BMW Assist Satellite based? or "cell" based?

Ghunger · 11-30-2005, 09:31 PM

Title pretty much spells it out. I did a quick search and didn't come up with info. Another thread kind of made me wonder about it because if it's cell based then there must be some agreement with one or more cell phone companies but if it's satellite based it would be a very valuble feature so you could get reception most anywhere you can see the sky.

JSpira · 11-30-2005, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghunger

Title pretty much spells it out. I did a quick search and didn't come up with info. Another thread kind of made me wonder about it because if it's cell based then there must be some agreement with one or more cell phone companies but if it's satellite based it would be a very valuble feature so you could get reception most anywhere you can see the sky.

Both actually. Assist uses GPS (which is satellite based) to determine your location.
Voice and data are transmitted via a mobile phone operator.

LEDZEP · 11-30-2005, 09:34 PM

I believe it is cellular. I wish it were satellite based, but I don't think it is. There is actually a cell phone built into the car that the Assist system uses. The antena is in the dorsal fin.

Ghunger · 11-30-2005, 09:54 PM

Darn, was hoping it might be a satellite phone, oh well, thanks for the info.

LEDZEP · 11-30-2005, 10:04 PM

I'm not the ultimate authority, and maybe I'm wrong... but I think it's cell based. Anyone know differently?

JSpira · 11-30-2005, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

I'm not the ultimate authority, and maybe I'm wrong... but I think it's cell based. Anyone know differently?

As I explained a few posts up, Assist uses satellite to determine a vehicle´s position, but a mobile operator (Verizon specifically) for voice and data transmission.

LEDZEP · 11-30-2005, 10:21 PM

Yeah, I was referring to the communication (voice) part. Thanks for the additional info on the carrier.

JSpira · 11-30-2005, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

Yeah, I was referring to the communication (voice) part. Thanks for the additional info on the carrier.

Carrier info is not something BMW admits, and they´ve asked me to omit it from articles. It is a well-known fact, however, so discussing it here doesn´t bother me.

coco · 11-30-2005, 10:32 PM

Cool info JSpira. I was wondering about this just yesteday. Thx.

JSpira · 11-30-2005, 10:42 PM

Bitte bitte.

Happy to anticipate what you were thinking about.

06graphite · 12-01-2005, 06:30 AM

Thanks Jonathan. I always wondered who the provider was.

You mention that they've asked you to not include it in articles. Do you write for a car mag?

JSpira · 12-01-2005, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 06graphite

You mention that they've asked you to not include it in articles. Do you write for a car mag?

I write several syndicated columns on technology as well as feature stories for the BMW Roundel.

Frank_NJ · 12-01-2005, 08:42 AM

Voice is cellular and location via gps. The dorsil fin is used as the antenna and also a bumper antenna in the event that the dorsal is damaged in a rollover collision by what was explained to me.

11-30-2005, 09:31 PM	#1
Ghunger Major 52 Rep 1,024 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	BMW Assist Satellite based? or "cell" based? Title pretty much spells it out. I did a quick search and didn't come up with info. Another thread kind of made me wonder about it because if it's cell based then there must be some agreement with one or more cell phone companies but if it's satellite based it would be a very valuble feature so you could get reception most anywhere you can see the sky.
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11-30-2005, 09:34 PM	#3
LEDZEP Lieutenant General 418 Rep 12,276 Posts Drives: 2009 E70 & 2011 F25 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X3 35i M Sport [7.62] 2009 X5 M Sport [0.00] 2007 328xi E90 [0.00] 2006 325xiT E91 [0.00]	I believe it is cellular. I wish it were satellite based, but I don't think it is. There is actually a cell phone built into the car that the Assist system uses. The antena is in the dorsal fin. __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious
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11-30-2005, 09:54 PM	#4
Ghunger Major 52 Rep 1,024 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	Darn, was hoping it might be a satellite phone, oh well, thanks for the info.
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11-30-2005, 10:04 PM	#5
LEDZEP Lieutenant General 418 Rep 12,276 Posts Drives: 2009 E70 & 2011 F25 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X3 35i M Sport [7.62] 2009 X5 M Sport [0.00] 2007 328xi E90 [0.00] 2006 325xiT E91 [0.00]	I'm not the ultimate authority, and maybe I'm wrong... but I think it's cell based. Anyone know differently? __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious
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11-30-2005, 10:21 PM	#7
LEDZEP Lieutenant General 418 Rep 12,276 Posts Drives: 2009 E70 & 2011 F25 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X3 35i M Sport [7.62] 2009 X5 M Sport [0.00] 2007 328xi E90 [0.00] 2006 325xiT E91 [0.00]	Yeah, I was referring to the communication (voice) part. Thanks for the additional info on the carrier. __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious
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11-30-2005, 10:32 PM	#9
coco Second Lieutenant 14 Rep 284 Posts Drives: Bimmmer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Cool info JSpira. I was wondering about this just yesteday. Thx.
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11-30-2005, 10:42 PM	#10
JSpira Freude am Fahren 336 Rep 5,254 Posts Drives: Fünfer, Dreier, + Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: New York, München, Wien iTrader: (1)	Bitte bitte. Happy to anticipate what you were thinking about. __________________ Freude am Fahren. Jonathan E90 2006 330xi E90 2006 325i E39 2003 530i Sport* E46 2000 328Ci* E36 1996 328iS* E36 1992 325i* E30 1991 318is E21 1982 320iS* E21 1979 320 (6-Zyl)* *retired Nominated: Most Contributing Member
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12-01-2005, 06:30 AM	#11
06graphite Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 226 Posts Drives: '07 328xi Coupe Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Plainville, MA iTrader: (0)	Thanks Jonathan. I always wondered who the provider was. You mention that they've asked you to not include it in articles. Do you write for a car mag?
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12-01-2005, 08:42 AM	#13
Frank_NJ ///M Specialist 561 Rep 1,499 Posts Drives: E30 M3, E52 Z8, G83 M4Cx Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NJ Shore iTrader: (0)	Voice is cellular and location via gps. The dorsil fin is used as the antenna and also a bumper antenna in the event that the dorsal is damaged in a rollover collision by what was explained to me. __________________ 2023 M340ix my Daily Driver G83 M4CV, F80 M3 CS, E30 M3, Z8, other various BMW's Ferrari F8
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