I had a call from Skoda UK on Tuesday 6 April following an email I had written complaining about the lack of connectivity for iPhones and Skoda locking me into a very limited set of phones that will work in the car.

I was told that Skoda UK are receiving a lot of complaints about this and they are working on a solution that will be included in an update to be performed by garages when the car goes in for a service. This will enable connectivity with the iPhone and Blackberrys.

He could not commit to a timeline but said it was high priority as a lot of Fleet cars are driven by people who own iPhones and Blackberrys and it is hurting them.

So all I can say is go to Skoda's website Skoka Contact Us and let them know you are waiting for a fix!!

Whoo Whoo

Has anyone else contacted Skoda to ask where the fix is?

Or am I the only iPhone user driving a Skoda?

Has anyone else contacted Skoda to ask where the fix is?

Or am I the only iPhone user driving a Skoda?

I have an iPhone and it works because I have a Fiscon kit.

I'm surprised to hear about the "Service upgrade" statement seeing as the rsap kit in the standard set up is not capable of working with an iPhone in any way. Whatever they do it will presumably involve hardware so it will not be free that's for sure. To be honest in 30 years of car ownership including 10 years in the trade I have never seen a manufacturer say something like they apparently did to you so I would be suspect about the accuracy of the information anyway until such time as I saw something in writing in an official form (a service document).

I wouldn't be surprised if the fix can be implemented with a software update. Whilst the kit has the hardware necessary for rsap aren't all bluetooth protocols just a software protocol, hence the update for windows phones to allow them to be used. A software update may well just activate another protocol to allow non compatible phones to be used with reduced features

I would assume a similar fix will happen for the Octavia/Bolero combo too?

I hope it does happen and soon. The visor unit I've bought is not ideal.

EDIT.

Just mailed Skoda UK so will see what they come back with.

No reason why a software update cannot be done. All it needs is an option to use either rSAP or the more generic hands-free profile. Perhaps changable in Maxidot

Edited 15 April, 201016 yr by darrenw

Had a call from SUK today. The lady told me that at present there were no plans to provide a work-around or a proper solution to the iPhone/rSAP comptability issue.

Had a call from SUK today. The lady told me that at present there were no plans to provide a work-around or a proper solution to the iPhone/rSAP comptability issue.

I cant say I am surprised at all, SUK only seem interested in selling you a car and taking your money. Aftersales/support is terrible. Just imagine how much more money they might make if they offered the options we want on new cars!

I'm glad I decided to order mine without phone-prep, I bought a Fiscon unit instead.

Thank you for your email dated 8 April 2010, in reference to the telephone preparation supplied with your Skoda.

As you know, the mobile phone market is very fast moving: both software and a number of different Bluetooth technologies are updated by the phone manufacturers continually. It is therefore not always possible to provide compatibility for all mobile phone handsets.

We liaise with our supplier, on a regular basis to ensure they are aware of the requirements for mobile phone users in the UK. I have made a note of your comments which will be helpful in providing up to date customer feedback regarding the use of mobile phones with the latest Skoda models.

Thank you for contacting Skoda Customer Services.

Kind Regards

Edmund Good

ŠkodaAuto Customer Services

[email protected]

08457 745 745

www.skoda.co.uk

Very disappointing.

I have written to Chris Newitt, Head of Marketing for Skoda UK for clarification.

We shall see what the true official line is.

I have the Skoda bluetooth module Rev. D (I think) connected up to my RNS510.

One of the lads at work wants the BT kit for his Toureg but has an Iphone 3GS

We tried it in mine and it work fine all phone book etc.

As stated on here before - the older GSM II boxes will support the iPhone as it uses Hands Free Protocol, while the newer GSM III unit is rSAP only so doesn't support iPhone. QED

I wait with baited breath to see if this position changes as am about to order an elegance estate dsg.

OK have made progress with Skoda, some I can talk about the rest later, towards the end of June.

I cannot see a retrofit solution coming from Skoda UK for iPhones or Blackberrys :-(

It does look like testing for a new hybrid BT kit is underway that will support RSAP and standard Hands Free basically incorporating both GSM II and GSM III kits making it a universal.

I can only see this going into new Skoda, and quite some time out too.

The work arounds all have their failings, although I do like the Skoda suggested one of change your phone and get a Nokia........

I am working on a workaround now, that I think will work very well indeed, but don't want to get into details until it works.

It will be the end of June before I get it done.

