Breaking Down iPod and iPhone Vehicle Integration

Currently, OEM vehicle integrations are not satisfactory to the consumer. “Sixty percent of iPod users use the units in their vehicles, but are currently not satisfied with the integration solutions available.” Aftermarket Business, Vol 116 Number 10, p60-60. Car manufacturers are not expected to offer proper integration for at least another 5-10 years. And that still leaves the other 218 million vehicles already registered in the US that lack iPod integration. And you’ll notice that there are virtually no online retailers that focus strictly on iPod integration. Most of them only offer integration products as an add-on to a wide variety of mobile electronic devices, and the ones they do offer lack clear descriptions.

You’d rather deal with a company whose specialty is strictly iPod vehicle integration, wouldn’t you? I want a company whose only existence is to fully integrate my iPod with my vehicle. And for me that leaves out FM modulation or cassette adapters. The real deal is full integration with iPod car kits or iPod vehicle integration modules. iPod car kits offer full factory stereo integration with ignition controlled playback, constant charging, stereo head unit control, stereo album/artist text display, and steering wheel control, something that FM modulators and cassette adapters can’t do.

You also need protection and comfort for your valuable investment. Instead of letting your iPod sit in the glove box or passenger seat waiting to be thrown to the ground by a hard brake, where rocks and dirt from your shoes embedded in the floor mats wait to scratch your iPod and its glorious finish. ; You need ProClip iPod holders and in-vehicle mounting solutions that you can install yourself—and that don’t require special tools, dash removal, or interior damage.

I have researched these REAL integration solutions. Universal iPod car kits are around $99. For ‘Full Integration’, including vehicle ignition controlled playback, constant charging, stereo head unit control, artist/album stereo text display and steering wheel control (on most vehicles) , kits are available for Acura, Audi, Bentley, BMW (also for motorcycles), Chevrolet (beta), GMC (beta), Honda, Hummer (beta), Infiniti (coming soon), Lexus, Lamborghini, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Mini Cooper, Nissan (coming soon), Porsche, Scion, Toyota and Volkswagen.