I disagree with all three of your 'options.' A matter of fact, the slim one may be your best shot but according to the CTS engineers themselves, on the official CTS blog, there will be a bluetooth dealer installed pack available for the 08 CTS, its just not available right now.
There will be no "software only" Bluetooth upgrade- if the hardware was there, it would be on already. The only way to add Bluetooth to a 2008 CTS will be an aftermarket system or a dealer installed kit from Cadillac, which will be built by an outside company anyway (similar to the iConnect iPod module for the previous gen CTS, manufactured by SmartPark).
As I've mentioned in other threads, the reason for lack of Bluetooth on the CTS, Escalade and SRX is compatibility issues. If they can't guarantee it working perfectly for everyone, they're better off omitting it completely. Bluetooth on the STS has been a nightmare, as many new phones don't integrate or work right with the system, and you now have created angry customers who now percieve Cadillac quality as being lower.
In today's market, "Percieved Quality" is everything. A J.D. Power survery doesn't ask you to rate a car on "features you wish it had", but it DOES ask you to rate "How well does the car operate?" The owner of a non-BT equipped STS might score the car perfect, while an owner happy with the car but frustrated with his phone not syncing might score the car as "Problematic", "Unreliable" or other negative descriptors. If you promise a feature, it had better be PERFECT.
So- put yourself in Cadillac's shoes: They're in the middle of a resurgence, with new products getting great reviews from the press and owners. Why include a feature if they KNOW that 25-50% of the owners will never be happy with it. It's a whole lot better for Customer Satisfaction to wait until the system works properly before integrating it.
__________________ Tony Pagano
Plaza Cadillac
Leesburg, FL
(352) 408-0391
So- put yourself in Cadillac's shoes: They're in the middle of a resurgence, with new products getting great reviews from the press and owners. Why include a feature if they KNOW that 25-50% of the owners will never be happy with it. It's a whole lot better for Customer Satisfaction to wait until the system works properly before integrating it.
I still want it, and it should be there. Its easy to change out a cell phone.
Do you know if any of the aftermarket products for the CTS will be relatively "clean" to the interior appearance? It seems everything is there: a microphone, audio controls, etc.
I still want it, and it should be there. Its easy to change out a cell phone.
-d
I hear you, and I'm not disagreeing- just presenting the other side. Try telling a customer that they need to get rid of their new, state of the art Blackberry and go back to their Razr because the Blackberry doesn't work with the BT software in their new car. I've been there, and it's a bad scene.
Quote:
Do you know if any of the aftermarket products for the CTS will be relatively "clean" to the interior appearance? It seems everything is there: a microphone, audio controls, etc.
I hear you, and I'm not disagreeing- just presenting the other side. Try telling a customer that they need to get rid of their new, state of the art Blackberry and go back to their Razr because the Blackberry doesn't work with the BT software in their new car. I've been there, and it's a bad scene.
Frankly, I don't care about the other side. Rather, I request that they look at their competition.
CTS has a unique position: They have all of the hardware integrated except of course the bt radio. They also have a hard drive with access to the DVD and USB ports. It is conceivable that a BT device be plugged in, and software integrate with the vehicle.
I don't know their internal software architecture contains the relevant software hooks, but its possible.
If phone compatability is something that can be addressed with configuration data, that could be introduced over on-star (think of the way xbox live updates the xbox), from a dealer, from the end-user (copy file to DVD or thumb drive).
I would love to hear what form their update will take.
I have to say, I like the argument against putting it in (compatibility), I never thought of it that way. My cousin just bought the 2008 Acura TL and while he loved it... he now hates that it won't sync with a $700 phone (SE P990i). I also am one of those tech guys who would never downgrade my cell phone to get it to work with the car. So, that's the perfect example about why people should care why it's not there. BT has been a very problematic system but I think if companies were to jump to the next gen BT radios (2.0 EDR) they would get much better compatibility, but then in that case, Cadillac would rely on more phone mfgs to integrate BT2.0 but that's not happening on low end phones (which the mass market buys), so then again, you are back at square one...I like the idea of an addon pack as long as one can test it to see if it works before having the dealer put it in. That way, you aren't paying a $600 premium for a tech feature in a 'tech package' or something where you end up being able to not use it. This way, if you do pay the $600, it's for something you are sure you can use...although I then start to worry about how pervasive it is vs how seamless it should be (in installation).
All cadillac has to do is maintain a list of compatible phones on its web site and with the dealer brochures. The add-on cadillac tony points to above does just that.
Simple fact....over 70% of 2008 cars have BT or can have it as a factory option. That number would be higher but GM does not support it (other than the STS-where they have a very bad BT design- the true root of all of the STS's BT issues ).
It's time that GM stopped the excuses. Stopped dragging their feet to support a failed calling plan with OnStar. Stopped doing anything except giving customers what they want. If MB and Lexus and all of the others can figure it out, I'm sure the worlds largest automotive company can.
Simple fact....over 70% of 2008 cars have BT or can have it as a factory option.
If MB and Lexus and all of the others can figure it out, I'm sure the worlds largest automotive company can.
I don't know 'bout that, cause I see a lot of High Line Benz drivers, BMW drivers, Jag XJ drivers talking on cell phones while driving here in L.A., where it seems everyone talks on the phone while driving. It's not that I don't do it, but I have Bluetooth in my STS and in my pickup though its Alpine stereo. True, we need it...but even they don't have it.
I don't know 'bout that, cause I see a lot of High Line Benz drivers, BMW drivers, Jag XJ drivers talking on cell phones while driving here in L.A., where it seems everyone talks on the phone while driving. It's not that I don't do it, but I have Bluetooth in my STS and in my pickup though its Alpine stereo. True, we need it...but even they don't have it.
They do now....I did not make that 70% number up (it is for 2008 units)
