Which bluetooth BMW 7/5 series compatible phones work in Europe?

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I have read through a previous post regarding cell phone use in Europe. As an update to that discussion, I wonder which phone models are Bluetooth compatible, will work with the 7/6/5 and presumably x3 and 3 series, and will also work in Europe. If anyone knows the answer, please respond. Thanks!

Any unlocked GSM quad band phone will work in Europe. There's a list of approve phone by BMW. V551 and the Sony T616 I know work. Remember, most US carriers lock their GSM phones w/c prevents you from using it with a SIM card from another carrier. But I know Cingular and T-Mobile will give you the unlock code if asked.

Check out this thread.
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=8993

Originally Posted by arnolds

Any unlocked GSM quad band phone will work in Europe. There's a list of approve phone by BMW. V551 and the Sony T616 I know work. Remember, most US carriers lock their GSM phones w/c prevents you from using it with a SIM card from another carrier. But I know Cingular and T-Mobile will give you the unlock code if asked.

Check out this thread.
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=8993

SIM cards have relatively high initial cost that come with few minutes. Abroad things work a little different. The minutes you purchase are only used up when you make outgoing calls. Incoming call minutes are actually paid by the person originating the call, even on local call. A call from the US to a cell phone abroad will usually be about double than a call placed to a land line.

I know that on T-Mobile SMS messages are free even abroad. With them you have to call them to activate international services. This is a free service and not the same as unlocking your phone. Using this in combination with US telephone credit card would be the cheapest way to stay in contact. With MCI phone card a call you place in Europe back to the US will be charged at same rate as if you wold be placing the call from your house back to Europe.

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I found some interesting info about unlocking a phone here. http://www.thetravelinsider.info/roa...lockingfaq.htm

Even if your provider refuses to unlock your GSM phone, you still have other options available for a nominal fee.

If you plan to travel between countries during your trip, you would need to buy different SIM cards if you want to avoid paying a roaming rate - which will become a hassle.

Originally Posted by Pterous

If you plan to travel between countries during your trip, you would need to buy different SIM cards if you want to avoid paying a roaming rate - which will become a hassle.

That sounds pretty strange! I have used my mobile phone(s) all over Europe, South Africa, OZ and throught North America. As long as the battery is charged and there is a network available, all is good. Same phone, same SIM card, same phone number.

I have never understood how screwed up mobile phone use is in the US, whether it is roaming in diffferent states, lack of coverage, use and cost of SMS, lack of MMS between different operators, contracts, number switching and so on.

Anyway.


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which phone models are Bluetooth compatible, will work with the 7/6/5 and presumably x3 and 3 series, and will also work in Europe

All of the answers above are incomplete due to the nature of your question. Here is the, unfortunately, complex answer. First, some background: Most of Europe uses the GSM system, but on different frequency bands than in North America. The original European GSM systems are at 900 MHz, and most metropolitan areas and some entire countries have additional systems at 1800 MHz. The original GSM systems here were at 1900 MHz, and carriers have been converting some 800 MHz channels to GSM (and generally calling it "850" for marketing reasons). Therefore, you need a tri-band or quad-band phone if you want the same phone to work here and in Europe. (To make it even more confusing, phones with either 800-1800-1900 or 900-1800-1900 service are marketed as tri-band.)
Next, it depends on whether you want to pay your North American carrier roaming charges while traveling or instead get service directly from one or more European carriers. If you go the first route, you do not need an unlocked phone. Just call your carrier before you leave and ask them to authorize international roaming. There is usually a small monthly fee, but calls can cost $1.00 per minute or more. But you keep your home number for incoming calls, which can be useful.
If you do want to switch to a European carrier, you need an unlocked phone and the appropriate SIM card. Often these are available as part of a pre-paid service. The per-minute change can be much less. You'll generally get a number in some European country depending on who you deal with. But you must check that you can make and receive calls in all the countries you plan to visit.
I hope this helps.