Here is everything you need to know about Audi’s linked automobile and infotainment systems, such as Audi Connect and the business’s “MMI” system, without further ado.
Even though it could be tempting to connect a smartphone and only use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, we’ll put them aside for the time being and concentrate on Audi’s own system, named Audi Connect.
Audi Connect, which has three primary components dubbed Connect Care, Connect Prime, and Connect Plus, is primarily a system for gaining access to the navigation system of the vehicle as well as your phone’s contacts and calendar events.
The first is intended for use in an emergency, enabling you to contact roadside help or make an SOS call from within your car in the event of an accident. This SOS system is accessible for free throughout the duration of the car, in contrast to some SOS systems from other manufacturers.
Through the free myAudi app for iPhone and Android, Connect Care also enables remote locking and unlocking of the vehicle. If you can’t remember where you parked your car, you can use the app’s car-finder tool to find it, and Care also aids law enforcement in finding stolen cars.
Additional Connect Care services are available to Audi E-Tron owners, including route planning that takes charge stops into account, phone-based interior temperature management, and control over the battery charging process.
All new Audis come with a free six-month trial of Connect Prime or Connect Plus, after which you can choose to cease using them or pay a subscription fee.
These are not exactly inexpensive. Priced at $199 for six months or $499 for 18 months, Connect Prime is available. If you use the data connection on your smartphone, Connect Plus is a more affordable $10 per month; if you use the car’s own unlimited data service, it is $25 per month.
A voice assistant that uses natural language to control things like the cabin temperature is one of the top features, and Amazon Alexa integration allows you to ask questions, play music, and manage your smart home devices. Other standout features include Google Earth mapping imagery in the car’s navigation system.
The last option is Connect Plus, which establishes a Wi-Fi network inside your vehicle to which you may connect electronics like smartphones and tablets. Internet radio streaming and access to Amazon Music are also included with Connect Plus.
The car’s own SIM card, which is either embedded and out of sight or found in a slot in the glove box, is used to receive data for the complete Connect system.
MMI, which stands for man and machine interface, is the name of Audi’s infotainment system’s user interface. This is distributed among three digital displays: an instrument panel behind the steering wheel, a screen for maps and entertainment in the center of the dashboard, and a screen below it for climate control, heated seats, and other important functions. Above is a photo of the latter.
You can write with your finger on this lower screen to enter information, such as a destination for the navigation system. In other variants, this display is swapped out for a more conventional scroll wheel that may be used to move about the interface by rotating, pressing, tapping, and swiping. Below is a picture of this.
Traditional speedometers and rev counters, along with gasoline and temperature indicators on either side, can be seen on the instrument panel behind the steering wheel. Alternately, these might be shrunk to make room for a huge map display that takes up the most of the screen.
All Audi vehicles come standard with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay starting with the 2020 model year. Some versions come with wireless CarPlay as well, but like with most manufacturers, the selection is currently relatively constrained.
As we already explained, you may remotely lock and unlock the vehicle using the free myAudi app for iOS and Android. Additionally, make sure the lights are off and that the windows, hood, tailgate, and sunroof are all closed. The app displays the amount of fuel or battery charge left, the predicted range, the current mileage of your car, and any cautions that are now being displayed by its computer (such as low oil or incorrect tire pressure).
The app helps you find the closest dealer and provides information on how many miles or days it will be before your next service and oil change. Alerts can be set up to notify you if your car exceeds a specific speed or exits a geofenced region (letting you know if your kids have driven off-road).
Finally, valet mode can be activated via the app to limit the performance and functionality of the car when it is being driven by someone else, such as the hotel valet.
An Apple Watch app is also available to provide information about your car’s location, mileage, whether any windows are open, and remaining range.
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How can I receive free access to Audi Connect?
- Launch the myAudi app. If necessary, register by adhering to the on-screen directions.
- Select.
- Include the street, city, and zip code for your current address.
