iOS 8.1.1 bluetooth problem in Mazda persists

I contacted Mazda through their hands free site. Received this back ...

Thank you for visiting MazdaHandsFree.com. We have very rigorous testing procedures and unfortunately, iOS 8.1 for the iPhone 6 did not pass our testing for compatibility with the Mazda HandsFree system for transferring calls that were originally placed from the phone handset. There were too many issues with the phone.

Unfortunately, there are no software or firmware updates available for the HandsFree system. When we find issues with compatibility we inform the manufacturer of the issue. Hopefully this will be resolved in the future.

So it looks like Mazda is putting the issue on Apple.

funny part is that GSM phones do not work for outgoing calls

CDMA serviced phones do.

Verizon iPhone 6 works fine dialing out

AT&T iPhone 6 does not

The reason is because call duration begins elapsing time when the phone is ringing on a CDMA network, thus the bluetooth connects instantly and doesn't time out

Apple will NEVER admit responsibility! They continue to blame EVERYONE else! Either switch and leave Apple behind, recommended, or just have the Apple Store or your provider replace your DEFECTIVE phone. There are not other options!!!!!!!

oldman191 wrote:

Apple will NEVER admit responsibility! They continue to blame EVERYONE else!

Where did Apple blame anyone?

A further message I received from Mazda ...

"The issue is with the new iOS 8 compatibility with the system. To resolve the issue another update would need to come from Apple."

I reinstalled my SolChat into the car. I wondered how things would work as I still have the Mazda Bluetooth system on. When I make a call from the SolChat it activates Siri and I can place calls no problem. If I use the "Hey Siri" function it routes the call through the SolChat, and not the Mazda. I haven't tested an incoming call yet to see what happens. I suspect both the SolChat and Mazda will ring. I can continue to play music through the Mazda Bluetooth. It's an odd arrangement, but it seems to work until Apple get their act together. Or not. That remains to be seen.

Randy Preising wrote:

A further message I received from Mazda ...

"The issue is with the new iOS 8 compatibility with the system. To resolve the issue another update would need to come from Apple."

Okay. So Mazda is blaming Apple, not vice-versa...

Anyone have any updates here? I have the exact same issues with my iPhone not connecting properly. I've tried every fix under the sun, but nothing works. No work arounds?

I'm guessing not, as the thread has been very quiet. I gave up (for now) and went back to my old Bluetooth device.

No updates. The only way this gets fixed is if Mazda updates software in the cars or Apple updates iOS.

Mazda told me it's an Apple issue.

Either one of them could fix it, it's semantics. Personally I think the responsibility rests on Apple since they can update my device wirelessly instead of me having to take my car into the shop and wait while they install new software. It's much easier for the consumer, plus it's not like I'm going to sell my car because my phone doesn't work, I'll just change to a different phone the next chance I get.

2011 Mazda 3 MPS same issue. It is unsafe to use the phone and driving me mad but we have been experiencing a bigger issue with our employees who were being provided with iPhones for work. Note past tense. If an employee links an Apple ID via iCloud and then leave the company on bad terms and this link has not been broken, it is impossible to reactivate the phone to a new employee. Another win for Samsung and Sony and the adroid movement. Apple were the movers and shakers and court Nokia and Blackberry napping but seems to me they are mistakenly believing it can not happen to them. I would say unless they pick up their game they will be a future sad story on the internet too.

kym.c wrote:

2011 Mazda 3 MPS same issue. It is unsafe to use the phone and driving me mad but we have been experiencing a bigger issue with our employees who were being provided with iPhones for work. Note past tense. If an employee links an Apple ID via iCloud and then leave the company on bad terms and this link has not been broken, it is impossible to reactivate the phone to a new employee. Another win for Samsung and Sony and the adroid movement. Apple were the movers and shakers and court Nokia and Blackberry napping but seems to me they are mistakenly believing it can not happen to them. I would say unless they pick up their game they will be a future sad story on the internet too.

