Gadgets for Christmas

Rob Beattie ZDNet.co.uk

Published: 03 Dec 2003

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Xtreme Bluetooth Plug ‘n Go car kit
£82


Pros
Simple to install, inexpensive
Cons
Callers say the sound is a bit boomy, lacks style
Verdict
A cheap, effective way to stay onside of the new mobile phone law


Since 1 December 2003, the only way you can use a mobile phone in a car while driving is to not hold it at all -- not even to answer a call or press a quick-dial button. Penalties are stiff, starting at a £30 fixed fine and rising to £1,000 on conviction in court (bus, coach and goods vehicles can get hit for £2,500).

It’s therefore important to consider alternatives, where at one end of the scale is a handset with a soap-on-a-rope mic and headset plus support for voice answering and dialling, and at the other, a proper, professionally installed wireless hands-free kit costing hundreds of pounds.

The Xtreme Bluetooth Plug ‘n Go car kit offers an inexpensive middle way: it plugs into the cigarette lighter and works with a wide range of popular Bluetooth phones from Nokia and Sony Ericsson. It supports voice dialling, one-touch call handling (you touch the unit, not the phone) and the built-in speaker’s nice and loud. Finally, because it just plugs into the cigarette lighter, you can buy one and move it between cars as required.

blueCom (0845) 125 9549

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