5 ms·

I used to own a Merc with a phone button on the infotainment system. When you went to press the button, it’d inform you that the telephone module wasn’t install

I used to own a Merc with a phone button on the infotainment system. When you went to press the button, it’d inform you that the telephone module wasn’t installed. That car was manufactured 17 years ago. The only difference seems to be in the language used in the message. It’s a poor UX but I don’t necessarily think it’s anything new.

theWreckluse 5y ago
It’s snoozing UX but profitable nonetheless.
adwww 5y ago
My 2017 VW does this with the Voice button. I'd love it to just activate Siri / Google Assistant on my paired smartphone, but actually they'd like to charge me £200 to use their own dubious voice control.
- EthicalSimilar 5y ago
  If you're using CarPlay / Android Auto, try holding it rather than just clicking. It should then activate Siri / Google Assistant.
  - adwww 5y ago
    CarPlay / Android is a separate £200 upgrade.
    - EspadaV9 5y ago
      We have a Golf 2016 model that supports CarPlay and Android Auto, have you tried connecting to it? Or not interested in the feature in general (which is fine, just curious)?
      - adwww 5y ago
        Bluetooth audio works fine, but definetly no CarPlay functionality. Some buttons on the head unit say 'talk to your dealer to purchase this'.
        PlanckMeasure80 5y ago
        Honda did the same thing for 2015 & 2016 models. People posted firmware online you can flash with a USB drive
vladvasiliu 5y ago
I still have such a merc, complete with the button and message in question. I think that implementation is actually not so bad, since you could just purchase the BT module and install it yourself [0], without having to mess with the infotainment system or the steering wheel, which also has phone buttons that behave the same. Whereas here, if the multi-zone AC system is actually not physically present, it may be somewhat more involved to upgrade on your own. --- [0] It's a Bluetooth module supposed to go in a compartment in the arm-rest. There's already a connector present. But since I don't care to use my phone in my car I never purchased the module, so I don't know if the full wiring is in place and if the radio would use it without fuss.
- nerdawson 5y ago
  Ah, that's interesting. I knew it was possible to have it installed and I can't remember exactly what I was quoted at the time, but it would have been well in excess of £1,000. Enough that I had a separate hands free kit installed instead.
kotaKat 5y ago
Same thing with FCA as far back as '08, if not earlier. My 08 Jeep Grand Cherokee had a UConnect radio, but if you touched either of the UConect buttons you got an angry NOT EQUIPPED WITH UCONNECT message. Apparently a $400 dealer add-on. Looked at installing it myself and half of it was reprogramming the vehicle with specific software to tell it it had the module, and then "update the sales records" to make it appear as an option on any future Moroney labels.

theWreckluse 5y ago

It’s snoozing UX but profitable nonetheless.

adwww 5y ago

My 2017 VW does this with the Voice button. I'd love it to just activate Siri / Google Assistant on my paired smartphone, but actually they'd like to charge me £200 to use their own dubious voice control.

EthicalSimilar 5y ago
If you're using CarPlay / Android Auto, try holding it rather than just clicking. It should then activate Siri / Google Assistant.
- adwww 5y ago
  CarPlay / Android is a separate £200 upgrade.
  - EspadaV9 5y ago
    We have a Golf 2016 model that supports CarPlay and Android Auto, have you tried connecting to it? Or not interested in the feature in general (which is fine, just curious)?
    - adwww 5y ago
      Bluetooth audio works fine, but definetly no CarPlay functionality. Some buttons on the head unit say 'talk to your dealer to purchase this'.
      - PlanckMeasure80 5y ago
        Honda did the same thing for 2015 & 2016 models. People posted firmware online you can flash with a USB drive

vladvasiliu 5y ago

I still have such a merc, complete with the button and message in question. I think that implementation is actually not so bad, since you could just purchase the BT module and install it yourself [0], without having to mess with the infotainment system or the steering wheel, which also has phone buttons that behave the same. Whereas here, if the multi-zone AC system is actually not physically present, it may be somewhat more involved to upgrade on your own. --- [0] It's a Bluetooth module supposed to go in a compartment in the arm-rest. There's already a connector present. But since I don't care to use my phone in my car I never purchased the module, so I don't know if the full wiring is in place and if the radio would use it without fuss.

nerdawson 5y ago
Ah, that's interesting. I knew it was possible to have it installed and I can't remember exactly what I was quoted at the time, but it would have been well in excess of £1,000. Enough that I had a separate hands free kit installed instead.

kotaKat 5y ago

Same thing with FCA as far back as '08, if not earlier. My 08 Jeep Grand Cherokee had a UConnect radio, but if you touched either of the UConect buttons you got an angry NOT EQUIPPED WITH UCONNECT message. Apparently a $400 dealer add-on. Looked at installing it myself and half of it was reprogramming the vehicle with specific software to tell it it had the module, and then "update the sales records" to make it appear as an option on any future Moroney labels.