BMW and NTT DoCoMo launch Japan's first connected car service compatible with 5G and consumer eSIM for "iX" and "i4"

BMW and NTT DoCoMo started offering Japan's first connected car service compatible with 5G and consumer eSIM for the new BEV (battery electric vehicle) "iX" and "i4" on March 1. BMW models to be released in the future will also support the service, and some models may require software updates. [See another image for this article] In December 2018, the BMW Group at the German headquarters, BMW at the Japanese subsidiary, and DoCoMo began considering collaboration in installing consumer eSIM in cars. This time, we jointly developed a mechanism to enable mobile communication by installing a 5G module and consumer eSIM in a BMW vehicle, and iX and i4 are the first connected cars to be Docomo's one-number service (one phone number is a smartphone and accessories). It is an optional service that can be shared on terminals and voice calls and data communications on accessory terminals can be used for 550 yen per month). As a result, the phone number and rate plan used on the smartphone can be used as they are for voice calls and data communications on the BMW vehicle, and voice calls and the Internet can be used in the vehicle without connecting the smartphone and the BMW vehicle via Bluetooth. You can create a communication usage environment. The iX and i4 have traditionally been equipped with eSIM to provide various BMW connected drive services, but in addition to this, this time, they are equipped with consumer eSIM and 5G modules used in the connected car service, and are compatible with 5G. By activating two eSIMs at the same time with DSDA (Dual-SIM-Dual-Active), which is the latest mobile technology installed in the vehicle, in addition to the communication of BMW Connected Drive, the user's own voice call and Data communication can also be used via the vehicle. In addition, it is possible to set up 5G compatible in-car Wi-Fi using consumer eSIM, and up to 10 smartphones and tablet terminals can be connected to Wi-Fi in the car to use 5G high-speed data communication. It is said that it will be. For this connected car service, along with the contract for DoCoMo's one-number service, log in to the My BMW app or BMW portal site provided by BMW with your BMW ID, then log in to the displayed DoCoMo site with your d account and use your BMW ID. It can be used by linking d accounts. By linking this BMW ID and d account, it will be possible to use the service not only for vehicles purchased individually, but also when riding an iX or i4 with a rental car or car sharing.

Car Watch, editorial department: Takashi Kobayashi