From Smart Mobs, an article in the New Scientist that describes a new concept from Sony Ericsson for a phone that essentially can turn into a remote listening device, by way of automatically picking up and using the speakerphone.

The new device provides a simple solution. Software on the handset checks the number of each incoming call against an address list, to see if the caller has been previously flagged. If they have, the phone rings in the usual way but switches to auto-answer after a predetermined number of rings. So the called phone becomes a live microphone listening to whatever is happening nearby.

The device can also be remotely switched to speakerphone so that the caller can shout “are you OK?” down the line and into the vicinity of the phone. If the phone has been set to voicemail, the caller can key in a code to override the diversion and force the phone into auto-answer mode.

It makes that sweethearting idea of Kottke's seem so innocent.