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{{Short description|In-vehicle infotainment system}}
[[File:Fiat Blue and Me Geneva Auto Show 2011 March 11.JPG|thumb|Fiat Blue and Me Geneva Auto Show 2011 March]]

'''Blue&Me''' is an integrated in-vehicle [[wikt:infotainment|infotainment]] system used worldwide on many vehicles marketed by [[Fiat Chrysler Automobiles|Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA)]] from model years 2006–2017. With the exception of the [[Ford Ka]], which is a lightly modified [[Fiat Nuova 500|Fiat 500]], the system is exclusive to [[Abarth]], [[Alfa Romeo]], [[Fiat]] and [[Lancia]] cars and to Fiat Professional's light commercial vehicles (for example, [[Fiat Ducato]], as well as associated vehicles such as Peugeot Boxer and Citroën Jumper/relay)

Developed over three years beginning in 2003 in partnership with CRF (Centro Ricerche FIAT), [[Magneti Marelli]] and [[Microsoft]], and based on [[Windows Embedded Automotive]], Blue&Me was formally launched in 2006 at the Geneva Auto Show. The system uses a paired [[Bluetooth]]-compatible phone to allow users to make hands-free telephone calls, control music, and other functions using voice commands and steering-wheel mounted controls.

==Development history==
Fiat and Microsoft first announced their partnership in July 2004, stating they would jointly "develop innovative telematics solutions for motorists" to "enable drivers to communicate effectively with the outside world."<ref name=Fiat-Microsoft-PR-2004>{{cite press release |url=https://news.microsoft.com/2004/07/15/fiat-auto-and-microsoft-team-up-for-a-long-term-strategic-automotive-partnership/ |title=Fiat Auto and Microsoft Team Up For a Long-Term Strategic Automotive Partnership |date=July 15, 2004 |location=Redmond, Washington |publisher=Microsoft News |access-date=4 December 2018}}</ref> [[Magneti Marelli]] would manufacture the hardware, based on a reference design set by Microsoft and Fiat.<ref name=Fiat-Microsoft-PR-2004 /> The system was developed to be compatible with most mobile phones and media players.<ref name="fiat.com"/><ref name="alfaromeo.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.alfaromeo.com/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/ALFAROMEO_COM/tech/tech.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1086512708.1190374178@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccceaddmdfkdfjmcefecejgdfiidgnk.0&categoryOID=-1073801346|title=Blue & Me|access-date=2007-09-21|work=alfaromeo.com}}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://newatlas.com/go/5140/ |title=Fiat and Microsoft launch Blue&Me in-car communications & entertainment system |author=Hanlon, Mike |date=February 2, 2006 |work=New Atlas |access-date=4 November 2018}}</ref>

The new Blue&Me system debuted on the Alfa Romeo 159, Alfa Romeo Brera, and Fiat Grande Punto, which were shown at the 2006 [[Geneva Motor Show]].<ref name=PCW-2006>{{cite news |url=https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/149670/microsoft_debut_hands-free_fiat_partnership/ |title=Microsoft to debut hands-free Fiat partnership |author=Montalbano, Elizabeth |date=6 February 2006 |work=PC World |access-date=4 December 2018 |archive-date=12 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412045250/https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/149670/microsoft_debut_hands-free_fiat_partnership/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> By 2007, Fiat were reporting that 20% of customers were requesting Blue&Me, and had announced an integrated navigation system, Blue&Me Nav.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://jalopnik.com/275203/blue--me-and-fiat-500 |title=Blue & Me and Fiat 500 |author=Spinelli, Mike |date=5 July 2007 |work=Jalopnik |access-date=4 December 2018}}</ref>

