Why does Siri bluetooth connection in 2008 Toyota Prius with iOS 8 terminate outgoing call with message "call terminated by network" on Prius screen

Do those of you that have looked into this expect a fix from Apple soon? I have the same problem with my 2008 Prius where the Bluetooth and Sii worked seamlessly, but the move to iPhone 6 killed my ability to initiate hands free calls. Huge disappointment that must be fixable with a software patch. Interested to hear the latest update if you have It. Thanks.

I think the car has the problem not your phone. 🙂

Alice,

>>>I think the car has the problem not your phone.

That's highly debatable!!!

In unofficial reports Apple CLAIMS that Toyota failed to properly implement the Bluetooth spec. However, we haven't heard Toyota's side of the story. Was the spec clearly written? Is it really true that they didn't meet the spec? How do you prove that?

By the way this is all unofficial. If Apple is really going to blame Toyota for this when are they going to step up to the plate and come out in public and say it?

When are they going to commit in public to a fix or not to fix?

One thing that is certain. Customers aren't being taken care of.

Even if Toyota is at fault (which I doubt) why has the problem only surfaced 8 years down the road?

At some point Apple should stop pointing fingers and ship product to the installed base as it actually is not as it should have been 8 years ago and now they're just finally noticing. It's called serving the customer.

Apple's attitude on this is not customer oriented. We're being left hanging out to dry while they blame everything on Toyota.

hello?!?

scan the posts here and tell me it isn't clear - worked under iOS 6, 6.1, etc. with the same iPhone and the same car's Bluetooth.

You don't have to be a QA veteran to see that it's a software-exclusive fault. The car's software didn't change, but Apple didn't prioritize testing to ensure they ship robust "free" software. I'm beginning to characterize the mindset as IT=insufficient testing.

If you won't fix this epic fail in a reasonable timeframe, at least enable iOS rollback (e.g.: iOS 7.x, a non-option in the App Store, afaik)

The impetus for me to upgrade the OS was because so many of the apps i rely on had declared iOS 6.1 incompatible, not because I couldn't live without new iOS features. I could, however live without this bug (call it what it is), as could the hundreds of users who have commented into the multiple threads here. Apple, if you won't dedicate adequate resources to Alpha test, for crying out loud, build a substantial Beta program the gates GA so those of us who have paid for the privilege (iPhone owners) can spare the rest of the community from your callous disregard. No one will buy a new car to be compatible with iPhone - it's much cheaper to buy an Android or Windows phone and not endure this

you're very generous with test cycles - maybe you should send them a bill for your services verifying their bug. I was advised to open a RADAR bug to get their attention, though i'm sure there are plenty; oh, and include a Bluetooth log

wish i had people signing up to do gratis software testing, and reporting - 'cause Apple needs all the charity they can get (give me a break!)

Dear CathBZZ,

I haven't been able to dial hands free on my iPhone for two months now. My contract on my iPhone 5 ends at the end of the month. My plan was to upgrade to an iPhone 6 but after two months and no response from Apple I will go with a competing phone instead that works with my Prius.

If I were in your position I'd consider returning the phone and get your money back if it's still within the return period. Get out while you can. There is no commitment from Apple to EVER support the iPhone 6 with the 2008 Prius.

2007 Prius has same problem. calls originated thru Siri get dropped. with update to 8.1.2, I get an interesting "new" feature: After saying "Call John Smith", Siri responds with "Just to confirm, call John Smith?" with a Call or Cancel box showing on the phone. I respond "Yes", the call is initiated and then immediately terminated. Absolute failure on Apple's part. It's not just Toyota products. BT origination thru Siri is flopping for many iPhone owners with any 8.x.x update.

Any update from Apple on fixing this? Or NOT fixing this? Or any 8.1.3 release-date rumors?

I have a proposal for Apple that will solve this problem.

I will start with a disclaimer. This posting is intended only for technical audiences and Apple engineers. It is not intended for the general public. It is not here to obfuscate with technical jargon but to put on the table a concrete proposal for solving the problem. It is hoped that someone from Apple will read this and put it forward to management as an option.

Background:

According to unofficial postings on this site Apple has closed this bug and does not want to implement a solution that mimics the way iOS 7 handles communication with Bluetooth. The concern on Apple's end is that to do so could introduce new bugs for other vehicles. It is Apple's claim that Toyota has failed to correctly implement the Bluetooth Protocol and it is Apple's desire, starting in iOS8, to enforce the standard (at least as they interpret it).

Problem:

Legacy users, especially 2007, 2008 and 2009 Toyota owners, are severely impacted by Apple's enforcement of the standard. How many users are affected is hard to quantify but it could be an extremely large number. To the best of my knowledge ALL Toyota owners in the years 2007, 2008 and 2009 with the Bluetooth option who own iPhones will be unable to place calls hands free. For many users the primary purpose of owning and mobile phone is to place hands free calls from their cars.

Proposed Solution and Compromise:

My basic proposal is to do it BOTH ways and make everyone happy. Apple should provide a selection option in the settings for the affected Toyota owners. If this option is selected the device will behave exactly as it did in iOS7. This can be handled with a simple "if" statement in the code. If not, it will behave exactly as Apple wants it to behave in iOS8. This will enable Apple to continue to move forward with evolving their system architecture without leaving legacy Toyota owners out in the cold.

