Nokia N95 + Audi MMI + Three SIM

[JohnWin]

I just got an Audi A6 with the advanced bluetooth hook up that uses the remote SIM access Profile.

I'm not having much success in using the full functionality of this. After the hook up process, the Audi screen briefly flashes the proper symbol but then says that the phone is switched off, please switch it on. Of course, it is on already.

It then goes thru the hook up process again, and again, etc. each time the phone confirms that remote sim access is active, and each time the car says turn the phone on ! !

Has anyone any ideas about this? I read somewhere that three lock their SIM cards so that you can't use them for remote access like this. Does anyone know if this is true? After half an hour on the phone to India, I am still none the wiser from three !

Has anyone successfully hooked up an N95 to the Audi? Or has anyone successfully used any three phone in remote SIM mode?

Or any other help would be gratefully received !

[JohnWin]

Has anyone any thoughts on this?

[scsmith]

A couple of things to note:-

(1) Get your local Audi dealer to make sure your MMI system's firmware is fully up to date. They should do this for nothing, or else a minimum charge. It's only software, and they usually do any updates during a service and don't charge then.

(2) The N95 phone itself may need updated firmware. Check the Nokia website and forums.

I had similar issues with my N73. The firmware updates cured it.

I would now go one stage further. Accessing the SIM card contacts is the poor man's solution, and yesterday's technology. What you really want is for the MMI/Bluetooth integration to read the phone's internal phone book. This can be achieved, but needs a small app loaded on the phone, called "Nokia 810 Contacts Download" (http://europe.nokia.com/A4143881 - select 3rd edition). Delete BT pairings, install into the N95 and set to automatically start, then re-pair the phone with the car, and watch. Be careful though to make sure contacts in the phone have at least a firstname or surname field, or you'll just see a phone number.

[JohnWin]

That's great - thans for the advice.

Just one question - are you with 3 ?

[scsmith]

No, not with 3. I use VF.

I drive a new shape A6 3.0 TDi with MMI High, Sat Nav & Bluetooth integration, and had to sort out the syncing thing myself after getting no joy from my local Audi dealer or Audi UK Customer Services. A bit of web research (mainly on forums like this) got me the answer. I even wrote up the solution in the form of an Audi Advisory (attached) and sent it to both.

It amazes me that they don't seem to have someone who liaises with the phone OEMs to get all this stuff working seamlessly, and have a customer web portal with individual accounts that and automatically notifies them of any MMI and phone updates.

What normally happens is that Audi says it can't handle all the phone models and to contact the phone OEM, and the phone OEM says it can't handle all the cars and to contact the dealer. Considering I've paid many thousands of pounds for the car and a couple of hundred for the phone, you can guess who I think has the prime responsibility.

[scsmith]

I should quality the "with VF", whilst I use VF, my N73 was an independent buy as a sim-free (handset only) from Carphone Warehouse. I could therefore upgrade the phone's firmware using the image on the Nokia website. It's now at v4.0735.3.0.2 (press *#0000# to get version no.).

I know that the networks take somewhat longer to release new versions as they have to qualify them with their applications and services, so 3, or even VF may not have that version level available yet.