A voice-activated car stereo that will play whatever you tell it to from a selection of millions of songs is finally a reality.

The Parrot Asteroid is also the first in-car music system that can download apps from the internet.

It was launched this month at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

It uses Google's Android mobile phone software, and its French manufacturer Parrot said it will cost around the same amount as a normal car stereo.

 

Its ability to download apps means there is access to online music services such as Spotify, although Parrot said it was still finalising which services it will use in the UK.

Parrot’s Fabien Laxague believes apps in the car will become a huge market.

"There are an unlimited number of applications that we are thinking about, everything from an app that shows you nearby parking spaces to one that gives you directions."