Cool thing I can do with my iPhone and New Beetle Convertible

[jsapero]

I've discovered that when I plug my iPhone into the factory auxiliary jack of my NBC to listen to music, I can also use the radio as a speaker for my phone - essentially getting the same "in car" connectivity that usually needs a bluetooth connection and a few hundred bucks!

Here's all I did:

1) I bought a Belkin iPod cup-holder cradle on eBay for $17,99. This cradle was made to fit HP devices (including their blue iPod), can be set to various widths and is wide enough to hold my iPhone in its plastic case.

2) use a connector wire to plug the iPhone into the car aux jack on the dashboard. The iPhone needs an adapter to plug the cord into it - I am using a Belkin adapter, but there are many types on the market. They run from about $3 to $10

3) Set the radio to Aux. Do not set the phone to speaker - leave it normal.

4) Dial out normally. Turn the volume on the radio up to about halfway - you'll hear the ringing on the radio. Don't make it too loud, as the person on the other end will hear an echo if it's blaring

5) When connected, talk a little louder than normal. I find I can keep the iPhone in the cradle, raise my voice, and have them hear me. I've had a Motorola bluetooth car speakerphone in the past and find I don't have to talk any louder than I did with it. changing the phone location might help those with soft voices (I use the cup-holder position because my car is a 5-speed).

I'm not technical, but I assume that since the earphone jack adapter doesn't connect to the microphone contacts in the headset jack, it doesn't disable the regular microphone - making this possible.

Maybe this will work with other phone models?

[DoucheBug]

I just bought a great kit at Best Buy for the iPhone. Made by Griffin or Belkin can't remeber without going to my car and I'm lazy at the moment.
But it was only $30 and it came with car charger, aux cable and a rubber-like foam cup holder to safely hold the iphone in the cup holder. Works great!!
I think I'm gonna mount the iPhone with www.proclipusa.com mount instead of using the cup holder though.

Question for you Jsapero....what happens when your phone rings??? Will it blowout your car speakers if you have music too loud and a call comes in?

*Admin edit: Fixed URL to not link to a cybersquatter*

[jsapero]

the iPhone lowers the music level and then rings - they don't overlap each other. The ring is at about 1/2 the volume of the music. It does the same with an email notification or text message notice.