After months of testing, leaked screenshots and videos, Apple has officially announced its iOS in the car service goes live this week. Called CarPlay, the integrated system gives drivers a 'smarter, safer and more fun way to use an iPhone in the car.' It works by linking the car's built-in display and software with iOS 7 and Siri on the iPhone 5, 5C and 5S - and will be rolled out to compatible Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo later this week. Scroll down for video Apple's CarPlay uses Siri voice commands to control entertainment and other in-car features. Researchers from Texas Transportation Institute recently found that using voice controls to send text messages while driving - on software including Apple's Siri - is just as dangerous as texting with fingers
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Integrated system works by linking a smart car's display with an iPhone
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The files and apps of the iPhone are then shown on the display of the car
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Called CarPlay, it is compatible with the iPhone 5, 5C and 5S running iOS 7
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It will be rolled out to Ferrari, Mercedes and Volvo customers this week
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Other car makers including BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, and Hyundai will be shipping CarPlay-compatible cars later this year
Elsewhere, CarPlay can be used to control music, podcasts and audiobooks on the car’s display, or by asking @placeholder to pull up what they’d like to hear.
Drivers' brainwaves were monitored while they talked on the phone and while voice-activated emails were played to them, in a system similar to that used in Apple's @placeholder, pictured.