New Features:

The EURO countries version of the Everest platform includes the following new features:

Transmitter and receiver for dual band 900/1800 MHz GSM
Standardised platform for the following functions:
- Telephone
- Telematics (emergency call, breakdown call)
- Short Message Service (SMS text messaging)
Bluetooth module for communications with a Bluetooth handset
Bluetooth handset for communications with the TCU (Telematic Control Unit)
Secure privacy mode via Bluetooth handset using Bluetooth connection
Calling in hands-free mode (via microphone and loudspeaker)
Possibility of pairing Bluetooth-capable equipment (laptop, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), etc.) for transmitting data via the TCU (Telematic Control Unit) in the GSM mobile network.

Operation of a laptop or PDA with the TCU is currently not possible.

With option 638 "Car phone Professional", the Telematic Control Unit (TCU) is both the transceiver and the control unit.

The TCU (Telematic Control Unit) is equipped with a Bluetooth interface with a Bluetooth antenna connected.

The TCU and the Bluetooth handset communicate with each other via their Bluetooth interfaces and Bluetooth antenna.

To communicate with each other, the TCU (Telematic Control Unit) and Bluetooth handset must have been paired with each other.

The Bluetooth handset is paired with the TCU Telematic Control Unit and the Bluetooth handset communicates with the TCU using Bluetooth technology and the Bluetooth radio standard.

E39, E46, E53, E85: Bluetooth Radio Standard Bluetooth is a new short-range radio standard with which several Bluetooth-compatible units are able to communicate with each other at once. Using Bluetooth it is possible to connect up to 8 Bluetooth units to a network in a range of up to 10m. On the Telematic Control Unit (TCU), with the option 638 "Professional car phone", only a single Bluetooth handset can be coupled and participate in the communication.

NOTE: With the option 638 "Professional car phone" only Bluetooth handsets can be used. Laptops with a Bluetooth interface or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) with Bluetooth interface cannot be coupled.

Fig 1: Identifying Bluetooth Components

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Radio Frequency Bluetooth uses the licence-free, global Industrial Scientific Medical waveband (ISM) at 2.45 GHz. The frequency range from 2.402 GHz to 2.480 GHz is divided into 79 channels, each with a band-width of 1 MHz. The ISM band is freely available to everybody. The ISM band is used for medical research, for microwave ovens and for radio remote controls for garage doors systems.

NOTE: Transmission quality can be affected by environmental conditions. The transmission quality of the hands-free facility deteriorates if there are people or objects in the transmission/reception area between the Bluetooth-capable unit and the Bluetooth antenna.

To prevent disturbance in other electrical equipment and to increase security against calls being monitored (privacy mode), channels are changed 1600 times every second. The following graph shows information on changing channels.

Fig 2: Identifying Bluetooth Channeling Frequencies

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Data And Voice Bluetooth allows both voice and data to be transmitted. A band-width of approximately 1 MBit/s is available for transferring audio data, the phone book and current operating status of the Bluetooth phone:

Data from a laptop with a Bluetooth interface or from a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) with Bluetooth cannot be transmitted with option 638 "Professional car phone".
Voice is transmitted via hands-free mode or in Privacy mode.

Call-Monitoring Security Every Bluetooth-capable unit has its own 48-bit address. All data transmitted can be encrypted and deciphered with a key up to 128 bit long. This makes it possible to distinguish up to 281 trillion different units. Security against calls being monitored is ensured by the frequency being changed 1600 times every second. Security is also enhanced by the relatively short range of approximately 10 m as any manipulation of the data flow is only possible in the immediate vicinity.

The TCU is the interface between the Bluetooth handset and the components and functions in the vehicle needed to make a phone call.

A radio connection on the Bluetooth radio standard is automatically established between the TCU and the Bluetooth handset in the Bluetooth reception area. A Bluetooth handset that is paired with the TCU is automatically detected when it enters the Bluetooth reception area.

The automatic radio connection means the paired Bluetooth handset can be used from within the reception area without any manual control functions.

With option 638 "Car phone Professional", it is possible to make a call in hands-free mode (using the hands-free facility).

Because the radio connection between the TCU (Telematic Control Unit) and the Bluetooth handset is made automatically using Bluetooth technology, after activation absolutely no control functions are needed on the following components:

Bluetooth handset
BMW radio, on-board monitor, etc.

It is legally permissible for the driver to make a call in hands-free mode while he is driving.

Option 638 "Car phone Professional" is only installed in EURO national version vehicles.