Bluetooth headsets are a safe option for talking on cell phones while driving.
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Bluetooth, a short-range wireless communication system, enables the connection of a multitude of electronic devices. The technology is used for printers, wireless keyboards and mice, TV remote controls and headsets. On the market since 1998, by 2008 it had been shipped in more than two billion products.
Sound ID 510
The Sound ID 510 is the first Bluetooth headset with an iPhone app called EarPrint, which allows you to equalize the 510's sound and determine the decibel level of the surrounding area. The app also has a Find Me feature to help you locate the headset if you misplace it. The Sound ID 510 has an earbud design with an over-the-ear mount. It has three microphones to help with noise cancellation. A touch sensor helps you easily control volume levels. The 510 supports Advanced Audio Distribution Profile, or A2DP, which helps provide stereo music over the mono headset. The 510 headset retailed for $129.99 in February 2011.
Aliph Jawbone Era
Given a four-star rating by CNET and 4.5 stars from PCMag, the Jawbone Era is an innovative Bluetooth headset. It is the first headset with an accelerometer, which when paired with the patented MotionX technology allows you to simply tap the headset to answer and end calls. The Jawbone uses a noise- and wind-canceling technology, which automatically adjusts call volume to your environment. Fitting the earpiece, always an issue with headsets, is made easier with eight options. CNET has tested the Jawbone and says that the HD audio quality on an iPhone 4 is "simply fantastic." As of February 2011, the Jawbone retails for $129.
Plantronics Voyager Pro UC
The Voyager Pro UC is one of a long line of Bluetooth headsets from Plantronics. Designed to be worn for long periods of time, it is a large over-the-ear headset. Audio quality is impressive on an iPhone 4, according to CNET. The UC model supports A2DP technology for music and media. This model also has a built-in proximity sensor that tells it when you are wearing the headset; calls goes automatically to the phone if the headset is not being worn. VoIP software that is included with the headset only works on Windows PCs, not Macs. As of February 2011, the Voyager Pro UC retailed at $199.
Motorola Finiti
The Motorola Finiti earpiece is an earbud, with an optional ear hook. It is designed to fit snugly in the ear, and several fittings are included to help you get a comfortable fit. The Finiti has a three-microphone audio system that allows you to enable stealth mode, which dramatically reduces background noise; calls can be heard in winds of up to 40 miles per hour. It also has A2DP technology. Call quality is excellent on the iPhone. The Finiti retails at $129 in February 2011.
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