Nokia has continued to show a strong presence in the Bluetooth arena in the last couple of years and this year is no exception. The BH-904 Bluetooth headset was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this week. 

So, with the market already saturated with great looking bluetooth headsets what sets this one apart? Well, it seems that the headset is smart enough to recognize the user's voice from background sounds and noise, helping to improve voice quality. Plus, it will allow you to connect 2 different devices to it simultaneously thanks to its multipoint technology feature. The headset itself measures 2 inches by 0.8 inch by 0.4 inch and weighs less than ounce. Talk about lightweight! More details: 8 hours talk time and up to 160 hours in standby. The price nor the exact release date has been given out by Nokia.  Image: Nokia

Due to an increasing number of states that aren't allowing the use of a cell phone in your car while driving, Bluetooth might become a more recognized need, just like we need our cell phones badly now a days, having a bluetooth will become just as big of a need.

At this year's CES we will see new innovative bluetooth accessories and the most interesting one is the Tri-specs, which are bluetooth sunglasses. Isaac Levy, CEO of Tri-specs came up with a way to use bluetooth without looking like a "Star Trek refugee", Levy compares. The sunglasses feature 2 built in microphones near the leg joints of the sunglasses and each leg has 3 buttons, music controls on one side, volume and call/reject buttons on the other. The ear buds extend and pull out from the end of the sunglasses legs and you can either wear both or just one when using. You can also listen to your music with stereo sound via Bluetooth from your mp3 player or your cell phone. Music can be paused to answer or make a phone call. After you're done the ear buds can be retracted with a push of a button.

The tri-specs are expected to be available in the next couple of months and will retail online and at stores for $199. Tri-specs is looking at different styles in the future, say high-end luxury brands, or even Bluetooth Ray Bans!!

TriSpecs sunglasses are now available with a variety of features, styles, and colors.   Source & Images: PRWeb, Gearlog Power turns on by extending the in-ear speakers Voice prompts and voice dialing for easy, hands-free use Instant, dynamic volume to compensate for noise changes in the environment Retractable standard earbud speakers or upgrade with in-ear barrel speakers One-touch activation of phone calls MP3 and call control buttons on the arms of the glasses Available in black, white, and metallic with optional designs and style

I don't want to scare you but Hands-Free driving legislation is pending in many states and cities for 2009. And you can bet that many of those are going to start getting passed. This year we saw major hands-free law passed in California and Washington states and that is going to set the example for others to follow suit. So, my suggestion is that you get on the ball and get yourself (and your loved ones) a bluetooth car kit pronto. I personally really like the design and functionality of the Jabra SP 700 Bluetooth Car Kit which I am reviewing today. Jabra has been making bluetooth products for a long, long time so they know what they're doing. If this is your first Bluetooth purchase then you cannot go wrong with Jabra. It provides safety on the road while driving and puts your mind at ease when you want to make calls and drive at the same time.  This easy to install, state-of-the-art car kit is featured in our holiday gift guide for 2008 because it's become a customer favorite. This stylish, versatile new speakerphone can be used on its own or to transmit calls to your car's audio system with no installation necessary. What's more, this compact device can also be used to stream music stored on your mobile phone through your car stereo speakers, allowing you to enjoy your favorite track while driving.

If you talk on the phone while driving then you should definitely consider purchasing a bluetooth headset or a bluetooth car kit. I don't care what your excuse is for not getting one until now! I am one of those people that's procrastinated for a long time as well and finally I've gotten my bluetooth...it is a must in today's fast-paced world. Also, in some states, cities, and counties, hands-free driving is now a law.  A bluetooth headset is a the perfect solution if you're on the go constantly! The best part is that when you move from your house into the car and then into your office you don't need to do a thing if you have a bluetooth headset on your ear. In that way it provides total convenience at all times without interrupting your call. We have a huge selection of bluetooth headsets, everything from the most basic model to high end like Jawbone, which have the best clarity. There are also headsets that emphasize discreet comfort and others that emphasize style and multi-functionality. You can choose the best one to fit your lifestyle. Bluetooth car kits work in the same way as bluetooth headsets except they are stationary. There are self-install car kit models that are just plug and play while others have to be hardwired into your vehicle's system. Car kits are good for people who want to talk on the phone in their car without having an ear piece on. Some car kits show caller ID details and others have additional caller features, such as most recent call back. Again, it depends on your lifestyle.  No matter what you decide, getting a bluetooth is the best way to maintain safety on the road when you want to drive and talk on the phone simultaneously.

