I've got 2 users that need access to their mailboxes on the move, our mobile contract is with Orange and they both have Audis. Unfortunately this means that the only smart phones supported by their phonekits are either 2 discontinued Nokias or the iPhone, which of course isn't sold by Orange in the UK.

I've been told by one of the users that we'd need to buy iPhones from Orange in France to ensure that they received any Orange updates without screwing the phones up. Does anyone know anything about this, any suggestions?

Out of interest, what type or car kits only support certain Nokia models?

I think you may have problems with the activation of the phones, the phone comes locked until it is registered through iTunes, my UK model was I'm not sure how the French system works, or if you can swap SIM cards and still have the iPhone function as a phone. I have just cancelled my other mobile contract (also on O2) so I can't try it for you

Cheers

Cris.

It's the standard Audi car kit, new shape A4.

I would say buy the supported Nokias off ebay, unless they are archaic. You should be able to unlock them, although if you don't want that hassle just get one previously used on Orange. If you look carefully you should be able to get a boxed-as-new model for not much more than a crappy used one.

Just had a quick scout on eBay, there were no E60s and the E50 looks like the screen is pretty much useless for email. Will work my way through the phone list.

I would definitely try a Nokia E71, the keyboard is excellent, so writing email should be okay. It has IMAP, Exchange, BlackBerry and VPN support. Very slim too, and has a battery that lasts an amazingly long time.

It runs Symbian S60 3rd Edition, just like the E60. So if the E60 is supported the chance of the E71 working is high.

Unfortunately Audi don't do a cradle that fits it, I know there are plenty of options if I'm not looking for cradle compatibility. But connecting via Bluetooth means you lose charging and external antenna.

Any unlocked iPhone should work.
You can buy one from Hong Kong, Belgium, Italy and a few other places. In Hong Kong you can get them directly from Apple without any type of carrier service as well.

Thanks. I've a friend in Belgium that I could chat to.

Wow, where to do work where you worry about if a company provided phone will work with their personal vehicle?

Buy 'em a car charger and a bluetooth headset and call it a day, and I'd consider that being nice.

I'd do what matthew_k suggests. Not your fault they've got a crap built in handsfree system in their car.

You'd better research about the France and Belgium versions of the iPhone as well. The totally unlocked versions appear to be extremely expensive.

The iPhone doesn't have an external antenna connection so all you'd get is charging anyway. Sounds like an attempt to get a company iPhone IMO...

Are other phones totally incompatible with the built in handsfree or do they mean the part where the car can download the phonebook?

One of the users is a director, apparently the Gen 2 handsfree kit does all sorts of things like show missed calls, received calls, dialback to either etc. But it really is crap when it comes to supported handsets, the only newish one supported is the iPhone (I've got the compatibility list in front of me).

Suggest they use this as an excuse to get a new car?

If you can pair it and use basic handfree then I'd call it sorted...

You're probably right. Amazing that OEM car kits are so crap though.