TeleService vs 3G?

[bwilson4web]

When 3G went away, the app that let me do modest things with my BMW i3-REx went away. But I was surprised to find that "TeleService" appears to still work. I received a notice that some maintenance was needed for my EV.

How? Specifically, without 3G cell service, how does the car communicate?

Thanks,
Bob Wilson

 

[alohart]

Might this notification have resulted from BMW's servers knowing that time-based maintenance was due based on your i3's in-service date?

 

[Dutchi3]

How? Specifically, without 3G cell service, how does the car communicate?

I guess you can still receive SMS (TEXT) messages from BMW despite no 3G full cell service. Maybe that SMS part of the 3G protocol still works on higher protocols? I don't know. My car sometimes displays a symbol in the screen, and via iDrive menu, you can read the the message from BMW despite 3G having been phased out.

 

[mojo]

I believe it's not a simple situation, because it varies a lot depending on where you are. In (most of) Europe, the 2G network has been retained and SMS can continue to be carried over that. But - as I understand it - in the US the 2G network was decommissioned, so there is no older network for it to fall back onto.