Communication/Security, Data and Voice

Universal BluetoothTM Hands-Free System (ULF)

Wireless Communication

Communication/Security

The system uses the license-free, global Industrial Scientific Medical band (ISM) at 2.45 GHz. This frequency range from 2.402 GHz to 2.480 GHz is subdivided into 79 channels with a 1 MHz bandwidth.

Signals transmitted through the airways can be scrambled and unscrambled to enhance communication security. With BluetoothTM technology, communication frequencies are changed 1600 times per second to reduce the risk of interference or interception of the transmitted signal. The relatively small operating range of approx. 10 m (32.8 ft) also enhances the security of this technology, since tampering with the transmitted data is only possible when inside the 10 m (32.8 ft) wireless “network”.

To further enhance the security of this short-range wireless network the ULF system requires a pairing procedure to be carried out for each device that will be introduced into the network. As part of this procedure a required passkey must be entered once (during the initial pairing procedure) to establish a secure connection between the phone and the ULF Control Module.

Data and Voice

BluetoothTM was developed for the transmission of both voice as well as data. A bandwidth of approx. 1 MB/s is available for this purpose.

BluetoothTM Enabled Phones

Ideally all phones that are BluetoothTM enabled should work with the ULF system, however not all phones utilize the same profiles and therefore may not be recognized by the ULF System. A list of recommended BluetoothTM enabled phones is available from your BMW Center.