Nokia integrates GPS, music player with hands-free car kit

Nokia has introduced Nokia 500 Auto Navigation, a Bluetooth hands-free car kit with integrated GPS and Nokia Maps navigation software, a 4.3-inch color display, and digital signal processing for the speaker system. Planned for a fourth quarter launch in Europe, the €300 unit is said to give clear spoken and visual turn-by-turn directions that include street and city names. A split screen displays additional information including details on the next turn, estimated time of arrival, and distance remaining.

Nokia 500 Auto Navigation comes with pre-installed regional maps that include contact information for points of interest. A Traffic Message Channel Service helps users avoid traffic jams. It also includes a music player with image and video display capability and an FM transmitter for playing music through the vehicle’s audio system.