstrates BMW's commitment to providing customers with the best technology, convenience and performance," said Hans Duenzl, vice president of engineering and aftersales for BMW of North America, LLC. "The Timeport phone was chosen as the basis for the BMW CPT 8000 because it is an innovative communication tool that is as technologically sound and sophisticated as the car itself." The system provides enhanced security features such as voice recognition technology (on certain vehicles), hands-free call sending/receiving through steering wheel controls or audio system and an audio unit control that automatically mutes the radio when sending/receiving calls. The portable Motorola Timeport phone is packed with convenience features that can also be used outside of the car including a cellular carrier-capable versatile messaging system, VibraCall(R) alert to discreetly notify users of incoming calls and the smart button feature for one-hand dialing and quick access to commonly used functions. The phone also includes a lithium ion battery and an electronic phone book holding up to 99 memory locations. Additionally, by simply docking the Timeport based CPT 8000 in its customized cradle in the armrest of the vehicle, the phone book and personal data stored in the handset seamlessly download into the vehicle's audio system. "The standardization of the new Timeport based CPT 8000 on the 7 Series exemplifies Motorola's connected car solution," said Marios Zenios, corporate vice president and general manager, Motorola Telematics Communications Group. "Motorola and BMW are enabling a new kind of driving experience by connecting cars to the world, giving drivers enhanced personal calling from an integrated phone system."