Telephone preparation generations

From 1999 (1 year after introduction), the TT was optionally available with phone preparation. From then on, during the further life of the TT 8N, a lot has happened in the land of mobile phones. From the rock-solid Nokia 6310 to the Nokia E50. But no smartphone like the iPhone yet. This only made its appearance after the TT 8N in 2007.

Nokia 6310
© Photo: Nokia

Nokia E50
© Photo: Nokia

iPhone 1e generatie
© Photo: Apple

iPhone 3Gs
© Photo: Apple

In the years when the TT 8N was available with phone preparation, all systems worked with an additional adapter to make the connection specific for your mobile phone. The controls had to be done via the phone. Steering wheel controls were never there. The ability to wirelessly pair your phone with the car via Bluetooth came only in the 2nd half of the 8N's life cycle.

For a while, newer phones were still supported with adapters. For example, iPhones up to and including the 3rd generation (iPhone 3Gs June 2009 - September 2012) were still supported with a special holder for the 3rd generation phone preparation. A fun scavenger hunt to find a phone and holder that still works in your TT to keep it completely in the zeitgeist. See the header photo as an example.

1st generation

A year after the TT entered the market, the 1st-generation phone prep was introduced in late 1999. This supported the then GSM900 network (2G). And can be recognised by the bracket on the centre console on the passenger side.

Some features of the simple set-up:

Can only be used with a special phone-specific adapter
Geen Bluetooth
It could also be ordered without radio preparation. There was then a specific centre speaker
With radio preparation, the sound signal goes via the radio or BOSE amplifier
KPN (Dutch mobile provider) will continue to support 2G network until April 2025 (status in early 2022)

2nd generation - dual Band support

In November 2001, the system was updated. From then on, the phone preparation was a dual-band system with support for GSM900 and GSM1800 (2G) networks. Still no Bluetooth. So using the adapter was still necessary. And was mainly a 1st-generation technical update.

3rd generation - Bluetooth support

July 2003 saw the arrival of the 3rd generation. With this, the holder moved from the centre console to the dashboard. Ergonomically better within reach for the phone controls. More inconvenient for seat heater operation of the passenger seat, though.

Some modified features of the 3rd generation:

To be used with a special phone-specific adapter or
Bluetooth support and even an adapter with rSAP (remote SIM access)
Can only be ordered with radio preparation

Antenna difference Coupé and Roadster

Through all generations, there was a difference in the mobile phone antenna location at the different TT 8N models:

Coupé - on the roof
Roadster - combi antenna radio / phone on left rear screen

On the Roadster, you can recognise the phone preparation from the outside by the different antenna. Here, the antenna base blends less smoothly into the antenna rod than the radio-only version.