Blue&Me-equipped Fiat 500 to hit Europe this year

A proposal made way back in February of last year is finally bearing fruit, as Microsoft and Fiat have finally made good use of their long-standing partnership. At the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, the two announced that the Blue&Me system would indeed be shipping in the Fiat 500 this year, and it was noted that "top-end" versions would get the system built right in, while entry-level 500 buyers could opt for it as a factory option for an undisclosed price. The do-it-all in-car technology system "guarantees owners an outstanding combination of intuitive, hands-free navigation, communications, and entertainment features,"and while exact launch dates by market weren't noted, Italians can expect the newly-featured 500s to arrive first, while those in Germany and UK will get served by the year's end. Click on through for a few more shots of the vehicle.

[Via TechDigest, images courtesy of Slashgear]

[Greenline @ Jul 10th 2007 8:52PM]

Ok is that a serious picture of the console? I would hate to see that Microsoft logo all the time. Now an Apple logo . . . .

[kingofwale @ Jul 10th 2007 8:57PM]

oh of course, Microsoft is known for its reliability and easy to use feature. That's why my xbox never breaks down and my Vista never make me want to bang my head on the wall.

[Andrew @ Jul 10th 2007 9:00PM]

Fiat: Fix It Again Tony

[rip @ Jul 10th 2007 9:31PM]

Ah, Fiat and Windows together at last.

A match made in auto mechanic/IT support heaven. They'll be employed for years!

[shakeboy2k @ Jul 10th 2007 9:36PM]

It's a match made in heaven!

[Mike Klein @ Jul 10th 2007 9:44PM]

This stoopid product is going in backwards direction. I don't need another computer (or even radio...sat or terrestrial) in the car as I'm mobile and AM THE COMPUTER.

Built-in car stereos should go the way of the dodo-bird with more reliable 3g infrastructure, pervasive wifi/wimax, and only slight tweaks to current PDAs/Smartphones/UMPCs.

As sirius said they were experimenting with video delivery...you may find your next umpc with a sirius radio or a dongle option made available.

I should just plug into DC power my WM5 Hermes or Fujitsu ST5111 with WWAN/WIFI and can stream on bigger screen, have nav with voice...and it goes with me...not locked into the car.

We need umpcs (even phones) with video out (hdmi) so they can better "merge" into whatever your current environment/context is.

I can already use bluetooth to get new input (keyboard/mouse) and audio output...but not for video alas.

[Michael @ Jul 10th 2007 9:46PM]

So if the Windows navi system crashes, do you have to reboot the whole car?

[Andrew #2 @ Jul 10th 2007 10:10PM]

I fiat but I don't believe it.

[SigmaProjects.org @ Jul 10th 2007 10:11PM]

hm... I'm sorry, but to me that is one of the ugliest cars I've seen inside & out. I enjoy computers, but I do not want a computer in my car. Going for a drive is enjoyable, putting a computer in the mix and having a USB drive stick out of the center console is Way too annoying.

Built-in GPS & hands free calling is great, but that should be the end of it and it doesn't need a full blown computer to do it.

[Mike Klein @ Jul 10th 2007 10:16PM]

Too late...you've already got several.

And yes they "crash"...ever get bull$hit lights on your dashboard going off?

What do the mechanics do? They "reboot" it at the dealership...sorry dude.

[SigmaProjects.org @ Jul 10th 2007 10:20PM]

I said Full Blown computers, OBDII & electrical systems are not full blown computers. They are simple machines that do very specific jobs.

And, to make my point clear: I can't see why Anyone would want a computer with an interactive operating system in their car.

[bic @ Jul 10th 2007 10:12PM]

All these Windows / Microsoft reliability jokes are getting really lame. I've never had the BSOD or had to reboot on my XP system.

Sure, I've had the occasional freezes of individual applications, but none which I couldn't selectively kill within Windows. And besides, I've had pretty equal numbers of freezes on a Mac at work and Linux on my laptop.