  Motorola does it again, this time with another smart and savvy Bluetooth earpiece, branded the Motopure H15.   With a modest style, clever flip design and a seemingly effective noise-cancellation performance, the H15 is pure brilliance. Oval in shape with a glossy black finish, the H15 measures in at 1.5 x 0.9 x 0.5 inches.  The circular answer/end button blends in with the front of the earpiece; you'll know it's there once you click on it.   A silver Motorola logo lies just beneath the answer/end button.  To the right side is your shiny silver volume controls, in the middle of this is your LED indicator light and to the top is your charging port.  Located to the bottom of the earpiece is your flip boom mic, silver as well and U-shaped.  One clear ear hook is included while 3 different sizes of ear buds help to give you the perfect fit. The answer/end button does not act as the power button. Powered by Motorola's RapidConnect technology, you instead, flip the boom mic to turn on/off and answer/end calls.  Which I noticed allows for speedy phone call retrieval.  No need to fumble around the earpiece looking for the answer or on button.  The headset instantly goes into pairing mode when you flip the mic out, another convenient and intelligent feature.  By the way, with the H15 you can pair up to two devices.   The H15 comes complete with a black satin docking station.  It sits upside down on the station, looking quite at home.  The two pieces complement each other, with their curved and minimal edges.  Looks great on your desk at the office or anywhere in your home.   You can of course plug the wall charger directly into the H15, if you choose not to use the charging dock.  But I must warn you, the dock delivers an impressive one hour of talk time in less than 15 minutes.  The Motopure also features CrystalTalk, cancelling echo and background noise using dual microphones.  So all of your important conversations will be heard loud and clear.  Which stands up nicely to its rival the Aliph Jawbone. With a wireless range of up to 33 feet and standby time of 5-7 days, it's definitely a Bluetooth you can rely on.  A fully charged battery gives you up to 4.5 hours of talk time.  You also get Power To Talk, a convenient three color display allowing for instant battery level check.  The LED indicator light shines green when you have 3+ hours of talk time, shines yellow if talk time is between 1-3 hours and shines red if you've less than an hour of talk time. The Motorola MotoPure H15 offers some really intelligent and useful features, currently not offered by some competitors, which in my opinion make it a rare find.

By Evan Koblentz WirelessWeek - December 08, 2008 Last week’s analyst and media reports widely citing the launch of Bluetooth 2.2 next summer are incorrect. The next version of the short-range wireless technology will probably be 3.0, Bluetooth Special Interest Group Executive Director Mike Foley said. “We’re going to come up with a high-speed specification next summer and we’ve been talking about that for a long time. It most likely won’t be 2.2 but the exact name and number isn't finalized… I think a 3.0 is a lot higher probability,” Foley told Wireless Week. In addition to faster overall speeds, the major update to Bluetooth also will have faster connection times. That may not matter when using a Bluetooth keyboard, but it’s useful for telephony connections, he noted. Low-power versions of Bluetooth are also on the roadmap. The group will have one more meeting for 2008 at a Texas Instruments facility near Tel Aviv. There are also several “unplugfests” on the group’s calendar for 2009, including Jan. 9, Feb. 2, June 8 and Oct. 5, as listed on the Bluetooth.org homepage.

 

2009 is going to be interesting with the intro of Bluetooth 2.2 by Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) which will be available in versions for Wi-Fi and ultra wide band (UWB) antennas. The Wi-Fi version will be Bluetooth 10x and the UWB version will be Bluetooth 100x.

The high speeds will facilitate video streaming, wireless printing and much more. Get your pictures straight to the printer, no need to transfer to your PC.

The new version can work with WLAN or USB offering faster data rates. You will need cellphones with WLAN or UWB radio to enjoy the ultra fast capabilities. Handsets with Wi-Fi ought to be ready for the Bluetooth 10x which is expected to launch first.