- Review the Audi and Verizon Terms & Conditions before selecting (checking) both boxes to proceed.
- Tap.
Is MMI Connect for Audi free?
The future of the automobile depends on intelligent networking and communication solutions. With its LTE module, Audi is able to link its models to the Internet and incorporate cellphones into the entertainment system of the car in a number of different ways.
Audi connect
Audi Connect provides internet services for the brand’s vehicles. Depending on the model, the wide range of amenities includes everything from online traffic information and parking spot search to navigation with Google Earth and Google Street View, and finally the services of Audi connect safety & service. Additionally, Car-to-X services, which draw on the fleet’s collective intelligence, are available for some models.
The MMI or Audi virtual cockpit screen in the vehicle displays the Audi connect services, which can be accessed by voice command, MMI touch response, or the multifunction rotary/push-button control. The majority of information, including personalized messages, emails, text messages, and data from social network websites like Twitter, can also be read aloud to the driver.
Audi connect safety & service
Audi Connect Safety & Service’s offerings are divided into two categories. Emergency calls, online roadside help, and Audi service requests are all included in the first cluster. In the event of a serious collision, such as one in which the airbag has deployed, the vehicle will autonomously place an emergency call. In addition to providing crucial information including GPS coordinates, travel direction, and the number of occupants, it also establishes a voice and data connection with the Emergency Call Center. A professionally qualified service representative will inquire further about the accident’s severity so that the best support steps can be started right away. An ambulance will be sent to the accident scene if the accident victims are unresponsive. Using a switch in the roof module, the driver or front passenger can manually initiate the emergency call as well. The emergency call module has its own power supply, so even if the car’s electrical system fails, it can establish a voice connection. By pressing a button on the roof module, the driver or front passenger can easily manually activate the online roadside help. The location and pertinent vehicle status information are sent together with the connection to the Audi Service Center. Two weeks previous to the appointment for maintenance, the vehicle’s Audi service request function sends service-related information to the workshop that the customer specifies in the myAudi site. The service provider can then get in touch with the client to arrange a time.
The remote services, which can be managed using an app, are included in the second section of the packages. As an illustration, consider locking and unlocking the car, determining where it is parked, and calling the vehicle status. The status report, which the user can have shown on his smartphone, contains data about the open/closed state of windows and the unlocked/locked state of doors as well as the remaining range, fuel level, and oil level. The quick programming of the optional auxiliary heating feature is also possible using the app. Owners of Audi e-tron vehicles can see the charge status and electric range information using the myAudi app. Additionally, they can employ user-configurable timers to remotely turn on the climate control and charging processes. The offer is completed with charge and journey statistics.
Audi connect key
Audi has transformed the traditional car key into the Audi connect key, which is then sent to the user’s smartphone. It authorizes the start of the engine and is used to unlock and lock the car. Near field communication allows the car and the smartphone to communicate (NFC). This term describes a standard in which data is delivered over brief radio wave distances. The driver uses their smartphone, which has an NFC antenna, to unlock the car by holding it close to the driver’s door handle. The phone is inserted into the Audi phone box, which also has an NFC antenna, to start the engine.
The digital key in the smartphone contains very sensitive data that needs to be shielded against reading, copying, and manipulation. To do this, the Audi connect key is stored on the SIM card or directly in the smartphone in a secure memory and execution environment. Another security benefit is that the communication between the automobile and the smartphone is not mediated by the smartphone’s operating system because this secure element is connected directly to the NFC antenna via the single wire protocol (SWP).
Customers will soon be able to wirelessly distribute up to 15 keys to friends, family, or coworkers. When the car is opened, the key owner is recognized, and a range of settings from the user’s personal profile are loaded, including seat position, air conditioning settings, and navigation preferences. Because a smartphone may store keys for several vehicles, this method eliminates the one-to-one connection between a vehicle key and a vehicle. An Audi connect key card in credit card format is accessible in the vehicle for circumstances where the driver has to share the Audi connect key for a brief amount of time but does not want to hand up the smartphone. It can be turned on by the driver and given to valet parking staff, for example, or transferred in the event of a breakdown.
