Integrated cell phone-2001 E320
 

I've read other threads on this topic but can't find an answer. My just purchased 2001 E320 has a snazy integrated cell phone, a TDMA Motorola which was a Verizon phone. I use AT&T/Cingular with a GSM phone. The question is whether it is possible to purchase a GSM phone that will plug into the cradle and be usable as an integrated phone. One would THINK so but I bet not. This is frustrating but hey, I didn't pay any extra for the phone.

Thanks all, for any experience you've had with this.

I don't mind getting the phone from Mercedes--IF it exists. My question was whether a GSM phone exists that will fit into the proprietary interface.

Well, I should say I don't mind getting the phone from Mercedes until they tell me how much it costs! Anyway, I've had no real help from my dealer--I don't think they are tuned in to the different standards and issues involved. I sent an email to Mercedes USA from their website. Of course I heard nothing. I am hoping someone on this board has navigated this issue already.

If the phone cradle (and various controller bits + cables that you can't see) are original, then the phone in a 2001 was a Motorola Timeport. Replacements from MB were tough to find in 2002 (Mot quit making them for MB), I'd bet they're darn near impossible to get from the dealer now.

Your options are likely limited to: 1) upgrade the cradle/controller/etc to whatever MB is using now (> $1k plus the cost of a new phone from MB (~$500)), or 2) buy a replacement phone off eBay.

A quick search on eBay finds at least one (here). No affiliation, not responsible if it is a ripoff, etc etc. But it might be worth a roll of the dice.....

I actually have the phone!
 

The phone is still in the car and is in perfect condition. It works. Problem is that AT&T's new cellular service, what they call "M Life" in all the ads, is based on the GSM, or general service messaging, standard, whereas the Timeport phone from Motorola is a TDMA, or time division multiplex, standard.

The car shouldn't care what type encoding the phone uses for sending and receiving signals--the car should care about the control interface bulit into the phone. So what's needed is a phone that uses the GSM standard but can be controlled by the Mercedes interface.

So that's my lecture on cell technology. Wrong website! But you'd think I was discussing advanced mathematics when I try to ask this simple question to my dealer (doesn't get it), Mercedes (doesn't answer) or Motorola or AT&T (fuhgettaboutit). If anyone here has tried this, let me know!

Re: I actually have the phone!
 

My miss - caught your mention of AT&T, glazed over on the GSM piece. Big difference, obviously. To my knowledge, Timeports, with MB friendly firmware, were only available in the then-popular flavors (CDMA, TDMA, and even - gasp! - straight analog).
Agreed. Unfortunately, I don't believe Mot ever produced a MB Timeport with GSM.

Quote:

So that's my lecture on cell technology. Wrong website! But you'd think I was discussing advanced mathematics when I try to ask this simple question to my dealer (doesn't get it), Mercedes (doesn't answer) or Motorola or AT&T (fuhgettaboutit). If anyone here has tried this, let me know!

Simple to some of us (I've got 11+ years at Qualcomm, so I know a thing or two about the various technologies, albeit with an obvious bias towards the best one, CDMA ;) )

I'm afraid your only (fully integrated/use the steering wheel controls etc) option at this point would be to upgrade the controller/cradle/etc to whatever MB is offering now. I went this route on my 01 CLK55 (Timeport to V60c) back in 2002. Worked great, but it was EXPENSIVE.

Thanks, and the number is...?
 

OK I will bite. "Expensive" means what, more than $1K? $2K?

You might try contacting the gentleman at this link: www.mikbox.com. It seems if anyone will have your answer, he would be the guy. I have no affiliation etc. Good luck


John

Re: Thanks, and the number is...?
 

In car parts + phone + installation was close to $1800, IIRC.

That's expensive!
 

Definitely would be cheaper to have a separate TDMA account, though this means two phone numbers. I'm likely to, as they say, "f*** it." I'll post resolution though after following up completely. Thanks all.