As part of the project entitled “Evolved Bluetooth functions for Blue&Me” conducted by Fiat Group Automobiles, Centro Ricerche Fiat is developing several innovative functions for vehicles equipped with B&M. These functions can be easily integrated by means of a software update and are already enabled by B&M’s intrinsic ability of to communicate according to Bluetooth protocol.

The new Bluetooth functions represent an extension of B&M functionality with a view to improving the integration of personal devices. More specifically, a Bluetooth “profile” has been developed, which enables Personal Navigation Devices (PND) to be connected and which will enable the consumer devices equipped with the Bluetooth interface that implement it to connect to the vehicle to use the voice functions, the graphic interface of the control panel and steering wheel commands. Its functioning was demonstrated using a specific PND developed by Magneti Marelli.

The profile can also be managed by the software of palmtops/telephones and closed navigation systems (for example “Tom Tom”) permitting full integration between on-board resources and personal devices. The sharing of steering wheel commands with navigation software was analysed during the project and was directly implemented by Magneti Marelli through the completion of the Blue&Me Map product, which had been launched on the FIAT 500 in 2008.