I recently purchased a 2001 LS430 and everytime I start it up, an announcement is made saying Lexus Link is on or something like that. Not much in the manuals about this feature. I assume it is to call for Lexus assistance or because the car has navigation, maybe it allows remote unlocking and engine starts.

The center console box has a place for a telephone hand set which is much larger than my LG cell phone from Cingular.

What am I missing?

Problem solved! On a recent visit to the dealer, they removed the Lexus Link module for free as it was a recall item. They said that Lexus was eliminating the analog Lexus Link service. Voice gone! By the way, they told me those buttons up by the roof, controlled the volume and I could have just turned the voice volume down.

My son took the console apart and removed the top of the tray that had the telephone handset pad and now I have a deeper and usable top tray.