How do you take phone calls when driving? What got me thinking was a price release from Smart, saying that you can now buy a Smart Coupe with an integrated Bluetooth handsfree system (no doubt Porsche will follow suit in about five years...).

Seeing that the UK is (very sensibly) making it illegal to use a hand-held phone when driving, I need to find a better solution than my nasty wired earpiece. What I don't want, though, is a wired in hands-free cradle that limits me to certain types of phone (I like to upgrade my phone regularly).

So.... I figure the solution is a wired-in Bluetooth kit, but the only person I've spoken to with one was not that impressed. Anyone had any experiences? Or is there another solution?

Cheers

 

Phil

I've used the Parrot from a French company: it's a single plug-in module that uses Bluetooth to communicate with the phone, and adds a mike & speakers plus voice control. It wasn't that impressive but I have an upgraded versioin which I'm about to try to so I'll report back. Not much help maybe, but it's oen viewpoint.

 

I recently came into contact with one of the bluetooth kits for the first time and I was really impressed with it. I don't know offhand who the kit was made by (although I can find out) but it all seemed to work very well. So much so that I was already considering upgrading my phone simply so I could get a bluetooth car kit installed. What were the reasons for people not liking the kits?

 

A friend tried several and was disappointed at the sound quality. These, though, were plug-in kits, not wired into the car.

Cheers

 

I use Jabra headsets with a Sony Ericsson bluetooth phone (no affiliations). The sound quality is pretty good as long as you stay within 12 feet of the phone. They also have a bluetooth headsets for non-bluetooth phones.

http://jabra.com/products/FreeSpeak_nonBluetooth.htm

Regards,

 

I tried a Jabra headset, also with a Sony Ericson phone, but found it rather bulky on my ear. Maybe my ear's the wrong shape.

 

Phil, Have you tried the Next Link Bluespoon? It's suppose to be the best form fitting headset.

http://l8shop.net/Products/Original-...ndard-3525.asp

Regards,

 

This was wired into the car. All there was to it was a small (2" x .75") set of buttons with volume, call and end call buttons, a small mic up near the sun visor and the speakers used the stereo speakers. I'll find out who it was made by and post the details.

Jim.

 

I use the bleutooth headset from Sony Ericsson for the T68I.
Works great.
It's expensive, but nice on design.

 

Thanks for the feedback. Judging by how few people responded to this, I suspect a good many Rennlisters are being rather naughty with their phones...

 

 

Nokia hands free car kit. I have one in 2 cars. Nice touch is that Nokia haven't changed this kit in years, so even though I have upgraded my phone several times, the phone still fits the same kit. Cradle on the passenger side of the centre console, microp[hone on the A pillar, speaker well hidden under the dashboard. Mutes the hifi too.

 

Sounds good. My only concern with Nokia kits is that a number of people I know with them have ended up having to use a massive Nokia Bluetooth phone because it's the only current model that'll fit in the cradle. Maybe, though, that's because they have an older-style cradle?

 

One of the selling points for me with the bluetooth kit is that there is no need for a cradle to be screwed into the trim somewhere. Fine the kit doesn't have a charging facility but that is easily solved. Also the ability to hook any make of phone up to it means I won't have to compromise the phone I get in order for it to work in the car. Add to that the ability to hook additional phones up to it means the girlfriend's calls get answered if she is in the car as well.

 

Mine's the old-style cradle, and the phone is the 6310. Massive? Hardly! Not the smallest, I agree, but an excellent business phone.