Apple Car Kit possibly releasing with iPhone OS 4

TUAW recently reported that iPhone OS 4.0 includes a new application that makes use of an “iPod Out” feature that could be used to control the iPhone or iPod Touch when used in a car.

According to sources that TUAW spoke to, the “iPod Out” functionality is built over the iPod Accessory Protocol (IAP). The report claims that the application contains references to several strings like IAPSimpleRemoteCarButtonNotification and IAPSimpleRemoteCarButtonTypeKey that hints at the use of the “iPod Out” functionality in automobiles.

According to TUAW’s source:

“the application might be used in an Apple-branded car kit, where the user docks his iPhone or iPod touch and gains full access to the onboard audio libraries (no video at this time). The car kit could include both a video screen to show the menus and custom physical buttons that would produce the notifications to allow the user to move through those menus, and select from them.

Other hints in the application point to hands-free phone integration as well (kCTCallStatusChangeNotification). Incoming phone calls would be routed into the same system, allowing users to answer calls without having to pick up their device.”

An Apple branded car kit could truly revolutionize the way users consume audio content from their iPhones.

It will be interesting to see if Apple ends up unveiling the car kit, which makes use of this new application when iPhone OS 4.0 is released this summer.