Blue&Me: calling all company car drivers

Business drivers who choose a particular Fiat Grande Punto or Bravo as their next company car won’t have to lift a finger to access the ultimate in-car communications and entertainment system, thanks to Fiat’s unique, easy to use Blue&Me technology.

With hands free phone use a must for all drivers, not just company motorists, Blue&Me is fitted as standard on several Fiat Grande Punto and Bravo models. And it is available as an option across the rest of the Grande Punto and Bravo range for £250.

Born out of a collaboration with Microsoft, Blue&Me’s voice-activated system with dashboard display allows users to utilise any Bluetooth-based mobile phone, MP3, WMA or WAV music player, or USB removable stick without removing a hand from the steering wheel. Even incoming SMS messages are read aloud to the driver.

Bluetooth enabled mobile phones need only be paired once with the Blue&Me system and from then on can remain safely tucked away in the glove box. Thanks to a modern voice-recognition system, no preliminary voice training is needed. Drivers simply speak aloud a name, or a phone number, and Blue&Me will make the call for them.

Drivers not comfortable talking to a car Knightrider-style can scroll through the phonebook using integrated steering wheel controls and a digital display on the instrument panel.

For music on demand, MP3 systems simply need to be connected to the USB port conveniently located in the centre console. Blue&Me begins creating a media library and copying playlists as soon as the ignition key is turned. The playlists can then be accessed via the instrument panel display and steering wheel controls.

Adam Pumfrey, Fiat’s fleet and remarketing director, says, “Blue&Me offers the busy driver one sophisticated piece of kit for fast and easy management of all their phone communication and music requirements.”