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The two companies initially shook hands on the project in July 2004, and the result which boasts the moniker Blue&Me, will be fitted to the Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Fiat Commercial Vehicle ranges.

The first models to sport the new system will be the Grande Punto, Alfa Romeo 159, 159 Sportwagon, Brera and Spider. Other models will follow.

Key features to the platform will be a USB port in the glove compartment, allowing the connection of removable storage devices such as USB sticks, and the ability to play music and access files stored on them.

The platform also offers Bluetooth wireless

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capabilities, so that a Bluetooth phone, for example, will be recognised and calls automatically routed through the in-car hands-free system. This includes the reading aloud of SMS messages. These are some of the possibilities available when driving in your Fiat can - that's vehicle Controller Area Network to you and me.

Voice activation will also play a role, both in the communications aspect and in commands for different functions of the platform, such as checking addresses, weather and traffic forecasts. It will also operate as a beacon for satellite location in case of theft.

Of course Windows and cars make unlikely bedfellows, and we'd resist the opportunity to juxtapose notions of both Windows' reputation for crashing and the idea that a car, as such, shouldn't. Likewise, the odd choice of Blue&Me and the connotations it has with the notorious Blue Screen of Death familiar to Windows users the world over, will be glossed over.

Suffice to say then that with the claimed voice activation needing no training, you are probably best advised not to play 'Show me the way to Amarillo' on your in-car Windows Media Player, unless you actually want to end up there.