Anyone actually have Phone Box???

[snakehips]

I've done some searching but not found definitive answers to my questions.
I've ordered my car with Phone Box mainly in the hope that it helps with the bad reception in my neck of the woods (I can often drive 20 minutes with no signal), but some things are still not clear:
1. I've also ordered the Tech Pack, which I believe is what gives me AMI, but does Phone Box replace any AMI functions or just add to them?
2. Does AMI charge the phone through the cable or not? My current VW MMI does but I hear different for the AMI.
3. Does Phone Box add any extra sockets in the arm rest? I hear USB but need that confirmed. If so, would that charge?
4. I have iPhone5 and my dealer says the AMI cable for iPhone5 isn't available yet so I would lose functionality even if I use the lightning adaptor.

What I'm aiming for is to have full music connection whilst charging my phone, and better reception as a bonus.
If any owners are able to post close-up pics of the inside of the Phone Box that would be much appreciated, or point me to an existing thread that I have missed?
Thanks!
Snakey

 

[Fragup]

Not sure about connection / signal but It will charge your phone and pic as above
there is a USB socket


off Audi website, but you've prob already read. :

Audi phone box allows phone calls to be made without a mobile phone cradle. The mobile phone is simply placed in the purpose-designed compartment in the front centre console, which blends smoothly into the overall interior design
Includes a hands-free facility as well as voice control for the phone functions
Low SAR radiation in the vehicle interior and improved reception quality: wireless connection to the car aerial at automatically reduced field strength by means of an integrated coupling aerial in the storage compartment
Can be charged from USB socket
Operated via the radio/navigation systems the leather-covered multifunction steering wheel
The mobile phone is automatically recognised after it has been connected up for the first time


As you said a bit vague, I didn't go for in end as not sure of the benefits

 

[mjcourtney]

Can't help with the phone box specific question (although I believe Vertigo has this?), but thought I'd point out that the AMI is standard without the tech pack. The tech pack adds a few extras such as DVD and mpg4 video playback, but other than that the media sources are the same as the standard system.

With the iPhone 5 you'll need the lightning adapter and the red collared MMI cable, I think you get pretty good functionality through this method but hopefully someone else can confirm.

 

[cemerson]

I'm pretty sure the extra USB port in the armrest comes with the Phone Box, as it's something I wanted but couldn't have because it was incompatible with Audi Connect.

 

[TDI-line]

My dealer said it was the one option not worth choosing, and stealer's don't normally bash an option.

 

[cemerson]

I think it's very expensive, it's a shame the USB port isn't standard though. Who doesn't charge their phone in their car these days?

 

[snakehips]

So the AMI doesn't charge? Therefore I can either use AMI for music or USB to charge, but not both at the same time? That sounds mad. My Golf lets me do both at the same time.

Fragup - yes I saw that vague description on the website but I'm none the wiser. It implies that I can make phone calls and use voice control but I thought all A3's come with that capability as standard anyway! Surely without Phone Box you'd still put your iPhone into the arm rest, connect to AMI and be able to make phone calls, so I can't see the benefit. What's this cradle they go on about? I haven't used a cradle for 10 years!

 

[cemerson]

I think the AMI does charge, but if you want to use a separate music source to your phone you'd be stuffed.

 

[snakehips]

I think the AMI does charge, but if you want to use a separate music source to your phone you'd be stuffed.

Thanks, that makes more sense. Now I just need to work out what enhanced phone call experience it claims to give. Or I wait 5 months and test my own!

 

[RossR]

Thanks, that makes more sense. Now I just need to work out what enhanced phone call experience it claims to give. Or I wait 5 months and test my own!

It gives you a better signal by using an antenna on the roof of the car. It should be like driving around holding your phone in the air out of the window

 

[paullowther]

If the AMI does charge then the phone box option is by far the biggest rip off on the options list.

I can get 50% charge in 20 minutes on my iPhone 5. Which means you'll be paying about £270 (if my memory serves me right) to listen to music through the radio, cd or memory card for 20 minutes once in a blue moon.

 

[snakehips]

If the AMI does charge then the phone box option is by far the biggest rip off on the options list.

