Spotify Car Thing receives new features to answer phone calls and control for other media

The Spotify Car Thing is getting several new features, including new controls that lets drivers navigate phone calls and media playback without looking at their phones. However, people using Android devices for the smart player will have to wait.

Spotify announced on Thursday the list of new features coming to the Spotify Car Thing this week. And they should make the smart player an even more useful device with new functions that go beyond just playing music in the vehicle.

Spotify Car Thing users will soon be able to pick up calls directly through the smart player. They can also just check who is calling them and reject the call through the device if they do not want to talk while driving.

The update will also give the smart player even more purpose now that it can control other media as well. Spotify said people could use presets, voice controls, and a simple tap on the screen. At the bottom of the announcement post, Spotify included a note that says the seamless phone call features and controls for other media will arrive first to iOS users. Their availability on Android will happen at an unspecified later date.

The company says the “add to queue” function is one of the most requested features for Spotify Car Thing, which is also part of the recent update. This will allow users to line up the songs and podcasts they want to listen to while on the road.

Users can tap the “Add to queue” icon on the screen or use the dial for this function. Drivers and passengers can also dictate what they want to add to the queue by saying, “Hey Spotify, queue [song/podcast title].” Spotify also added more voice controls for the Car Thing. Users can now ask the device to play songs according to their mood or preferred genre.

Spotify launched Car Thing last February, and it is currently only available in the United States for $89.99, and it requires a mobile data connection and a Spotify Premium subscription. The smart players can be plugged into a 12V power outlet in the car and to the car stereo via Bluetooth, as well as AUX and USB cables.