In 2012, Fiat rolled out the successor Uconnect 5.0 system, which was also powered by Windows Embedded Automotive. Uconnect 5.0 was developed by [[Continental AG|Continental Automotive Group]] and was first deployed in the [[Fiat 500L]].<ref>{{cite press release |title=Fiat fine-tunes connected, efficient, affordable driving experience |date=May 20, 2013 |publisher=Microsoft News |location=Turin, Italy |url=https://news.microsoft.com/2013/05/20/fiat-fine-tunes-connected-efficient-affordable-driving-experience/ |access-date=4 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412044634/https://news.microsoft.com/2013/05/20/fiat-fine-tunes-connected-efficient-affordable-driving-experience/ |archive-date=12 April 2021}}</ref>

==Key features==
Initial features included [[Bluetooth]] and [[USB]] connectivity to mobile phones and personal media players. It also provided a [[hands-free]] system, allowing a user to control features by voice commands after alerting the system by depressing a button mounted on the steering wheel.<ref name=PCW-2006 /><ref name="microsoft.com">{{Cite press release |url=https://news.microsoft.com/2006/02/28/blueme-endless-infotainment-possibilities-while-on-the-road/ |title=Blue&Me: Endless Infotainment Possibilities While on the Road |date=February 28, 2006 |location=Geneva |access-date=2007-09-21 |publisher=Microsoft News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811185419/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/feb06/02-28FiatMSGenShowPR.mspx |archive-date=2007-08-11 }}</ref> [[Speech recognition]] and text-to-speech technology from [[Nuance Communications]] was used to support nine different languages, including Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish.<ref name=PCW-2006 /><ref name=STM-2006>{{cite news |url=https://www.speechtechmag.com/Articles/News/Speech-Technology-Digest/Fiat-Auto-Selects-Nuance-Speech-Technologies-for-BlueMe-33886.aspx |title=Fiat Auto Selects Nuance Speech Technologies for Blue&Me |date=April 4, 2006 |magazine=Speech Technology |access-date=4 December 2018}}</ref> Blue&Me could recognize user voice commands to place calls, read SMS messages, and control media player functions.<ref name=STM-2006 /> Because Blue&Me does not support [[A2DP]], audio cannot be streamed directly to the system from a Bluetooth device; the media device must instead be connected via the USB port or a USB Bluetooth receiver supporting A2DP could be used.

Using an [[open architecture]], Blue&Me was an updatable application platform, allowing modular add-on functionality so  the system could evolve by adding new functions.<ref name="fiat.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.fiat.com/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/FIAT_COM/news/news.jsp?contentOID=1074078462|title=Blue&Me|access-date=2007-09-21|work=fiat.com|archive-date=2010-05-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100511124618/http://www.fiat.com/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/FIAT_COM/news/news.jsp?contentOID=1074078462|url-status=dead}}</ref> After its introduction, the system was expanded to include an SMS Reader, a driving coach application (marketed as ''eco:Drive''), navigation capabilities (marketed as ''Blue&Me Nav'', ''Blue&Me MAP'', and ''Blue&Me Tomtom''), and a fleet management capability (marketed as ''Blue&Me Fleet''), to connect a central computer with a fleet vehicle in real time, where data is transmitted automatically to allow real-time mileage and operating cost analysis.

===Navigation===
''Blue&Me Nav'' is an enhanced system which adds [[GPS]] [[navigation]] features.<ref name="autopressnews.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.autopressnews.com/2007/m07/Fiat/Fiat_500_blueandme.shtml|title=New Fiat 500 minicar: Blue&Me|access-date=2007-09-21|work=autopressnews.com}}</ref> It utilizes maps provided by [[Navteq]] or Tomtom. At the 2007 [[Bologna Motor Show]], Fiat presented a new navigation extension to the Blue&Me system called Blue&Me Map, which includes a separate portable navigation unit.<ref name="italiaspeed.com/2007/motor_shows">{{Cite web|url=http://www.italiaspeed.com/2007/motor_shows/bologna/fiat/preview/blue_and_me_map.html|title=6.11.2007 FIAT TO LAUNCH NEW EVOLUTION OF BLUE& ME IN BOLOGNA|access-date=2007-11-30|work=taliaspeed.com/2007/motor_shows}}</ref>