So please, these jokes are really getting old.

[Henry @ Jul 10th 2007 10:54PM]

Nice look ;-) ... but how many people carry their music around with them on a portable USB drive? wouldn't an iPod / headphone input to the system be sufficient?

Cheers,
Henry
www.digivista.com.au

[Bunker7 @ Jul 10th 2007 10:44PM]

Could a hacker take over control of my car?

What if it gets a virus?

Can spyware be used to track me?

If Windows crashes does the car crash too?

@Bic. You are one lucky person to have never experienced a BSOD or reboot. Congratulations. You are

[michael @ Jul 11th 2007 12:36AM]

I must be lucky too. I've never seen a BSOD in real life. I can't believe it. Although I have rebooted several times. Pretty much the same amount of times I've done it on OS X. You know, installing that new piece of software on Windows, or a little lag on OS X. That kind of stuff.

[Bunker7 @ Jul 10th 2007 10:45PM]

Could a hacker take over control of my car?
What if it gets a virus?
Can spyware be used to track me?
If Windows crashes does the car crash too?
@Bic. You are one lucky person to have never experienced a BSOD or reboot. Congratulations. You are

[Michael @ Jul 11th 2007 12:43AM]

Let me know if an after market device like this becomes available. I have been looking for some way to play my songs through a USB for ages for use in my new Mazda3. Even tried to get someone to build the connection for me to no avail. I would hate to have to buy a Fiat 500 just to transfer that option to my Mazda3.

[lejupp @ Jul 11th 2007 10:12AM]

I have this in my car, works perfect.

http://www.blaupunkt.com/us/7646590310_main.asp

Plays MP3 from USB-MSD, SD and CD. Reception is awsome too.

[wombat @ Jul 11th 2007 5:38PM]

Sony makes a head unit with a USB port on the front.

http://www.xplodsony.com/xplod/headunits/CDX-GT610UI

[l0ne @ Jul 11th 2007 1:04AM]

Blue&Me has been available the mid-end Fiat cards since at least 2005. If this were Digg, I'd bury as inaccurate :)

[Chris F @ Jul 11th 2007 4:04AM]

Blue & Me is already available in Fiat Grande Punto's in the UK - so whats the big story here?

[Lukino @ Jul 11th 2007 5:43AM]

Blue&me was already aviable in many Fiat cars last summer. It's just a usb port + bluetooth to connect mp3 players (including ipods), memory keys and mobile phones to car stereo to act as mp3 player and handfree phone. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Rodrigo Reis @ Jul 11th 2007 6:16AM]

How come nobody did the blue screen of death joke yet considering the name of the car?

[Rodden Shaw @ Jul 11th 2007 6:20AM]

Not to reiterate what has already been said but Blue&Me has been available on a number of Fiat models for some time now. The only new feature that the 500 will bring (to Fiat) is Satellite Navigation by Microsoft which shall be integrated into the Blue&Me system.

[fs @ Jul 11th 2007 7:55AM]

not even that: Blue&Me Nav is available in the New Fiat Bravo already since February. And, as was already noted, the standard Blue&Me is already available on a number of Fiats, Lancias and Alfa Romeos since mid 2005. Unlike someone said, it's not a full blown computer. It's as simple as any other ECU in your car and it's not known for crashing. And should it crash, the Blue&Me ECU is completely independant from all the other ECUs in the car, meaning the car won't "crash" (electronically nor phisically).

[Manny @ Jul 11th 2007 10:06AM]

It turns out the Ford has partenered with Microsoft and have created "Ford Sync". It is very similar to what Fiat will be offering. The Ford Sync will be coming out sometime this Fall and it will on certain models. Can't wait!

[Godsmurf @ Jul 11th 2007 10:54AM]

It's not just available in all Fiats as others have already commented but also in all Alfa Romeos (I have it in my Alfa 159). It's just a media player + bluetooth, the controls are terrible as you'd expect from Microsoft but I'm still glad I can play music and audio books from USB sticks.