Mobiles on the move
TECH TALK: Cars are still catching up with phones says David Behrens.
OBILE phones have been around for long enough now, you’d have thought, that hooking them up to your car would be second nature. Sadly, though, motor manufacturers are still in the slow lane where technology is concerned. That’s why we have so many competing and non-compatible technologies – from integrated Bluetooth receivers to plug-in chargers and audio cables. All of them work, in one way or another, but some solutions are more connected than others.
Today’s phones are capable of far more than making and receiving calls. They can stream music wirelessly to your car speakers and act as a sat nav and traffic warning system. But you will need a fairly sophisticated in-car unit.
Hands-free calling is perhaps the most fundamental use for your phone while you’re on the move. You can use a plug-in cradle, but Bluetooth is a better option. Almost all phones support it, and if your car radio doesn’t, you can swap it over for around £50. Once installed, the radio will “pair” itself with your phone, and incoming calls will be heard through your car speakers. But because Bluetooth works without wires, it doesn’t charge your phone – in fact it discharges it alarmingly quickly. A USB cable from your phone to the car’s lighter socket will help.
The basic Bluetooth specification doesn’t let you stream music wirelessly, so if you’re buying a cheap stereo, check its features. The best units will handle music as well as calls and also let you import your phone’s address book and display it on screen.
A modern smartphone will have its own satellite navigation system, but in many cases the best you can hope for is a stickon cradle to hold it securely and a USB cable to charge it. The ideal solution is a replacement all-in-one dashboard unit with sat nav and Blutooth streaming builtin. They can be had for upwards of £300.
The last piece of the jigsaw is automating your phone so that it switches wi-fi off and Bluetooth on when you climb in, and the reverse when you get out.
If your phone has a menu option called NFC or iBeacon you can buy a tiny NFC tag for a few pennies online, program it with an app and then stick it out of sight under your dashboard. It acts as a discrete switch every time your handset comes within range.
Now that is progress.