Due to the NFC chip’s ability to take its energy from an electromagnetic field created by its counterpart, the Audi connect key is always operational, regardless of whether the smartphone’s battery is charged (this depends on the specific model).
Audi connect SIM
Customers in Europe may receive the Audi connect SIM, which is a permanently implanted SIM card, along with the optional Audi connect package, depending on the model and country. It comes with limitless data for usage with connect services. In most European nations, the Audi connect SIM may also instantly access the provider for a certain country as needed. The customer no longer has to deal with exorbitant, regionally specialized roaming fees or onerous roaming confirmations.
Independent of the integrated Audi connect services, the customer can additionally purchase additional data packages for the WiFi hotspot via a unique web portal. This enables the passengers to use up to eight mobile devices to browse the internet.
Audi MMI connect App
Numerous additional features are available through Audi link services in the Audi MMI connect app, which may be accessed from the vehicle’s MMI system. One of these is syncing a smartphone calendar with the dashboard display. The driver can transfer the phone number of a contact person as a contact entry and import an appointment location from the smartphone for usage as a navigation destination. The system announces the location, time, and reason for an appointment. Additionally, users can store their favorite stations on their devices and access over 3,000 internet radio stations through the app. Additionally, it is possible to use internet media streaming with access to Napster products and services, as well as playback music that is locally stored on a smartphone, in the automobile. Additionally, the Audi MMI connect app may display up-to-date traffic data. The “Travel service makes recommendations for travel locales. Planning navigational destinations is possible on a computer or smartphone; specific destinations can be submitted to the Audi back end via the Google Maps, the Audi MMI connect app, and the web site for myAudi. After then, the driver can use the saved locations for in-car navigation.
The Audi MMI connect app is available for free download in the App Store and Google Play Store. After that, registration at myAudi is necessary. The driver can manage specific connect services, make service appointments, and access vehicle data at myAudi. This necessitates the system’s storage of the pertinent vehicle identification number.
Audi phone box
Near-field coupling allows the Audi phone box with wireless charging to wirelessly connect mobile devices to the vehicle antenna. This enables it to produce reception quality that is noticeably greater. Inductive charging based on the Qi standard is also made possible by the box if the mobile device is compatible with it. The receiver coil in the smartphone receives the current from a coil in the box’s base.
The Audi phone box is offered in the Audi A8 (2017) in a variety of configurations for the driver and rear passengers, both with and without an NFC antenna connection. It takes on new functions including recognizing and authenticating the Audi connect key or the Audi connect key card depending on the other feature choices. The Audi phone box can be used by rear passengers to make private phone calls. In this instance, the handset is the remote control for the backseat.
Audi smartphone interface
Apple Car Play and Android Auto are made available through the Audi smartphone interface, bringing the comfortable smartphone environment inside the car. A separate MMI menu or the Audi virtual cockpit can be used to access content including navigation, phone, audio, and some third-party apps (in the Audi TT and Audi R8). Customers can easily access the data on an iOS or Android device (iOS 7.1 and above, Android at least 5.0 Lollipop) that is linked via the USB port by using the car’s operating system. The navigation system and Audi connect services are not required to use the Audi smartphone interface.
Audi tablet
A versatile Rear Seat Entertainment system, the Audi tablet offers a high-resolution 10.1-inch screen (1,920 x 1,200 pixels). The tablet, which is an option for some large models, uses Wi-Fi to connect to MMI navigation plus. This enables it to access the Radio, Media, Navigation, and Car menus. Rear passengers can email the driver a planned route, for example, or the driver can start a radio or media program for them through MMI navigation plus. The data transfer works in both directions.
The Android-powered Audi tablet supports near-field communication (NFC), a technique that allows Android devices to share data while they are in close proximity. A microSD card can be used to expand memory to its 32 gigabytes of internal memory.
