Now you never ever have to stop using your iPhone -- that is if you're planning on buying a very expensive car in the next year or so.
Apple announced a new iPhone-to-automobile integration system called CarPlay on Monday, ahead of the Geneva auto show.
CarPlay syncs your iPhone with your car, letting you take phone calls, dictate text messages and emails and play music while driving. The new technology uses Siri to control native iPhone apps and a few third-party apps, including Spotify and iHeartRadio.
CarPlay won't work with the one app drivers probably need the most: Google Maps. Instead, CarPlay gives drivers access to turn-by-turn directions in the much-maligned and far less reliable Apple Maps.
CarPlay will be available in Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo cars starting this week. Thirteen other auto makers, including Ford, General Motors, Hyundai and Toyota, will integrate CarPlay, though Apple did not specify when. The system will only be available starting with new, 2014 models and will only work with the iPhone 5, 5C and 5S.
Apple first hinted at its plans to weasel iOS into people's cars at its developers conference in June. Last year, Apple made a similar partnership to integrate iOS into select Beetles with a built-in iPhone docking station.
Both Apple and Google want a bigger place in people's cars, starting with the software that runs vehicles' entertainment and navigation systems. Last month, Google announced plans to bring Android to four auto makers' vehicles.
Google has its own highly touted plan to develop self-driving cars.