There is no confirmed news yet regarding the devices that will use the new version and also there is no confirmation that the new Bluetooth profile may be called Bluetooth 2.2 even.

Manufacturers of handsets can rejoice at this news and start designing products to incorporate Bluetooth media streaming and larger file transfers.

A drawback with the Bluetooth 2.2 (we’ll continue with this name till a new name is coined) maybe Bluetooth viruses which may cause mayhem among devices. What ever the result, let’s wait and watch.

The present Bluetooth 2.0 gives a data rate of 3MB and a 10x increase means a maximum of 30 MB and 100x will be a further 300MB. As majority of handsets already feature Wi-Fi, the 10x standard will most probably be absorbed for handsets especially the smartphone army and maybe 100x will be taken over for desktops and notebooks.

Users desirous of transferring images from device to device using Bluetooth can look forward to this new version with enhanced speeds.

Bluetooth may use other interfaces rather than using its own wireless interface as the implementation is not as easy as it seems. If it requires only a software solution then an upgrade path is all that we need for the devices using Wi-Fi but if it involves a hardware implementation then it might get a bit more expensive and cumbersome.

Apart from claims from the organization which say that Bluetooth 2.2 was not the intended name or that this news itself could be false there is not much to say now. We’ll know more about the Bluetooth 2.2 only when it actually launches. For one thing Bluetooth is urgently in need of an up gradation with respect to the speed of its file transfer protocol, opine many.

      Okay so I'm the first to admit that I'm not completely fond of a Bluetooth earpiece.   I wouldn't say I was President of the Bluetooth Fan Club or anything but the Jabra BT 5010 Bluetooth Earpiece kind of makes me want to join.  Good clean lines and a "talk to me" facade, make the BT 5010, a Bluetooth worth wearing. There are a couple of really intriguing features of the Jabra BT 5010 that I have to let you guys in on right off the bat.  First, the Jabra features Vibrate Mode, delivering vibrations through the earpiece when you receive an incoming call.  Second, a sliding boom mic, which when slid, is used to answer calls and brings the mic closer to the mouth for a higher quality sound.  And third, a USB cable is included in the box for a quick and convenient charge via your computer.  Need I say more? The BT 5010 measures in at about 2 ¼ inches by about ½ inch.  Weighing in at about 20 grams, it is on the plus side of the Bluetooth scale, but it delivers crisp, quality sound, something that is rarely on the plus side with smaller earpieces.  The Jabra can be comfortably worn in the right or left ear thanks to the switchable ear loop.  You can find the power/pair button to the back of the earpiece.  To the top of the earpiece you can find the charging port as well as the answer/end button.  To the right side is the volume up button and to the left side is the volume down button.  The answer/end button conveniently acts as a multi function key allowing you to of course answer/end calls, redial, activate voice dialing, hold calls and call waiting.  Press both volume buttons simultaneously to mute a call and press and hold both to activate and deactivate Vibration Mode. When receiving an incoming call, most earpieces deliver a single form of notification, not the Jabra BT 5010.  There is not one, not two, but three different and separate notifications when receiving an incoming call.  There's the standard chime sound, there is also an LED light notification- just in case it's not in your ear, and then there is the vibration notification, which is perfect for those of us who like to hang out in noisy environments.  Usually there is one and only one way to answer a call through a Bluetooth earpiece, use the answer button, right?  Well one is never good enough for Jabra, so to answer a call you can also utilize the sliding boom mic, which is quite handy because those earpiece buttons are a little on the tiny side.  Using the slider function also places the mic right where it ought to be, near or around where vital sound is coming from, the mouth.  Yeah, it does all this, but how does it sound?  Trust me, you won't be disappointed.  Whenever I used this puppy I would almost always ask..."How do I sound?"  And the response was always..."Really, a Bluetooth Earpiece??....Wait, which one???"