The start menu’s “more” button gives users access to the internet and its over one million apps, games, movies, music, audiobooks, eBooks, and office software programs. Skype video calls can be made using the built-in full HD camera. After the journey, the user can take the Audi tablet out of the vehicle and utilize an outside Wi-Fi network to continue using it.
The chassis of the Audi tablet, which is milled from solid anodized aluminum, betrays its high-quality nature. It has a battery and has been thoughtfully made for usage in a car. Additionally, it is unaffected by hot or extremely low temperatures, and the tilt-adjustable bracket on the back of the front seat is collision-proof and detachable if necessary.
The tablets, which may only be bought in pairs, are connected to both the Rear Seat Remote control panel and MMI navigation plus in the Audi A8 (2017). As a result, when the tablet is snapped into its bracket, a passenger can use it extremely easily while leaning back.
Bang & Olufsen Sound System with 3D sound
For fans of high-end audio, the Bang & Olufsen Sound System with 3D sound offers an intriguing featuresound that incorporates the spatial dimension of height. It does this by using a number of additional loudspeakers. Without any added effects, the room is transformed into a spacious sound stage where the music plays out just as it did while recording in the performance hall. An algorithm created by Audi in partnership with the Fraunhofer Institute in Erlangen is what powers this technology. It computes the data for the third dimension, conditions it for the 3D loudspeakers, and takes stereo or 5.1 recordings.
The Bang & Olufsen Sound System has 3D sound in the back seats of its most expensive model. Depending on the model, the sound setting can be tailored to individual preferences with a concentration on either the front or rear seats, or on all seats, using the MMI system and a separate control device for the rear passengers.
The 1,920 watt amplifier that serves as the heart of the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound system in the 2017 Audi A8 runs extremely effectively due to its “Icepower Technology.” Neodymium magnets, which are incredibly light and provide little distortion, are used in 23 loudspeakers, which are driven by the system’s 24 channels and digital signal processor. To highlight the woofers in the doors, aluminum speaker grilles with LED light strips are used. When the system is activated, two tweeters protrude from the instrument panel; both are renowned high-end features by Bang & Olufsen and Audi.
Car-to-X
The Audi fleet’s swarm intelligence, which includes more than 100,000 vehicles already collecting data on a global scale, is used by the Car-to-X services. They send the information over the mobile radio network to a server, which analyses it and makes it accessible to particular fleet members. The bundle also includes the traffic light information service in addition to online traffic sign information, hazard alert, and on-street parking.
The on-board camera assesses speed restrictions in the context of information from road signs. Updates to the navigation map are made using the information. This data is used by systems like the efficiency assistant to adjust driving speed predictably and effectively. Cars can communicate with one another about hazards like accidents, breakdowns, slick roads, and reduced visibility via the hazard information service. The Electronic Stabilization Control (ESCactions, )’s information from rain and light sensors, headlights and windshield wipers, emergency service calls, and instances of airbag activation are just a few of the many criteria that are assessed for this purpose. The on-street parking service offers comprehensive parking data. When a vehicle is outfitted with Car-to-X technology, the onboard sensors on the vehicle will detect available parking spaces and communicate this information to a server in the cloud. Finding a parking spot will become much easier thanks to the swarm’s knowledge.
Traffic light information is a Car-to-X service that is now in use in some US cities and will progressively be implemented in a few European towns starting in the middle of 2019. The driver can adjust their speed to coincide with the next green light phase because the car receives data from the traffic control computer that manages a city’s traffic light systems. A countdown in the instrument cluster displays the seconds until the next green light phase whenever the driver approaches a red traffic light; this allows them to let off the accelerator pedal earlier. The amount of time before the next green light phase can be shown in the instrument cluster if the driver is already waiting at a red light. Thus, the system encourages a foresighted and effective driving style and promotes a continuous stream of traffic.