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Bluetooth Car Kit

Wireless phone kit
  (+5, -3)
(+5, -3)
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You hop in the car, your phone is already in its kit. No plugging, no expensive install. You buy the kit, clip the mic to the sun visor, put a speaker somewhere, and as soon as you are within range your mobile starts working in the car kit. Could well be already baked, but I haven't seen it yet.
safetyboy, Oct 28 2001

Embedded Bluetooth http://www.e-insite...7113&spacedesc=news
Now baked into some Chrysler models, many cars in a few years. [krelnik, Oct 04 2004]

[link]






       Suicide machine?   

       I think Safetyboy's idea is that the hands-free speaker and microphone in the car would communicate with your existing pocket mobile via Bluetooth. Not a bad idea, actually.   

       (The conventional "car kit" he's talking about is basically a speakerphone designed for car use, so you can use a cell phone but keep both hands on the wheel. The current models require you to "dock" your phone when you get in the car; this idea does away with that step by the magic of Bluetoof.)
egnor, Oct 28 2001
  

       I think that this is a very good idea worthy of being baked as soon as Bluetooth' reality meets up with the hype. I envision a scenario where someone is speaking on their handset while getting into their car, and as soon as they start up the engine, the conversation automatically switches to the built-in speakers and microphone in the car. I would add that this could be done to any Bluetooth "fixed" mic/speaker combination, like say a Bluetooth-enabled landline speaker phone, or even a computer with mic and speakers attached. I believe that this is a great feature for Bluetooth, but it doesn't quite justify the expense right now.
marc1919, Oct 30 2001
  

       Is it that difficult to set your mobile phone in a speakerphone jack?
phoenix, Oct 30 2001
  

       @ Phoenix - How many phones have you been through in the last 5 years? In Australia, the phone comes free if you sign up for a plan over $70 odd dollars a month for 16 - 20 months.   

       So every couple of years you pick up a new phone, just because you can and because technology moves so fast.   

       Generally your old car kit won't fit your new phone, so off to pay another $200 for a new kit, new install etc. I forsee being able to have it compatible with any phone, or all nokias for instance. Upgrade your phone, keep your kit.
safetyboy, Oct 31 2001
  

       [waugs] I can only assume that you're annotation and safetyboy's crossed in the æther.   

       How about fitting the phone and car kit with USB sockets. That way you can charge the phone and use it hands-free at the same time. Of course we'd have to agree a protocol first (but then you'd have to do that with the bluetooth connection too).
st3f, Nov 01 2001
  

       Motorola has something pretty similar:   

       http://commerce.motorola.com/consumer/QWhtml/btcarkit.html
s3k, Jan 09 2002
  

       Yeah, I kind of thought that this application (and wireless headsets) was the original impetus for bluetooth.
wiml, Jan 10 2002
  

       This makes a lot of sense. Physically docking your phone is an unnecessary extra step, and as already pointed out it requires a dock compatible with your phone. Phones have too short a life span to be worth continuously replacing the hardware in your car.   

       Besides that, bluetooth enabling the car allows the phone controls to be integrated into the car (like the radio). The phone number of the caller can be displayed somewhere easily seen by the driver (or announced auidibly), and the phone controls (send, end, and directory scroll) can be integrated with the radio controls on the wheel.   

       If the driver wants to take the call privately, he'll need to be wearing his bluetooth headset. The protocol should allow redirecting the audio I/O from the car to the headset (and back if authorized by the phone's owner).
sdpinpdx, Aug 04 2002
  
      
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