===eco:Drive===
eco:Drive was first presented as a preview at the [[Frankfurt Motor Show]] 2007 and then officially unveiled at the 2008 [[Paris Motor Show]]. It is a new service component which offers the ability to track driving efficiency. It collects data about {{chem|CO|2}} emissions and fuel consumption and saves them to a [[USB key]], which can then be connected to a PC for analysis.<ref name="italiaspeed.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.italiaspeed.com/2007/motor_shows/frankfurt/fiat/ecodrive/1109.html|title=11.09.2007 IN FRANKFURT FIAT AND MICROSOFT ANNOUNCE ECODRIVE|access-date=2007-09-21|work=italiaspeed.com}}</ref>
It is now available for [[Fiat Nuova 500|Fiat 500]], [[Fiat Linea]], [[Fiat Grande Punto]] and [[Fiat Bravo (2007)|Fiat Bravo]]. Fiat Automobiles announced that in 2009 eco:Drive will be available for every car equipped with Blue&Me.

===Known problems===
A flashing odometer could indicate a problem with the unit. Especially If it is not reading USB or Bluetooth is not working. 
Some owners have also reported that a malfunction can cause a power drain from the battery, causing the battery to discharge in a couple of days if the vehicle is not driven.

== Blue&Me applications ==
{{div col |colwidth=15em |gap=2em}}
*[[Abarth Grande Punto]]
*[[Fiat Grande Punto#Abarth Punto Evo (2010–2015)|Abarth Punto Evo]]
*[[Alfa Romeo 159]]
*[[Alfa Romeo Brera]]
*[[Alfa Romeo Brera#Spider|Alfa Romeo Spider]]
*[[Alfa Romeo 147]]
*[[Alfa Romeo GT]]
*[[Alfa Romeo MiTo]]
*[[Alfa Romeo Giulietta (2010)|Alfa Romeo Giulietta]]
*[[Fiat Croma]]
*[[Fiat Doblo]] (Option)
*[[Fiat 500 (2007)]]
*[[Fiat Grande Punto]]/[[Fiat Punto Evo|Punto Evo]]/[[Fiat Punto|Punto 2012]]
*[[Fiat Linea]]
*[[Fiat Bravo (2007)|Fiat Bravo]]
*[[Fiat Panda]] (2011)
*[[Fiat Fiorino]]
*[[Fiat Qubo]]
*[[Ford Ka]] (Rebranded as Ford Audio)
*[[Lancia Ypsilon]]
*[[Lancia Musa]]
*[[Lancia Delta|Lancia Delta III]]
*[[Fiat Ducato|Fiat Ducato/Peugeot Boxer/Citroën Jumper/Citroën Relay]] (Option)
*[[Opel Combo|Opel/Vauxhall Combo]] (Option)
{{div col end}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.blueandme.net/blueandme/index.aspx Blue & Me website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714065501/http://www.blueandme.net/blueandme/index.aspx |date=2019-07-14 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101201065911/http://www.fiat.com/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/FIAT_COM/blueme/blueme.jsp Fiat page on the technology]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070811185419/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/feb06/02-28FiatMSGenShowPR.mspx Microsoft page on the technology]
*[http://www.fiat.com/ecodrive Fiat page on ecoDrive] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716190955/http://www.fiat.com/ecodrive |date=2011-07-16 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.fiat-lancia.org.rs/Manuals/AlfaRomeo/159/Blue&Me.pdf |title=Blue&Me Manual |date=August 2009 |publisher=Alfa Romeo}}

{{Telematics}}
{{Carputer}}
{{Fiat}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:BlueandMe}}
[[Category:In-car entertainment]]
[[Category:Automotive technology tradenames]]
[[Category:Fiat]]
[[Category:Alfa Romeo]]
[[Category:Lancia]]
[[Category:Windows Embedded Automotive devices]]