weinschela

I have heard lots of inconsistent information on when the new phones (Motorola v600, v710) will be available for the US. Some say next week. some say end of October. Some say November. Has anyone heard any information on release date they consider to be reliable?

cdisam

I am in the same boat as you weinschela. Anyone who can give us some authentic updated info would be greatly appreciated. Please?

Baby Jocko

Nobody knows. Now I hear sometime in December.

By the time they do deliver the new phones, the phones won't be new and will trail technology. Motorola introduced the V710 in July.

I think we should receive some sort of compensation ala 2003 navigation. What about people who have a 2-year lease? The would have spent at least one quarter of the lease without that option.

jschade

I, too, am waiting for a v710 in my '05 e320. My dealer has been getting varying information from MBUSA, so they suggested that I call the customer service center to complain (1-800-FOR-MERC), which I did. The complaint intake person transferred me to a guy named Neal in the tech division of customer service. Neal told me that the v710's will be arriving in inventory the first week of December. He also indicated that I must have my dealership get my name in for one (which they did several weeks ago) as the demand is exceeding the initial shipment. This has been very frustrating for me as I have I had my car in three times trying to get a v60 to work. The dealership finally told me that MBUSA told them the v60 will NOT work in the '05's. Neal said that he hadn't heard of that. I am afraid that noone at MB knows what is going on with this overdrawn issue. Good luck to all!

Baby Jocko

I've heard that the new center console was designed mainly for the new phone system, which is why the console cannot be swapped with the previous design. The new center console will not work with the V60.

Baby Jocko

BTW. brace yourself for sticker shock. I hear the V710 will cost around $1000. I only hope the decimal point has been misplaced or that figure is wrong entirely. I am awaiting confirmation.

OK, I just received firm pricing:

v710: $973.00
Cradle: $250.00

Baby Jocko

So, what was $1950 for the total VCS option in 2004 now totals $2673 in 2005 ($1450 + 973+ 250). And that's on top of a 2% overall price increase and decontenting.

I'm beginning to feel like a fool.

ToyCollector

Get yourself a nice V600 from your provider and forget about the integrated phone. I have never been a fan of having a phone integrated with the car so fully, sure it's nice whiz bang stuff, but the truth is cell phones obsolete themselves every 18 months or so, much shorter than the time most of us own the car. That said, why it takes MB so long to integrate these is beyond me. Also, factoring in that the U.S. is lagging in cell phone technology compared to Japan and Europe, I am surprised more europeans don't complain as well. Using Bluetooth would be a simple way to do it and allow customer choice BTW.

$1950 buys a lot of neat cellphones and add-ons.

cdisam

If you paid for the option $1950 USD then I don't believe you should have to pay an extra fee for the phone. This option includes the phone whether it is V60 or V710 is the way I understand it. MB is really doing themselves a disservice by handling this issue this way. I am not sure if I would rush to buy another MB because of the poor customer service. This is one of the reasons why the Japanese vehicles are doing better in the U.S. Not only is the quality good, but the customer service appears to be better or at least better than MB.

Barry45RPM

An integrated phone in the car NEVER gets obsolete. Installed in the car you are using only the most basic functions of the phone... The phone book, calling by saying the name, etc. Pressing the numbers on the number pad... Thats why I leave my V60 installed in the console all the time. I can keep any fancy phone I want on my hip. Verizon charges $20/month extra on my account (Family Share Plan) for the MB's V60 to share all my pocket cell phone's minutes & contract.

The car doesn't display any of the fancy phone screens, or utilize any other deluxe functions the phone is capable of on its own. Thats why its foolish for MB to switch phones quickly. I wouldnt care if MB used the V60 forever, as long as replacements were available, and as long as the frequencies that they use remain viable.

Get whatever feature laden phone you want to carry with you, and you'll never even see you car's actual phone.

ToyCollector

That then means two different phone numbers though, right? I guess for lots of outbound, you raise a good point. I rarely talk on the cell when I drive as I am avoiding everyone else who is.

Baby Jocko

No, that is not the way it is anymore. The v710 and the necessary cradle are now sold separately. The bad thing is that MBUSA just recently released the pricing on these items and, IMO, it is outrageous!

Barry45RPM

Yup, it means 2 numbers. If someone calles my pocket cell, I just call them righ back from the comand unit phone. Here in NY we arent supposed to use a cell phone hand held. I don't need a head set, I'm not an airline pilot. When in the car all my outgoing calls are thru the dash.

But its only 20 dollars a month, and minutes not used on the one phone are used by the other so its a wash, after the $20. The phones share the contract any way you want to divide it.

pa28pilot

This could be a problem. My dealer was kind enough to deliver me a V60 early (before my car) as my other phone broke. I'll be taking my European Delivery in November. Did your dealer cite a bulletin with the details?

DavidNJ

Has anyone tried a not MB V710? I still can't believe that MB has a custom version of a phone that doesn't have its software fixed yet.

levind

I can't believe it either. My dealer told me MB was getting out of the phone business.