Driving across state lines usually requires a great deal of concentration, both eyes on the road,  your hands at 2 and 10, no fumbling around with a phone  and definitely no Bluetooth earpieces in the ear for 7 hours straight.  With this in mind I decided to take along the Jabra SP700 Bluetooth Speakerphone on my road trip.  This stylish, versatile new speakerphone can be used on its own or to transmit the calls to your car's audio system with no installation necessary. What's more, this compact device can also be used to stream music stored on your mobile phone through your car stereo speakers, allowing you to enjoy your favorite track while driving.  The Jabra SP700 offers a new level of usability and safety for Bluetooth speakerphones. Intuitive voice announcements in ten different languages give you the speakerphone's status so you can keep your eyes on the road.  I love, love, love the design of the Jabra, it's slim, almost waif like, with good clean lines and in my  favorite color...black.   Attached to the back of the speakerphone is a thin black wire visor clip.  The Jabra measures in at 5 inches by 2 inches and is less than a half inch thick.  Weighing in at about 85 grams, Jabra's size makes it extremely portable.   There is also no installation required, simply attach to your car's sun visor, which make it the perfect travel companion. Completely user friendly, the Jabra SP700 automatically starts up in pairing mode, so that was one less thing I had to worry about on my road trip.  The center of the Jabra acts as the on/off button; you'll also use this button to answer/end calls, voice dial, redial and mute calls.  Located on the on/off switch are 4 LED lights, indicating battery status, call status, Bluetooth status and FM status.  There are controls to either sides of the speakerphone.  To the left is the FM button and to the right is your volume control, underneath this is your charging port.  To the top of the speakerphone is the microphone and about ¾ of the entire front of the device is the speaker. Press the FM button and volume button simultaneously and the speakerphone converts to "Night Driving Mode," which shuts off all indicator lights for a less obtrusive drive.  I found call quality be excellent, thanks to echo cancellation and background noise reduction powered by DSP (Digital Signal Processing).  The battery allows for 14 hours of talk time and 255 hours of standby time, which is quite impressive for something so small and lightweight.  And you can charge using the car charger or USB charger.  The speakerphone also features Automatic Shutoff, which powers off in 10 minutes after losing connection with the paired device.   The Jabra SP700 does not, however, support multiple devices, so if you have more than one phone you'll have to pair and unpair.  Long battery life, auto shut down, great call quality, ease of use and intuitive voice announcements make me glad I invited Jabra along for the ride.

The Jabra BT3030 Stereo Headset is the new way to stream voice calls and music via Bluetooth.  The sound is superb, but is the dog tag design a style disaster or a to die for accessory, you be the judge.

All controls are located on the actual dog tag, which is worn around the neck with the metal chain or clipped to your lapel with the clothing clip.  On/off, answer/end, volume controls, voice dialing, redial, call hold, mute, play, pause, skip, rewind and fast forward all through the metal plated design.  The dog tag acts as a remote, you can listen and control music directly, there’s no need to dig your phone out of your pocket.   The Jabra BT3030 plays music from any A2DP-enabled device, such as a music loaded phone or MP3 player.  Music automatically pauses when a call comes in.  The BT3030 features MultiPoint, allowing you to connect 2 Bluetooth devices (e.g. laptop and phone) at the same time and will automatically switch between devices.  Jabra stereo headphones with exchangeable ear buds are included or you can connect any 3.5 mm jack headphones.    The Jabra boasts 8 hours of talk time, up to 7 hours listening time and up to 230 hours of standby time up to 33 feet.  The battery is fully charged in 2 hours; connect with the included AC adapter to the nearest wall outlet or to your PC with your existing USB cable. 

Fashionably speaking, I think wearing a dog tag went out in the early 90’s.  Still, with a solid performance, strong battery life, the ability to stream music and calls wirelessly and a definite step up in design, compared to the “standard “ Bluetooth earpieces, the Jabra BT3030 Stereo Headset just might be what you’re looking for.

