Belkin, and others, have been making similar car docks for a while now so your probably know how this new model works. There are two versions coming: the TuneBase FM has a FM modulator and the TuneBase Direct outputs via a 3.5mm jack. Both will get your iPod/iPhone hooked up to your car’s speakers while simultaneously charging it and providing a speakerphone for the iPhone.
Basically, when a call comes in, hit any button on the TuneBase and the iPhone’s call will be routed through the vehicle’s speakers. Expect to pay $89.99 for the FM model when it launches in mid-July, and $69 for the 3.5mm in June.
New TuneBaseTM Products Let You Answer Your Calls Hands-Free on Your iPhone and Play Music in the Car
Listen to music from your iPhone while it charges
Talk on your iPhone and answer calls, hands-free, while driving
With one push of a button, TuneBase FM’s ClearScan automatically finds the clearest FM station
COMPTON, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Belkin’s new TuneBase FM and TuneBase Direct allow you to pick up a call on your iPhone while in the car, hands-free. The thoughtful design of these two products lets you use them without removing your iPhone or iPod from its case. The TuneBase cradle easily repositions your iPhone horizontally to view turn-by-turn directions and videos.Newer cars include an auxiliary input jack to connect different audio sources to the car’s stereo. Using a 3.5mm cable, TuneBase Direct connects to your car stereo through the auxiliary input, so you can play the music from your iPhone or iPod while in the car. TuneBase Direct also charges your iPod so the battery doesn’t run out while you’re on the road.
TuneBase FM lets you listen to music from your iPhone or iPod in your car while simultaneously charging it. Its ClearScan feature automatically searches for the clearest FM frequency.
How to Answer Calls in the Car
Listen to music from iPhone in the car
When call comes in, TuneBase FM and TuneBase Direct fade out music
Answer the call by simply pressing a button on the TuneBase
The call’s audio will come through the car stereo
Safely talk using speakerphone feature
AVAILABILITYTuneBase FM – Available in mid-July 2009 in the US
TuneBase Direct – Available in early June 2009 in the US
Both available in mid-May in the EU
TuneBase FM with Hands-Free (F8Z441) – $89.99Features push-button call pickup and speakerphone
Features ClearScan technology
Transmits audio wirelessly on multiple FM channels from 88.1MHz-107.9MHz
TuneBase Direct with Hands-Free (F8Z442) – $69.99Features push-button call pickup and speakerphone
3.5mm cable included
not sure why you’d pay $69 for this when a simple aux audio cable, while not charging it, does play music through the car speakers and allows hands-free phone use with the person you are talking to playing through the speakers and your voice picked up by the speakerphone mic. i guess for the stand and charger you’re paying a lot more.
…and for us cheap folks that blow our money on gadgets instead of cars, most cars on the road _still_ don’t have an AUX in for your cable. Even those where you could use a cassette adapter, may still not work (very frustrating to listen to 30 seconds of audio and then have your tape deck switching from A->B->A as it tries to work against the adapter.)
ooh! And this thing has a USB port (to charge other stuff when being used) and an line-out so you can still use the AUX in if you have it. If you have more than one car, or you ever use a rental, it’s great!