Car Charger, Radio Transmitter and hands free device for IPHONE

Question

Is there a device that I can purchase that will allow me to charge my IPHONE, listen to music stored on my IPHONE thru the car radio and also all me to use the phone feature hands free? If so, where can I purchase it?

Answer 1

I wish I had a product to point you to (and am still a little baffled that Apple didn't include voice activiation) but I think your best bet is to look at various audio systems, zero in on the best candidates, and make a check list of specific connectivity features you're looking for.
There are many after market audio systems which have MP3 input capability or an iPod adapter that you can use to play tunes off of your iPhone. These units usually do not allow much iPod playlist navigation (i.e., you need to find what you want to listen to on your iPod/iPhone before you start driving).
These after market systems also have Bluetooth hands-free integration. To an extent, they will work with any Bluetooth enabled phone, but the extent of how well they work is mixed bag unless the iPhone is specifically listed as one of the phones it supports. For example, with your iPhone paired to a third car audio unit, when your iPhone receives an incoming call, the music will fade down and you will hear your phone ringing through the car. You will then be able to answer the phone and hear the caller. Whether or not they will be able to hear you is anyone's guess with the audio unit's generic Bluetooth phone driver. With a third party audio unit which lists the iPhone as one of the phone it supports for hands-fee use, you will be able to speak to and hear an incoming caller. You may be able to program some of your most frequently dialed numbers into your audio system and dial out via your audio system, but you may not be able to upload all of your contacts; and even if you can, you need to make sure that you can dial those entries with speach recognition in your audio unit because it is not available in the iPhone.
Check out JVC. I think they have an in-dash navigation unit that supports the iPhone. Again, you need to specifically find out from JVC the extend you can dial with speech recognition or with uploaded contacts.
If anyone knows of any systems which are fully integrated (i.e, will upload contacts and provide speech recognition for dialing), please post it.