Comments:

This proposal my not be appealing to architectural purists inside of Apple. Without being an iOS developer and without having access to the code for Apple's internal software libraries (AKA, objects, classes, packages and components) I can not know the full implications of this suggestion. Without a doubt this would require pulling along some legacy code that Apple's software architects would like to dispose of and never support again. I propose this only from the point of view of a former software developer who has programed in many programming languages (and in particular distributed network systems (which is what the iPhone talking to a Prius is all about). I know nothing specific about Apple's implementation but understand generically what problems Apple may be facing and why Apple's development team might be so reluctant to fix the bug. While I am sympathetic to Apple's point of view the bottom line is the problem needs to be solved.

I've worked on many development projects and ultimately servicing the customer requires compromise between perfection in ideals of software architecture and maintainability versus keeping the installed base going.

Researching this problem in greater depth would require more of my time than a $600 phone is worth. To the best of my knowledge the firmware on the Toyotas can't be upgraded. The stereo, bluetooth, navigation systems and information systems on the Toyota are so tightly integrated that ripping it out and replacing it is not a practical option. The best way to deal with this is for Apple to solve the problem on Apple's end.

Please understand that one of the reasons users are so adamant about a fix is we have already built our business processes around Apple. We don't want to be forced to chose between buying a new car, replacing the stereo/navigation system or buying a non-Apple phone. This is worth a lot more to us than the cost of the phone.

Resolution:

I invite comments from Apple on resolving this matter. My solution is just a proposal. If a better solution is possible I would like to hear about it. Regrettably if there is no response from Apple it will be necessary to give this greater visibility and escalate it up the management chain.

Hear hear!

Thank you for your well thought, and reasonable appeal. I can only ask you if you can send it to the attention of Apple bloggers or leadership or someone on the Apple team as I am not sure they are hear us.

Until a major incident which captures the attention of Apple Public Relations, I fear you are "preaching to the choir".

But thanks- I certainly agree with you 100%!

Very strange anomaly today. I use voice dialing-(Siri) to bring my caller to the top of the recent calls list. A call actually went through. The connection was very poor, sounding digitized, and then I was thrown off Bluetooth altogether and had to turn my vehicle off and on again.

Any thoughts?

I'm am also wondering how the OS behaves on "jail-broken" phones and if that community had found a fix.

Flippant1, AudioVideoEditor et al, this is what's really going on . . .

More bad press to follow!

Posted on January 20, 2015

Auto Connected Car News, awards Apple the

Edsel Yugo Award for Biggest Snafu in Connected Car Technology 2014

"Why Bluetooth iOS 8-8.1 & iPhone 6-6+ issues persist in cars"

"However, there are still problems reported with BMW, Audi, Acura, MINI, GM(Chevy, GMC, Cadillac, Buick), Honda, Kia, Toyota, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Mazda, Lexus, Fiat, Hyundai and more."

'The car makers are as frustrated as the car owners with Apple."

"Apple Controls it All"

"Apple Doesn’t Admit Mistakes"

"The people who are the most effective at complaining to Apple are shareholders. If you know someone who has influence with Apple stock, they are the ones who carry the clout. Apple has turned into a phone iOS dictatorship, the best way you can combat it is with your money. Many believe that if you are going to pay $650 for a phone, it should work with your $65,000 car."

All awards except Apple's were positive. ONLY Apple received the distinction of the "Edsel Yugo" epic fail award for not taking the repair of bluetooth disconnection SIRI-ously enough!

More bad press to follow

January 20, 2015

The Winners of AUTO Connected Car News’ Tech CARS Awards are:

• Overall Best Implementation of Any New Car Tech to Make Lives Easier or Better – GM for OnStar’s 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspots.
• Best Implementation of Connected Car Tech with Smartphones -Ford SYNC AppLinkdeveloper apps.
• Best Electric Car Feature in 2014 (Co-Sponsored by Electric Car Insider) – AWD Tesla S for Dual Motor All Wheel Drive.
• Edsel Yugo Award for Biggest Snafu in Connected Car Technology 2014 – Apple’s Bluetooth issues withiOS Updates 8-8.1 iPhone 6/6+ with in-car systems which garnered over 3/4 of the votes.
• Best Deployment of ADAS Features in 2014 -Volvo Safe City with auto-braking.
• Best CarPlay Deployment in 2014 – Pioneer NEX Systems. Including AVIC-8000NEX, AVIC-7000NEX, AVIC-6000NEX, AVIC-5000NEX, andAVIC-4000NEX(with a removable face plate makes it harder to steal.
• Best OBDII Port Connected Device in 2014 – Mojio.
  Best Anti-Texting App – OTTER App tied with AT&T DriveMode. Because anti-texting apps are so important to driver safety, AUTO Connected CAR News’ decided to give the award to both apps.
• The Best Car Tech Connected Car Trade Show, Exhibition or Symposium – Connected Car Expoat the LA Auto Show.

A simple preference in settings:

Use legacy Bluetooth (IOS 7)

That would buy the time or get everyone working until updated Bluetooth was universally functional as suggested by AudioVisualEditor.

8.1.3 is out. Anyone try it yet? Downloading it now.

There are already complaints:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2015/01/28/apple-ios-8-1-3-bugs/2/