    This is the Blackberry HS-655+ Bluetooth headset designed to enable hands free calling using your Blackberry device.   Answer, end, ignore, adjust volume, mute and voice dial all with the touch of a button.      The Blackberry HS 655+ is also designed to be compatible with any Blackberry charging stations including blackberry travel chargers, vehicle chargers or power station.   Inside the box we have a mini USB wall charger, ear hook, 3 ear gels at 3 different sizes so you're sure to find one that suits your ear best.   A cool charging tower which doubles as a pocket case is also included.   Very discreet it's about inches 3 inches long and about .5 inches in diameter.  It even features an attached pen clip, clip it tour your pocket or bag, so you don't always have to wear this thing in your ear, which is a big bonus!  And of course the headset..... it's about 2 Inches in length and weighs 9 grams.  So it's a good size, it doesn't cover half of your face like larger models do, but it's not so tiny that it resembles a hearing aid, it's right in the middle, pretty standard headset size, which is a good place to be.  The sleek and modern design pairs perfectly with any Blackberry.  Another cool thing I want to mention is that when the Bluetooth earpiece is in the pocket case, the case will vibrate when you have an incoming call, which makes this product even better.  So with 3.5 hours of talk time, 80 hours of standby time and a range of up to 33 feet, the Blackberry HS 655+ is a Bluetooth must have gets yours today at fommy.com.

These days and in some cases, chatting on your mobile phone while driving is not an option.  And like most people, I tend to have significant and necessary conversations as I'm operating my motor vehicle.   So the time had come, to invest in a handsfree device, something I could rely on, something I didn't necessarily have to stick in my ear, and something that I actually liked.  Upon careful examination and research, I discovered the BlueAction Bluetooth Handsfree Car Kit at fommy.com, and I liked it, I really, really liked it.  Super easy to use and no installation required, I was handsfree in no time. A couple of things I absolutely loved about this product; first, it displays the phone numbers of incoming calls and second, the kit includes a detachable Bluetooth earpiece.  The actual car kit is about 4 inches x 2.75 inches x about 1 inch.  It's fairly small and lightweight, which is great, no monstrosity of a gadget hanging over my head and its totally portable, I can use it in any car I wish.  Its design is contemporary, which I also liked, and the front is silver while the back is black.  To the left of the kit, you can find a volume dial and the charging port.   A speaker covers about three quarters of the front of the kit and the independent earpiece is housed to the right of the front of the kit.  This Bluetooth earpiece is the one who does all the work, basically it's attached to an intercom, if you will, and this is what provides me my handsfree freedom.  The black earpiece is about one and half inches long and about half an inch wide.  It's a bit boxy in its design, but I happen to like squares, so that was fine by me.  Front and center  is a silver multi-function key, which you use to power on/off, answer/end calls, redial and voice dial.  Under that is an LED indicator light and to the left of the earpiece is your volume control. After charging and pairing was completed, I attached the included black metal sun visor clip to the rear of the kit and fixed it to my visor, I was ready to take my first call.  I heard my phone ring first, and then the car kit chimed in letting me know I had a call coming in, the phone number was then displayed on the car kit, I reached for the multi-function key and pressed it, this answered the call.  The sound was better than I expected, there was no static or interruptions, there was from time to time a slight echo, but other than that it was crisp, clear audio.  While chatting and driving I decided to stop into a store for a few things, not ready to end the call just yet, I simply removed the Bluetooth earpiece from the kit and continued with my conversation while in the store.  When I returned to my car, I reattached the earpiece to the kit while in mid conversation, it was great.  This product is wonderful; it was everything I wanted in a Bluetooth car kit and more.  The separate Bluetooth earpiece allowed me to take speaker calls or private calls, if I removed the earpiece, which is yet another plus.   I particularly enjoyed the phone number display; it would have been even cooler if it displayed names of callers rather than phone numbers, since I don't know everyone's phone number by heart.  There was no digging in my purse for my phone because I heard it ringing and I wanted to answer it, there was merely a quick glance up and a brief reach away.  I'm still not completely used to talking without my hand stuck to the side of my face.  The BlueAction Bluetooth Car Kit, available at fommy.com, really helped me to have a safer driving experience.   Handsfree really is the way to go.

  It's almost an oxymoron to write bluetooth and affordable in the same sentence. However, now with the new Bini Bluetooth headset from BlueAction you can rest assured that this is a state of the art accessory that has punch and is easy on your wallet. At just under $30, the Bini headset boasts features similar to those of other expensive models, including a light-weight and compact design; echo-cancellation and noise reduction technology; a high capacity Li-on battery that gives you 200% longer talk time when compared to other Bluetooth headsets; and a special battery saving feature that automatically powers off in 15 minutes when not connected to a paired mobile phone. Additional features such as voice dialing and redial prove that good things really do come in small packages!   

