Image via: DSL Developments
Sounds simple right? Well perhaps not so much as you might think….
We recently bought a used car (from a dealer), which the previous owner had taken the time to buy an iPod dock for. Great, we thought, same connector for the iPhone, whack it in there! It was then I remembered that the electronics for the iPhones power connector have been “fiddled with”, and that “made for iPod” accessories (including chargers etc) don’t work with it!
In fact, “made for iPhone” accessories are a much rarer breed, and finding something that was going to play nice with the existing brackets was looking challenging. I eventually happened across the website of DSL Developments – a company that appears to have the widest range of Brodit adapters that I have ever seen! After some browsing, I thought I could see what I needed, but rang them to confirm – a very helpful chap called David answered the phone, and after 10 mins, I had found the solution!
(I should note at this point that the dealer had not been able to figure out what parts were needed to sort out a charging solution for the iPhone in the car – simply by sending David a picture of what was in the car, he could tell me that not only was there a Brodit Universal mount, but an FM transmitter, to allow the iPod to be heard on the car stereo head unit!!!)
A few more phone calls and emails, and the dealer of the used car I bought was able to source and fit the right parts to get the iPhone charging within days. But what are the morals of this story? Well, for starters:
(1) Car dealers are good at selling cars, but as good at sorting our in-car ICE/phone connection solutions
(2) Google is great (used it to find DSL Developments)
(3) Helpful people do exist (thanks David!)
(4) DSL Developments is really good at in-car phone accessories!
There are probably more learnings, but for now I’d suggest that if you are looking to get an integrated car kit, you could do worse than check out DSL Developments site here:
DSL Developments – Brodit UK