If it works I'll post how what why and instructions and how much it cost etc etc

Has anyone else contacted Skoda to ask where the fix is?

Or am I the only iPhone user driving a Skoda?

Hi

I have ordered a Superb Elegance Estate for delivery in early Sept. I am a mac user and would like to continue using my iphone. I am aware of this problem and have been in touch with Skoda UK. The response is pasted below for your information.

Not particularly helpful I know. Looks like a 'cut and paste letter' probably due to so many enquiries.

Rgds Mike

Reference: SD-2010/06-001844

Dear Mr Frost,

Thank you for your email dated 7 June 2010 regarding your query about Bluetooth compatibility.

I am sorry to hear you have been experiencing compatibility issues.

As you know, the mobile phone market is very fast moving: both software and a number of different Bluetooth technologies are

updated by the phone manufacturers continually.

It is therefore not always possible to provide compatibility for all mobile phone handsets.

We liaise with our supplier, on a regular basis to ensure they are aware of the requirements for mobile phone users in the UK.

I have made a note of your comments which will be helpful in providing up to date customer feedback regarding the use of mobile

phones with the latest Skoda models.

In order to obtain the most up to date list of compatible phones would like to suggest that you contact your nearest Skoda

Retailer, the details of which I have provided below, as they will be able to provide you with the information you require.

Hi

I have ordered a Superb Elegance Estate for delivery in early Sept. I am a mac user and would like to continue using my iphone. I am aware of this problem and have been in touch with Skoda UK. The response is pasted below for your information.

Not particularly helpful I know. Looks like a 'cut and paste letter' probably due to so many enquiries.

Rgds Mike

Reference: SD-2010/06-001844

Dear Mr Frost,

Thank you for your email dated 7 June 2010 regarding your query about Bluetooth compatibility.

I am sorry to hear you have been experiencing compatibility issues.

As you know, the mobile phone market is very fast moving: both software and a number of different Bluetooth technologies are

updated by the phone manufacturers continually.

It is therefore not always possible to provide compatibility for all mobile phone handsets.

We liaise with our supplier, on a regular basis to ensure they are aware of the requirements for mobile phone users in the UK.

I have made a note of your comments which will be helpful in providing up to date customer feedback regarding the use of mobile

phones with the latest Skoda models.

In order to obtain the most up to date list of compatible phones would like to suggest that you contact your nearest Skoda

Retailer, the details of which I have provided below, as they will be able to provide you with the information you require.

I guess they won't interested to know that between Thursday and Saturday last week another 1.7M potential customers bought the iPhone 4 and will not be happy/buying a VAG car........

It's annoying that the Customer Service rep's are just chopping and pasting the same reply. SUK must have issued a bulletin to them saying if someone mentions Bluetooth / Skoda and one of the most popular phones globally available, copy and paste this statement, take the large bucket of sand to the left of your desk, and then bury your head in it

Thanks for the excellent info here. My HTC HD2 would love to be bluetoothed to the columbus, so I'm saving the pennies for the bluetooth adapter. In the mean time I'm cable connected to the AUX input which provides excellent hands free function as well as Music Player capability. HTC is velcroed to the dash between the instrument cluster and the centre air vent.

I guess they won't interested to know that between Thursday and Saturday last week another 1.7M potential customers bought the iPhone 4 and will not be happy/buying a VAG car........

The problem is Apple, they are about the only phone maker who now no longer support RSAP, the sooner they realise that more and more car manufacturers are fitting RSAP systems into their cars the better. Maybe people should be complaining to Apple for not supporting a feature virtually everyone else now does. The RSAP kit knocks socks off the earlier generation, has better signal strength (aerial on roof), call quality and offers a lot more features than the GSM2 kit.

The problem is Apple, they are about the only phone maker who now no longer support RSAP, the sooner they realise that more and more car manufacturers are fitting RSAP systems into their cars the better. Maybe people should be complaining to Apple for not supporting a feature virtually everyone else now does. The RSAP kit knocks socks off the earlier generation, has better signal strength (aerial on roof), call quality and offers a lot more features than the GSM2 kit.

Ok now we have to be clear here.

The number on the phones that are in use today that support the Nokia Proprietary protocol is miniscule compared to the phones that will support basic BT.

Skoda UK choose to install the RSAP variant because it was labelled GSM 3 which must be better than GSM 2. Except for it excluding iPhones and Blackberrys, the two most common business smartphones. Which was brave and stupid, Skoda is chasing the Fleet market with the Superb and is actively blocking Fleet car users from using their phones.