  I love it when good things become even better! The original Jawbone came out of nowhere and has been hands-down a great headset. The new Jawbone is even more stylish and even better in terms of technology. Aliph™ Jawbone Bluetooth headset with NoiseAssassin technology is half the size of the first version (and weighing in at only 10 oz) but with the same built in background noise cancelling technology that we have come to depend on.  The reality is that hands-free is not just a matter of convenience anymore. It is a necessity. And it's not just for tech geeks either. Every day more and more states & cities are implementing hands-free laws. Everyone of us is more mobile and when you're on the go with your smartphone or cellphone you need a reliable bluetooth headset while you use your hands for other things (like holding your children while crossing the street)!  Don't miss out on this new headset. It's a definite must-buy.     

 I know Bluetooth is both revolutionary and convenient, but I just don't see myself wearing a Bluetooth headset all day.  And then the BlueAction Bluetooth Speakerphone walked into my life.  It's available at fommy.com and I now have a new respect for Bluetooth technology. The concept is the same, to provide freedom from wired connections-enabling links and connectivity between Bluetooth devices, without the pesky earpiece.  The thing I love about this product is that I can use it on my desk-top like a conference speakerphone or I can use it in my vehicle like a handsfree car kit.  After "pairing" up to 8 Bluetooth devices and charging the battery you're all set to experience the freedom that Bluetooth has to offer.  Within 2 hours the included battery was fully charged and I quickly "paired" my Samsung Ace.  I immediately got into my car, attached the device to my visor with the removable clip, started driving anywhere and voice-dialed someone.   Feeling liberated by my new found friend I wondered to myself why it took me so long to jump on the Bluetooth bandwagon.  The slim, compact design make it perfect for moving it from one car to another or to your home or office.  Located at the center are 3 buttons.  One for increasing the volume one for decreasing the volume and one for answering or ending calls.  A 2-watt speaker about I inch in diameter is strategically placed to the left of these buttons.  To the right of these buttons you'll find the microphone.  The top side is where you can find the mute button, labeled mode and the bottom side is where the USB charging port is located.  A car charger that connects to your cigarette light is also included for vehicle use.   With up to 12 hours of talk time and up to 480 hours of stand-by time it really packs a punch.  Boasting a speaker and microphone enhanced with Echo and Noise Reduction technology that help to minimize unwanted background noise.  Everyone I spoke to through the Blueaction Speakerphone claims to have heard me loud and clear.  I did find that using it in my home as a speaker phone rather than a handsfree car kit it delivered better sound quality.  But then again, I didn't have my windows down and I wasn't going 45 when I was in my home. All in all, this little guy is great.  No more holding my cell phone between my ear and my shoulder while driving or trying to do other things at home.   I'm glad we've found each other.  Get your BlueAction Bluetooth Speakerphone at fommy.com.

On July 1, it will be illegal for adults to talk on a cell phone in California while driving unless the driver has a "hands-free" solution. Teens won't be able to use cell phones at all while driving. That's why it's a good time to check out Bluetooth headsets, which wirelessly connect a cell phone to an ear piece. With it, you can talk to someone without holding a handset to your ear. And with the speech recognition feature of many cell phones, you can call someone by saying the person's name. Bluetooth headsets connect a phone to a headset via a radio signal that has a range of 33 feet. They come in a couple of flavors. One type folds over your ear, while the other fits in your ear. They're physically bigger than iPod headphones because they have batteries and radios inside them in addition to a speaker, and they usually fit into only one ear because of safety issues when both ears are flooded with noise. Prices range from $40 for a Jabra BT125 headset to $99 for a Plantronics Voyager 520. The difference is that the Plantronics model and others like it have noise cancellation, which reduces background noise so you can hear what's being said and your caller can hear what you're saying, even with music in the background. It's amazing how small they can come. The Cardo Systems S-800 ($40) weighs 0.38 ounces. The Motorola H680 ($80) weighs 0.42 ounces. The H680 doesn't have a USB connector (universal serial bus connector for gadgets