I've often thought about this...
Especially on the 9500, where the speaker & the mic are both on the outer edges of the phone. (Thus the ability to play sound, & pic up sound via the mic, are not inhibited by whether the screen is open or closed.)
Whats the point of being forced to have the screen open, when surely once one has answered a call, one should simply be able to press a function key on the front to go to 'speaker'. (Lesser phones like the 3650 & 6600 could do this.)
I understand that it may not be as good on the 9300, as the speaker is semi covered when the screen is closed.
But this is the 9500 I'm talking about, & it is very different in that regard, thus perfectly capable in theory of making & taking calls hands free, WITH the screen CLOSED. Being forced to have the screen open & lit, is just a waste battery life.
Of course, it should still work hands free if the screen IS open (as there will be times you need to get to information etc...), but the phone should really be able to give the choice on the 9500.
It would surely only need a change in the firmware to add this capability?
xoio