The Jabra Cruiser is a good mid‑priced car speakerphone that retails for about $70.
Laws against talking on hand-held cell phones and driving-while-texting are going on the books all over the place—and I’ll go on record as supporting such laws! A lot of newer cars have built-in Bluetooth so that you can make and receive calls hands-free. When you link your phone to these devices, most of them download your phonebook so that the car can display who’s calling.
But not too many of my clients are driving new cars. So I went looking for some speakerphone solutions for older cars, and I found lots of options.
One solution is Bluetooth headsets. I’m not fond of them. They’re so small that I tend to lose them. One day, I’ll realize I haven’t seen my headset in a week. I turn my office and car upside down to find it, and then the cycle repeats. But at around $20, Bluetooth headsets are pretty close to disposable, so if you like them, they’re not a bad option.
A better answer, though, is a speakerphone that attaches to your car’s visor. These also connect via Bluetooth. If your budget allows, get one with a caller ID display with dedicated buttons for specific functions. These models tend to cost more than models with no display and only a single call/end button.
There are lots of car speakerphones on the market. My advice is to stick to reputable name brands, like Jabra, Parrot, Motorola, or Nokia. At the low end, you can find models starting around $40. Closer to the $100 price point, you’ll find models with displays and more function buttons.
One advantage of all of these solutions, by the way, is portability. You can take your Bluetooth headset or car speakerphone with you wherever you go: your rental car, your friend’s car, the city bus…. Take that, new‑car drivers!
markCTO can help you purchase and set up Bluetooth speakerphones and other equipment. Call 713-569-3845 or send us e-mail to schedule an appointment.
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