Australia an Android-free zone: BMW
Android users can now exercise control over their BMWs from their smartphones — except in OzThe My BMW Remote app for Android phones is now available on the Google Play store — but there's no joy in that for local BMW owners.
Much like the iPhone-wielding BMW owners who have had the app since mid-2010, those opting for Android-based smartphones will be showing off in car-parks around the world — other than here in Australia.
According to BMW Australia, enabling BMW Apps functionality could compromise Australian Design Rules (ADRs), as we reported recently. While My BMW Remote is an application for your smartphone, it's the on-board ConnectedDrive system that falls foul of ADR restrictions to limit driver distraction.
Which is a shame, since the apps deliver an incomparable level of functionality for prestige car owners. The My BMW Remote app allows the driver to lock or unlock the car remotely, and to adjust the climate control, auxiliary ventilation and heating settings — to ensure Spot doesn't freeze or fry whilst the driver is shopping (*Note* don’t leave pets or children in your parked car).
Other features include:
- “Horn Blow” for sounding the horn and “Flash Light” for briefly switching on the exterior lights, providing acoustic and visual signals to help owners find the vehicle in crowded car parks,
- “Vehicle Finder” function displays a map on the smartphone screen directing the driver to the vehicle’s location, provided the vehicle is within 1.5km of the phone and the ignition is off, making it impossible to track the vehicle’s movements,
- Google Local Search imports points of interest (POIs) from smartphone to the vehicle’s navigation system via the message list.
“By extending our My BMW Remote app to Android devices as well, we are responding to the recent rapid spread of this operating system,” explains Dr Eckhard Steinmeier, Head of BMW ConnectedDrive. “Google Android is the fastest-growing software platform for smartphones and tablets, so we are now delighted to be able to offer our customers the remote app functions on this operating system, too.”
In addition to the free app users need a valid BMW ConnectedDrive system contract as available on all current models equipped with BMW Assist. The company states that features may vary, depending on the model and year of manufacture, as well as local restrictions — like ADRs.
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