I installed a SIM card into the available slot/drawer hoping it would work, but no go. Is some other hardware/wire or software needed?

 

Did you order the car with the proper SIM card phone option? The sim card slot is there on all the cars - regardless of whether the phone option is installed.

 

The '05 through '08 911, would need the Telephone Module for PCM option.

 

can the telephone module be added after purchase? or does it make more sense to add the Dension GW 500 + BT module for phone use?

 

I added the phone kit to the PCM post purchase on a 2005 987 and it was great. IMO, between the Denison and this is a personal preference. You will spend more $$$ for the Porsche PCM phone kit with install....


I went an looked at the receipts for this and found the following:

997-044-900-71 Telephone Module $1,446.27
997-622-703-00 Optical Fiber $155.07
8 TU Labor $875.00

 

You can always go the Tooki bluetooth route. Works fairly well. Easy install.

 

I took a look at adding the OEM phone kit before going with the MoBridge (about $2K installed). The OEM kit requires a separate SIM card (as you note). In Europe, this works out alright because you can get a SIM with a duplicate number. So you can leave one in your P-car and receive calls to your standard number. We luddites in the U.S. don't allow that, so you need to forward your phone or just deal with it. The MoBridge also gives you excellent (albeit with a clumsy UI) iPhone integration. I'm totally pleased with it and thus recommend it.
I will note that it does not at all seem like an installation that you can do yourself.
(Standard comments apply here: I'm not an employee, investor nor family member of the MoBridge company. Just a happy customer. Promise)

 

I have an 07 w/o nav or the phone option. I weighed the various possibilities for a bluetooth add-on and decided to go with a Garmin Nuvi portable, which gives you an excellent nav plus built-in bluetooth. The prices on Garmin have decreased significantly. Mine is a 760, which cost less than $300.