Hi Arie,
Here is the latest news on the phones. I will keep you
posted.
When will the Digital CPT8000 be available?
The phone will be available early 2001 at BMW centers
nationwide. We are finalizing telephone software with the
four carriers and are currently in the manufacturing process
for the vehicle components. In a few weeks, we will provide
more detailed information on an exact launch date. This
information will be broadcast as a BMW center bulletin.
Will voice activation be available with the new Digital
CPT8000?
Though voice activation is not a function of the CPT8000
phone system, BMW plans to offer a voice activation module
that is 100% compatible with the Digital CPT8000.
Please note that voice activation is a standard feature on
the E38 and Z8. While not a function of the CPT8000 system,
it can be purchased separately and added to your phone
system. (E38 is a 740)
Can BMW clients get on-rate calling plans with the new
Digital CPT8000 phone system?
Yes. All four carriers (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint PCS, Cingular)
offer . one rate. and . all in one. type calling plans on
either a regional or national basis. Please consult each
carrier for specific and up-to-date information on rate
plans.
Is it possible to retrofit this new Digital CPT8000 into
older model year BMW vehicles?
The Digital CPT 8000 will be available for the 5 Series and 7
Series vehicles produced after January 2000; 3 Series
vehicles produced after June 2000; and X5 vehicles produced
after September 2000.
Have a great day!
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Sales Support
This means that they'll have phones for TDMA, CDMA, and GSM... its about time!
We know that's the 8000 phone requires a new installation kit. Todate, all Statacs, analog or digital, were using the same electrical and mechanical (connectors, plastic), interfaces.. Which leads me to believe that the now phone is not a Startac form factor.
Originally posted by GaryT: are BMW dealer taking pre-orders for the phone already ?
I called my dealer in Indy yesterday they said they just got word Tues of this week that the CPT 8000 phones would be available mid Feb and they put my name on a list for me to purchase. No pricing or other info is available yet. I was the second person they put on the list. Hmm??
On the Motorola web page, the 8000 series is shown, and looks to me like a Startac format. The 8000 series has been available through venders for some time now, so I suspect the "parts" that BMW is talking about is the install kit and the programming unique to this application.
Interesting findings concerning CPT 8000.
Just picked up my partner's CPT 8000 and had it activated. Thought I'd try out a few tests with it.
1 - Seems the Clip-on organizer for the Motorola Startac (CPT 7000) works with the Timeport (CPT 8000)as well. Was able to dial out using the organizer's dial function.
2 - The car kit for the Startac AT&T digital phone works with the Timeport. All functions available to the Startac were available to the Timeport. Includes Voice Dialing, Memory recall, and Phone book. Only function not operational is the Caller ID.
For those of you waiting who have already purchased the CPT 7000 AT&T model, you could upgrade to the CPT 8000 and just wait for the new kit to be released for the rest of the functions to be operational. I am thinking of doing just that this afternoon. My main reason for doing so is BMW's statement that they are phazing out the CPT 7000 series. I don't want to get stuck.
Mark
'00 Dinan M5
'01 X5 4.4 Sport
[This message has been edited by MarkM5Lauderdale (edited 06 February 2001).]
I cannot figure out the advantage of putting in a TDMA CPT 8000 compared to the 7797 I have now. Seems to only be a different color, or am I missing something? I even saw a post where someone thought the silver color did not look as good mounted in the car compared to black. It seems the CDMA version of the CPT 8000 does have a different display and some other nice features, but neither matches the new V series in size and style. See http://commerce.motorola.com/consumer/QWhtml/v60c.html.
So far the there are only two advantages for AT&T customers who have the 7797 that I can come up with.
1 - Caller ID appears on incoming calls
2 - BMW is phazing out the 7000 series. That would create replacement issues if damaged.
I know Motorola wants to sell more phones but I wish they hadn't changed the color and form factor for the CTP 8000/ TimePort. Between my wife and me we have four StarTacs, one each on our person and one each in our respective cars. We also have a number of desk and travel chargers and batteries that are interchangeable. With prior upgrades, such as from analog to digital StarTac, Motorola kept the same look. The new phone is not only a different color (silver), but also slightly different in size. Many of the accessories, such as the batteries, are not interchangeable with the old CTP 7000 series. I plan to stick with the old phones as long as I can -- no color screen, dual band instead of tri-band (that only helps the consolidated phone companies). I wonder if others are in the same situation.
The latest on the CPT8000 phone
Linear Mode