The rest of EU went with the GSM 2 kit as it will work with almost every BT phone.

When it comes to choosing another car when my Suberb is due up will be determined by how hard it is to get an iPhone working well with the car. The current Superb sucks at this.

I cannot see Apple going to it's rival to purchase RSAP, no more than I saw VAG go to Ford for the front heated windscreen, which they didn't and now the patent has run out we will all get them. Hooorah!!

Apple support the BT standard, Skoda does not.

The 'solution' I am implementing is:

BT into Columbus System - Parrot CK3000 - £61.90 with VAG Kit £13.95

iPhone mount on dashboard (non destructive) - Brodit iPhone Car Cradle with Pass through connector - £58.20

iPhone dock connector to power In & Audio Out (single cable split at end) £15.53

Sat Nav for iPhone - Co-Pilot - 19.99 - Full 7 digit Postcode, all my contacts already in iPhone/Sat Nav, Live Local Search, Traffic Cameras, add your own POIs etc etc

So now with my new iPhone 4 safely mounted by my steering wheel Sat Nav and Music at my finger tips - Or use the iPhone Voice Control. Dial using 'Friends' App on iPhone which puts up six pictures of people per page of your most frequent calls for easy dialling.

Most of it is in now just the Parrot kit to get installed.

All works together through the columbus.

I did play around with sticking my iPad over the Columbus unit, the Sat Nav on the iPad is awesome, I may still do that and keep the phone just for taking calls.

It is such a pity that Skoda have to make it so hard, when all they had to do was the same as Skoda in every other EU country and put in the GSM 2 kit.

Hi

Interesting posts throughout and it does seem as if there is conflciting info. I had heard that lots of Blackberry handsets were now RSAP compatible and that android handsets were also now able to work with it. Not much use to me with my iPhone 4 (does anyone want a second hand 32GB iPhone 3GS?)

Also, I was going to get a Brodit clip for the iPhone 4, but didn't manage to find one on the mountsonus website. Where did Busta999 find this?

Cheers

Nigel

Hi

Interesting posts throughout and it does seem as if there is conflciting info. I had heard that lots of Blackberry handsets were now RSAP compatible and that android handsets were also now able to work with it. Not much use to me with my iPhone 4 (does anyone want a second hand 32GB iPhone 3GS?)

Also, I was going to get a Brodit clip for the iPhone 4, but didn't manage to find one on the mountsonus website. Where did Busta999 find this?

Cheers

Nigel

I got it from Amazon the Brodit Car Cradle Holder With Pass-Through Connector for Apple IPhone 3GS (#516042) £40.49 It is fully adjustable to fit phones with or without cases on.

It works with ALL four versions of iPhone, it moves between vertical and horizontal for Sat Nav, but I do prefer to use mine in vertical.

The iPhone 4 is awesome in this rig, switching very nicely between music/audio book/podcasts and Sat Nav then back to Phone to make/take a call.

Makes the Columbus system pretty redundant except as an amplifier.

I may just fit a mount point for an iPad and stick that over it and control audio volume with the on steering wheel control.

The only thing that still bugs me is that the car informs me EVERY time that I start the car that it cannot find a Bluetooth phone, you have to clear this message if you want to continue to track mpg etc.

I cannot find a way to disable the Car's useless phone system.

The whole project cost £250 including fitting etc.

Thought the text of my response from SUK may interest you:

Thank you for your email dated 21 September 2010, regarding iPhone connection.

I can confirm that at present, there is not an option for the iPhone in any derivative to be compatible with our current Bluetooth system. The Factory is aware that this is currently causing issues for a number of our customers and a solution is being sought as a matter of urgency. When such an option is available, our retail partners will be best placed to inform their customers.

I would therefore like to suggest that you contact your nearest Skoda Retailer to make them aware of your interest in this option. They in turn will contact you as soon as they have been informed by the Factory. Details of which I have provided below:-

Had a lift tonight in a mates brand new VW golf. It has essentially the same Columbus system as my Octavia VRS except it connects to his iPhone. Only had 38 miles on it so it's definitely factory fitted!!! Maybe hope for us Skoda owners with iPhones yet!!

The 2011 Superb (Week 27 onwards ???) can connect to an iPhone - it has HPF and rSAP protocols...

unfortunately, my Superb was built before week 27... :(

oooo well...!

Al.