I can get 50% charge in 20 minutes on my iPhone 5. Which means you'll be paying about £270 (if my memory serves me right) to listen to music through the radio, cd or memory card for 20 minutes once in a blue moon.

That's exactly the conclusion I'm beginning to come to! Please someone prove us wrong and say how wonderful phone box is.

 

[Schizophonic]

Here's my experience with my AMI and HTC One X handset.

I don't think the phone cradle adds any enhancement, its just a flashy box (which you loose some storage space) and its just a raised platform for your phone. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

For my music, its all store on my phone and its paired to my car via bluetooth. I can play my downloaded spotify tracks and also my local songs stored on my phone. I have tried pairing it with other handsets like the iphone5 and an Xperia handset. Both seem to accept track name and details (no album work) by the car but my HTC doesn't. I've plugged an AMI cable to my handset via microUSB and it does charge but not in the same way an AC adapter, its like the USB power equivalent. When its plugged by cable I cannot get it to play my tracks so I don't know why exactly. So at the moment its only use is to charge my handset.

As for phonebook and voice, the BT works well enough to do the simple task like answering calls, and finding people off the phone book or last dialed / received callers. I cannot send or read text messages as I believe the AMI+ kit needs to do this. For reception, someone above mentioned it helps but if my handset is paired up to the car doesn't it act as an amplifier to do this? What does a cable have over BT?

Thats my quick explanation and summary.

 

[snakehips]

Here's my experience with my AMI and HTC One X handset.

I don't think the phone cradle adds any enhancement, its just a flashy box (which you loose some storage space) and its just a raised platform for your phone. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

For my music, its all store on my phone and its paired to my car via bluetooth. I can play my downloaded spotify tracks and also my local songs stored on my phone. I have tried pairing it with other handsets like the iphone5 and an Xperia handset. Both seem to accept track name and details (no album work) by the car but my HTC doesn't. I've plugged an AMI cable to my handset via microUSB and it does charge but not in the same way an AC adapter, its like the USB power equivalent. When its plugged by cable I cannot get it to play my tracks so I don't know why exactly. So at the moment its only use is to charge my handset.

As for phonebook and voice, the BT works well enough to do the simple task like answering calls, and finding people off the phone book or last dialed / received callers. I cannot send or read text messages as I believe the AMI+ kit needs to do this. For reception, someone above mentioned it helps but if my handset is paired up to the car doesn't it act as an amplifier to do this? What does a cable have over BT?

Thats my quick explanation and summary.

Thanks Schizo, does that mean that a cradle (in the arm rest?) comes as standard but is replaced if I have phone box?
Or am I just being thick?

 

[Schizophonic]

Thanks Schizo, does that mean that a cradle (in the arm rest?) comes as standard but is replaced if I have phone box?
Or am I just being thick?

The arm rest by standard is empty, if you get the phone box its a raised platform for easy access to your phone rather than digging in a reaching for your phone.

 

[tha_ben]

View attachment 20085

Not sure about connection / signal but It will charge your phone and pic as above
there is a USB socket


off Audi website, but you've prob already read. :

Audi phone box allows phone calls to be made without a mobile phone cradle. The mobile phone is simply placed in the purpose-designed compartment in the front centre console, which blends smoothly into the overall interior design
Includes a hands-free facility as well as voice control for the phone functions
Low SAR radiation in the vehicle interior and improved reception quality: wireless connection to the car aerial at automatically reduced field strength by means of an integrated coupling aerial in the storage compartment
Can be charged from USB socket
Operated via the radio/navigation systems the leather-covered multifunction steering wheel
The mobile phone is automatically recognised after it has been connected up for the first time


As you said a bit vague, I didn't go for in end as not sure of the benefits

As said above, you require the 30pin to lightning adapter or cable, it's ok. Though not always 100%. And you don't quite get the best quality as your relying on a digital to analogue conversion of audio.

I find myself using the sd card and Bluetooth for music, I just use the connector to juice me up.

Personally i I find it pathetic that nearly a year on, audi doesn't offer a better solution.... But saying that I believe BMW ain't much better either!

 

[cemerson]

I think Apple should be blamed more than Audi or BMW... it's them who changed the connector and made everyone who makes third party products jump through the hoops to support it. The rest of the mobile world just use micro USB which is a standard, and will continue to use that quite happily!