Command not detecting phone as USB device (WP8)
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
From: Miramar, FL
2012 E350 Sport, P1, AMG Wheels, Multi-contour seats
Command not detecting phone as USB device (WP8)
Curious if anyone has trouble with the Command system detecting a phone as a USB device. My car is a 2012 (build date 05/12) and I am using Windows Phone 8. The phone is not detected as a USB device (and neither is charging possible over the USB cable). A regular USB flash drive works fine though. Bluetooth streaming works also, but I'd rather access my phone media over USB if possible.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 3
From: California
i535
It is because Microsoft. They do not support exposing phone content as USB drive, instead they use Microsoft multimedia protocol. Although it is open, I can suspect that Microsoft want some money from a vendor for supporting it. Since MB already tied to Apple they are too lazy to support one more. Next time buy Android phone and do not support greedy Microsoft.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
From: Miramar, FL
2012 E350 Sport, P1, AMG Wheels, Multi-contour seats
@Dema, I see that you are an Android fan boy but please save the biased Microsoft bashing for one of your "my phone OS is better than yours" fan boy clubs. While it is true that Windows Phone 7 does not support mounting as a USB mass storage device, Windows Phone 8 does, and that is the version I was inquiring about. I should disclose that I do work for Microsoft.
I did some searching after my initial post and found posts in other clubs/forums where users were able to both play and charge their WP8 devices via USB in their cars. There was also this one in which a MB owner claims to have it working (http://forums.wpcentral.com/htc-8x/2...audio-out.html). The picture of the Command screen appears to be for a non-us vehicle though (right-hand drive).
I did some searching after my initial post and found posts in other clubs/forums where users were able to both play and charge their WP8 devices via USB in their cars. There was also this one in which a MB owner claims to have it working (http://forums.wpcentral.com/htc-8x/2...audio-out.html). The picture of the Command screen appears to be for a non-us vehicle though (right-hand drive).
It is because Microsoft. They do not support exposing phone content as USB drive, instead they use Microsoft multimedia protocol. Although it is open, I can suspect that Microsoft want some money from a vendor for supporting it. Since MB already tied to Apple they are too lazy to support one more. Next time buy Android phone and do not support greedy Microsoft.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 3
From: California
i535
Please, do not try to offend a person you do not really know saying as a fan boy. So far I use iPhone and if you want be politically correct you can name me Apple fan boy, okay?
I consider it is good if a particular vendor gives freedom to a consumer instead of trying to tie him/her to own technologies. Most of consumers want that a phone just works, without digging over Internet how to get over limitation artificially brought by a vendor. It is why iPhone is so popular, because not technically savvy person can plug it in car and listen to music. Why Microsoft doesn't want it, I do not know.
I consider it is good if a particular vendor gives freedom to a consumer instead of trying to tie him/her to own technologies. Most of consumers want that a phone just works, without digging over Internet how to get over limitation artificially brought by a vendor. It is why iPhone is so popular, because not technically savvy person can plug it in car and listen to music. Why Microsoft doesn't want it, I do not know.
