zorz

Hey everyone, unless I'm failing at Google there doesn't seem to be any documentation on the smartphone key for US/Canada drivers. Is it not available here?

ua549

It isn't available in North America. It is part of the MercedesMe app.

zorz

That settles that, but I wish that also wasn't the case - oh well. Thanks

BeachBunny

...and it won't ever be available for this car in the US due to Mercedes' deal with Verizon Telematics a.k.a. MBrace.

zorz

Interesting. Any details to this? I’m curious as to why

BeachBunny

I don't have the MB/Verizon contract, BUT these types of contracts are all generally the same.

The auto manufacturer signs an exclusive contract with a service provider, whether it be Verizon Telematics, SiriusXM, or similar. The service provider will design/build/operate the service. In exchange for exclusivity and marketing, the service provider also will subsidize the hardware as well and the auto manufacturer gets a kickback for each active subscriber. The 'exclusivity' portion of the contract usually spells out specific functions which are exclusive to the service provider. If the MBrace system does it, then MB won't be making that functionality available through any other means, otherwise Verizon would be most upset.

Thus, all US cars will ship with MBrace and will not support the international MercedesMe app. The US MercedesMe app is really MBrace relabelled in an attempt to avoid confusion...and probably a marketing move to keep US consumers from realizing they're not getting the same car & features you can get in Germany.

I also wonder if this is one of the reasons we don't have remote parking available in the USA. It could well be.

This is also why cars were only available with Sirius or XM Radio prior to the merger, and these were usually by auto manufacturer, ie: Mercedes always shipped with Sirius, GM always shipped with XM.

Egonvdv

it also requires a special module (which i do not have)