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by Swade

GM Exec – We blanked out Bluetooth (for Onstar)

September 24, 2010 in Editorial

I just wanted to note this one for the record.

I had many battles with the people at SaabUSA back in the days of GM ownership. Issues like diesel, Hirsch and one of the more common complaints, the lack of Bluetooth.

I can’t remember the excuses I was given as to why GM didn’t fit Bluetooth into US-market Saabs, but we always had knew the real reason, even if they’d never come out and say it directly – OnStar.

The new chief of OnStar, Chris Preuss, has just appeared on Autoline After Hours and whilst he’s talking about the Pontiac G8, he’s pretty much confirmed what happened with Saab as well (around 48 mins in).

The Bluetooth phenomena….it’s part of the bad old days [where] we blanked out Bluetooth because someone wanted to sell more OnStar handsfree calling minutes and it wasn’t exactly a cogent call….

Darn right, it wasn’t.

I lost track of how many people complained to me about the lack of Bluetooth availablility in the US. It stood out like the dog’s proverbials because it was available everywhere else. Eventually, we all just recognised the BS being fed and let it slide, but the issue still raised its head from time to time until Bluetooth became available around 2009.

It was a classic GM public relations management play. I just hope the new SCNA has given up the GMPR playbook, because the old one sucked. It alienated customers on a lot of occasions.

Past recognised. Non-existant apology accepted. Time to move on.

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by Swade

Question: Bluetooth and the Saab 9-3

May 25, 2010 in Saabology

UPDATE below

——

Hi all,

Work on the update is progressing well.

I thought I’d bring this question from comments on to the front page so that any of you can provide your experience to help out:

…..could someone who owns a current generation 9-3 tell me is a Bluetooth phone option worth its money? I’d like to order a 9-3 this year, and [am] thinking about adding Bluetooth to the configuration, but it costs almost 650 Euros. Several people I asked say it doesn’t work well – is that true?

A few have already chimed in via comments with their opinion on how it works (seems to go quite well, according to them).

If you’ve got any experience, please let us know.

——

As noted in comments, a large part of any operational problems appears to be concerned with phones rather than the Bluetooth system in the Saab 9-3.

Thanks to Saab99 in comments, you can access a PDF showing the various phones tested by Saab and their compatibility with the system.

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by Swade

Saab 9-3 and Bluetooth in the USA

March 16, 2007 in Archive

A funny thing happened as I was on my way to work this morning. A carrier pigeon flew down, landed on my shoulder and gently nudged my ear. He looked quite tired, but motioned toward the papers tied to his leg.
Here’s what those papers said:
———-

Subject: Revision to Bluetooth Handsfree Kit for All Saab Dealers
Bluetooth Handsfree Kit is now avalable for all new Saab 9-3 and all Saab 9-5 vehicles from MY01 onward. Bluetooth is a wireless method of transferring information between mobile telephones hands-free kits in cars, headsets, computers and other communication devices. Bluetooth is an open standard, allowing Bluetooth products from different companies to communicate with each other, all you need to ensure is that your mobile telephone is Bluetooth compatible.
Once the Bluetooth handsfree kit has been installed into the car, there is no need to dock your phone into a telephone. Just leave your phone in your bag or pocket when entering the car. Your car will automatically link with your mobile phone as soon as you turn the ignition. If you are already in a call when entering your car, the car will automatically get transferred to your car and back to your phone as you leave the vehicle.
The Bluetooth handsfree kit is voice operated and allows you to dial a number by simply speaking a number or a name. Conversations are held through the car’s audio system, which automatically mutes your radio for incoming calls and allows you to change the volume also by using the buttons on the steering wheel. All to ensure that you can keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel while driving.

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