It's not impossible. First off, if it's a work phone, then there's no need to put a personal Apple ID on the device. Your IT department could create and assign an Apple ID for use on each device, and then enable a restrictions passcode on the device and disallow changes to accounts. This means that your company controls the device, not the employee. It also means that the employee could not restore the device without first disabling Find My iPhone, which can only be done with the Apple ID & password used on the device. This would prevent any future incidents such as you describe. This is what my company does. We have yet to have such an issue as you, not since iOS 7 came out. Additionally, to ensure return of company equipment, the final paycheck is held (or a portion thereof) equal to the cost of replacing the device outright. Only on rare occasions have we had anyone refuse to return a device, and in those circumstances, we dock the final paycheck appropriately.

Any current devices of yours that are in Activation Lock, you can contact Apple, provide proof of purchase that it is a company owned device, and get the Activation Lock removed.

When the eventual legislation passes that will require all smartphones to have a similar protection system (which will likely work almost identical to Apple's system), what will you do then? Android phones will soon have the same type of system, required by law... so it's better to know how the system works instead of simply complaining that it 'doesn't work'.

It does work. You just have to educate yourself on how it works.

thanks for your detailed reply. I admire your tireless support but unfortunately unless you listen to your customers you are going to end up like the now extinct ozzu bird. This was a bird that flew in every decreasing circles until it eventually flys up its own arse and disappeared forever.

In Australia it is illegal to with hold someones final pay you must persue them for your losses. I will let my IT team know that they may be able to save their iPhones which have built up from a recent round of redundancies. We have already started to change and being a company of over 3000 employees will be significant. While you might be right about other operating systems it is not currently the case so until then. As said previously the damage is done. I personnally will never by another apple product and I have 2 ipads and 3 iphones.

Keep up yor proud defense as soon you will have no one listening because they will all be using someone elses product and someone elses operating system.

kym.c wrote:

thanks for your detailed reply. I admire your tireless support but unfortunately unless you listen to your customers you are going to end up like the now extinct ozzu bird. This was a bird that flew in every decreasing circles until it eventually flys up its own arse and disappeared forever.

In Australia it is illegal to with hold someones final pay you must persue them for your losses. I will let my IT team know that they may be able to save their iPhones which have built up from a recent round of redundancies. We have already started to change and being a company of over 3000 employees will be significant. While you might be right about other operating systems it is not currently the case so until then. As said previously the damage is done. I personnally will never by another apple product and I have 2 ipads and 3 iphones.

Keep up yor proud defense as soon you will have no one listening because they will all be using someone elses product and someone elses operating system.

My customers? Well, I guess technically all Apple users are my customers since I'm a (minor) stockholder, but I don't represent Apple. I'm not an Apple employee. Just like I guess technically all IBM or Microsoft users are my customers, since I own stock there too.

The Find My iPhone & Activation Lock system are very successful at what they do, and therefore, it will continue to exist, and it will also probably be adopted by other smartphone manufacturers eventually. Especially since in many areas, the percentage of iPhones stolen compared to non-Apple smart phones has dropped significantly, and many police departments are attributing this to the Activation Lock system. It's just not as profitable for thieves to steal iPhones anymore. And the competitors are sure to notice, especially when it's a great marketing point. Other mobile devices will soon have a similar feature. Better to learn how to use the feature instead of complaining about it.

Even if you take away the 'withhold pay' part, everything else I said is still valid and would deter/reduce the situation. I also told you how you can get the affected devices unlocked, as well as how to prevent them from being locked by an employee in the future.

What, you're going to move over to a device that doesn't have this protection feature that your company can use on the device prior to giving it to an employee?

For the purposes of making sure that a device is returned to you and the data is protected, the iPhone's Find My iPhone/Activation Lock is better than anything else, especially if you're not allowed to withhold pay if a device isn't returned.

Situation A: You give me an Android work phone. I leave the company. I refuse to return it. I continue to use the device, while you go through the legal steps to pursue me for your losses. And that costs you time and money.

Situation B: You give me an iPhone for work. However, you've assigned a work-related/controlled Apple ID to the device for iCloud/Find My iPhone. I am not privy to the password for that Apple ID, therefore I cannot sign out of the iCloud/Find My iPhone. I leave the company. I refuse to return it. Your IT department then remotely looks the device, places it in Lost Mode, which effectively makes the device totally useless to me.

Now, in which situation are you more likely to find that I voluntarily return the device in a timely manner? One that I can use freely, or one that is useable only as a paperweight?