Sat Nav/Phone: Is the Apple Iphone icompatible with Volvo Bluetooth kit

[Ronald Moonlight]

Is anyone aware of incompatability between the Apple Iphone and the Volvo Bluetooth car kit. We are having all sorts of problems; Iphone disconnects in middle of call, won't connect on entering the car, pressing the round blue button has no effect (all these faults are intermittent). Other full time faults are; "transmit audio" broken/poor audio received by person you are calling "receive audio" very muffled/all bass. We had the Volvo after market Bluetooth kit fitted by the main agent and they say either the phone is incompatible or the unit is faulty. I would have though Volvo would have been aware of any incompatability between the Apple Iphone and their Bluetooth kit. Do any other Iphone owners experience similar problems or are aware of any incompatability issues. I have heard the Iphone through a Parrot hands free kit (not in a Volvo) and it sounds fine all round.

Ron

[mikealder]

I use iPhone in my V70 fitted with an iO-Play handsfree kit (this hardware is written up in one of my blogs) Not really a true Volvo solution but it works very well indeed, I have had comments from others that you cannot even realise it's a handsfree call in progress - Mike

[Chaddie]

Well I thinking of buying one of the NEW G3S iPhone when they come out, so I'm really interested in know 100% for sure that iPhones will work with Volvo's built in Bluetooth Hands Free System, I've been told they do and that they don't.

Also if you have it connected to the AUX / USB connection and are playing music, what happens if you get a call?

I know maybe a stupid question, but never had an iPhone so just checking it will work as a phone & music player at the sametime (or music stop and continue after the call).


Thanks

Chaddie

[mikealder]

Until the iPhone gets the A2DP support playing music to any Bluetooth kit isn't possible without a third party add on hardware, roll on next Wednesday when we should get certain improvements and possibly A2DP.

As for the official Volvo kit I have no idea as to what it can do or support, all I hope for is my aftermarket installed kit will work better (specific to the iPhone) following the OS3 roll out next week - Mike

[4wheeldriver]

Originally Posted by Ronald Moonlight

Is anyone aware of incompatability between the Apple Iphone and the Volvo Bluetooth car kit. We are having all sorts of problems; Iphone disconnects in middle of call, won't connect on entering the car, pressing the round blue button has no effect (all these faults are intermittent). Other full time faults are; "transmit audio" broken/poor audio received by person you are calling "receive audio" very muffled/all bass. We had the Volvo after market Bluetooth kit fitted by the main agent and they say either the phone is incompatible or the unit is faulty. I would have though Volvo would have been aware of any incompatability between the Apple Iphone and their Bluetooth kit. Do any other Iphone owners experience similar problems or are aware of any incompatability issues. I have heard the Iphone through a Parrot hands free kit (not in a Volvo) and it sounds fine all round.

Ron

HAd similar occassional probs of the same ilk with my Blackberry 9000 and the volvo bluetooth. Used to cut out mid call and sometimes go like a dalek for no reason. Wasnt that often though fotunately.

[Ronald Moonlight]

Originally Posted by 4wheeldriver

HAd similar occassional probs of the same ilk with my Blackberry 9000 and the volvo bluetooth. Used to cut out mid call and sometimes go like a dalek for no reason. Wasnt that often though fotunately.

Thanks for the info 4WD, how was your audio on transmit and receive. What I really need is other XC90 D5 Iphone users to (please) comment on audio quality and cut-out problems (if any) similar to ours. If it turns out to be an incompatibility issue then Volvo should not have installed the kit (goods sold must be "fit for purpose"), bearing in mind the the Iphone has been around a few years now.

[Ronald Moonlight]

Originally Posted by mikealder

Until the iPhone gets the A2DP support playing music to any Bluetooth kit isn't possible without a third party add on hardware, roll on next Wednesday when we should get certain improvements and possibly A2DP.

As for the official Volvo kit I have no idea as to what it can do or support, all I hope for is my aftermarket installed kit will work better (specific to the iPhone) following the OS3 roll out next week - Mike

Mike Hi,
Let me know how your kit works with the Iphone (excuse my ignorence what's an OS3). Trouble is Volvo will only replace (if defective) the existing with the same and if it is an incompatibility problem then it's down to the Iphone and my problem. They said if there is a compatibility issue and I want to use a non Volvo kit then I have to pay the cost of the non Volvo kit on top of the £259 (approx) paid for the original Volvo Bluetooth unit if that kit is found be okay. I have heard the Iphone through the Parrot CK3100 and it sounds fine.

[Ronald Moonlight]

Originally Posted by Chaddie

Well I thinking of buying one of the NEW G3S iPhone when they come out, so I'm really interested in know 100% for sure that iPhones will work with Volvo's built in Bluetooth Hands Free System, I've been told they do and that they don't.

Also if you have it connected to the AUX / USB connection and are playing music, what happens if you get a call?

I know maybe a stupid question, but never had an iPhone so just checking it will work as a phone & music player at the sametime (or music stop and continue after the call).


Thanks

Chaddie

Hi Chaddie, If you have yet to buy a 3G bear in mind the it has very poor battery life compared with the original Iphone.
Ron

[mikealder]

Ron, OS3 is the new operating system upgrade for the iPhone due to be released next Wednesday and should be a free upgrade to the phone. This OS3 adds the Bluetooth A2DP profile to the phone as well as quite a few other enhancements such as "cut and paste" Once A2DP is available my iO-Play unit will work fine for streaming music from the phone via Bluetooth to the car kit in addition to using it for hands free.

As it currently stands for Hands Free I use the iPhone with the iO-Play without any issues at all, but to play music needs an extra addaptor, once OS3 is available the extra addaptor won't be required. The iO-Play unit is £127 retail although you can find it for sale for under £70, its the best car hands free kit I have used and can store up to five different device connections, although it only supports connection to two devices at the same time, this is usually my TomTom and iPhone.
Only downside is the iO unit requires to connect to the existing stereo via ISO connectors which the Volvo built in decks don't use, I have an aftermarket stereo fitted which does use ISO plugs and got the necessary addaptor cable from the Volvo plugs from Halfords for around £20 - Mike

[Ronald Moonlight]

Originally Posted by mikealder

Ron, OS3 is the new operating system upgrade for the iPhone due to be released next Wednesday and should be a free upgrade to the phone. This OS3 adds the Bluetooth A2DP profile to the phone as well as quite a few other enhancements such as "cut and paste" Once A2DP is available my iO-Play unit will work fine for streaming music from the phone via Bluetooth to the car kit in addition to using it for hands free.

As it currently stands for Hands Free I use the iPhone with the iO-Play without any issues at all, but to play music needs an extra addaptor, once OS3 is available the extra addaptor won't be required. The iO-Play unit is £127 retail although you can find it for sale for under £70, its the best car hands free kit I have used and can store up to five different device connections, although it only supports connection to two devices at the same time, this is usually my TomTom and iPhone.
Only downside is the iO unit requires to connect to the existing stereo via ISO connectors which the Volvo built in decks don't use, I have an aftermarket stereo fitted which does use ISO plugs and got the necessary addaptor cable from the Volvo plugs from Halfords for around £20 - Mike

Hi Mike, I don't think the other half (it's her car) will take kindly to having to buy the bits and have the works carreid out the works by an independant given she paid for and expected a quality system. She spends a lot of time traveling and keeps losing business clients mid conversation, not good. The fault is intermittent and as such unlikely to occur whilst with Volvo (sods law). I'll let everyone know the out-come once/if resolved by Volvo.
Thanks Again
Ron