Well, I'd say people who navigate by constantly looking at the map are being dangerous. But that's why navigation units also have voice instructions, so you don't need to look at the unit after you've programmed your journey. You could actually use a nav unit with the screen switched off while you're driving.

I don't think the cars actually sync; they just permit the phone to display contacts... It's called HFP, and we don't have it yet (<-- answer to the question), but basically it permits sound transfer (like HSP), but also has serious two-way control facilities for menus and such.

It's designed for that sort of applications (cars) because a touch-screen mounted to the dash requires one finger, and can be instantly abandoned; people instinctively won't drop their phone down beside the seat to grab the steering wheel if their attention is needed elsewhere, but reaching back from a touch-screen to the wheel is easier.

It's also possible for the menu to be driven by a jog-dial on the steering wheel, voice commands, or whatever.

I wonder if this app could be done on Maemo:

http://www.nokia.com/betalabs/pcphone

It lets you make calls on your phone through the PC's browser (FF or IE), but you need to install the browser extension first which is Windows-only.

Thanks for all the responses.

The car I am referring to does sync the contacts. It belongs to my boss. I borrowed his car for a day and thought I would try out its fancy nav/media center, much to my unpleasant surprise it downloaded all of my contacts. (pita to delete btw)

Maybe I should get to work writing a little program to enable the n800 to function as a bluetooth headset.

One of my friends makes calls via his cellphone from his laptop, so I know it is possible.


I figured out a solution to the problem about syncing the contacts. Tmobile syncs all contacts from your phone to their website. I downloaded them and was able to import name and numbers for all my contacts.