CUPERTINO, Calif. & WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. (Apple & BMW press release) - Apple and BMW Group today announced the BMW iPod Adapter, the first seamless integration between iPod and a car audio system. The new system developed by Apple and BMW enables drivers to seamlessly use their iPod in BMW's 3 Series, Z4 Roadster, X3 and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and MINI
Cooper by simply plugging their iPod into a cable located in the car's glove compartment. With the iPod safely located in the glove compartment and powered by the car's battery, drivers can now enjoy high fidelity sound through their car's stereo system and control their iPod using the standard buttons on their BMW or MINI steering wheel.
"One of the next frontiers for a seamless digital music experience is the car," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We all spend a lot of time driving, and now this elegant solution lets iPod users enjoy their entire music collection in their BMW or MINI."
"With Apple, we're bringing the ultimate digital music experience to our customers," said Tom Purves, Chairman and CEO, BMW of North America. "The BMW iPod Adapter provides our drivers with virtually endless miles of music without their hands ever leaving the steering wheel."
The seamless integration of iPod makes it effortless for drivers to control their music through their existing audio system and the multifunction steering wheel. The BMW iPod Adapter enables drivers to easily access their entire music library, shuffle songs, skip between tracks and adjust volume - all of this with no loss of sound quality or driving control. Drivers can also create up to five unique "BMW playlists" to listen to while on the road enabling them to enjoy their favorite songs at the touch of a button.
The BMW iPod Adapter integrates Apple's iPod and iPod mini through a direct connection in the glovebox, providing outstanding sound quality and constant power to the iPod.
The rollout is being supported with a dedicated website www.ipodyourbmw.com, for customers to learn more about this groundbreaking marriage of music and car, as well as a marketing campaign that includes print, outdoor, online and television advertising.
Pricing & Availability
The BMW iPod Adapter is available for the MSRP of $149 (US) plus installation cost, and will be officially available for customers to purchase at BMW centers as of July 12, 2004 for 2002, 2003 and 2004 BMW models: X3, X5, Z4 and 3 Series. The MINI Cooper iPod Adapters will be available later this summer. Consumers should check with their BMW or MINI centers for specific application restrictions or log onto www.ipodyourbmw.com. Installation is performed by authorized BMW and MINI centers only. iPod and iPod mini are available in the U.S. through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. iPod mini is available for a suggested retail price of $249 (US); $299 (US) for the 15GB iPod, $399 (US) for the 20GB iPod and $499 (US) for the 40GB iPod.
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand, the MINI brand, and the ROLLS-ROYCE brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 roadster and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 340 BMW passenger car centers, 327 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 148 BMW motorcycle retailers, 76 MINI passenger car dealers, and 25 ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.
