| There are a lot of different types of bluetooth | | | | Integrated Bluetooth Car Kits are fully hardwired |
| handsfree kits available on the market, many | | | | into the vehicles speaker system, just about all |
| different brands, styles and designs offering | | | | Integrated kits are provided as standard with ISO |
| different functions. However each kit performs | | | | connections, if your vehicle has an ISO wiring |
| what is essentially the same task, offering | | | | loom the bluetooth kits will fit straight into it |
| Handsfree call functionality while driving. Although | | | | making installation very easy. If not there are |
| there are many types of kit they all fall into two | | | | various wiring adaptors available that will convert |
| categories, Universal Sun Visor Kits or Fully | | | | your vehicle wiring to ISO, these are know as |
| Integrated Kits. | | | | SOT leads and are available for just about every |
| Universal Sun Visor Kits also referred to as Plug | | | | vehicle. As the Kit is hardwired into the vehicle, |
| and Play kits are a portable speaker and | | | | several problems are instantly eliminated. The kits |
| microphone combination packaged into one | | | | retain charge via the power cable in the ISO |
| working unit. They hold a small but strong storage | | | | harness so you never have to charge the |
| battery that allow for long standby life so you can | | | | bluetooth kit, there is also a Auto-Mute cable with |
| attach the kit to your sun visor and leave it | | | | the ISO that will kill any audio coming from the |
| dormant until you need it. Many are provided with | | | | radio, cd, iPod etc automatically. So all you hear is |
| a car charger and more often than not a USB | | | | the conversation. |
| charger for connection to your computer for | | | | Most integrated kits are provided with separate |
| re-charging, firmware updates and bluetooth | | | | control units to answer, hang up or dial contacts. |
| connectivity while at work (or play). Most recent | | | | These can usually be connected anywhere in the |
| universal bluetooth kits provide excellent sound | | | | vehicle that is both comfortable and convenient |
| reproduction due to a break through in DSP (digital | | | | for the driver. New bluetooth kits such as the |
| sound processing) & Echo reduction software | | | | Parrot MKI range and the Bury CC9060 are |
| & Hardware. The microphone on universal | | | | provided the additional functions that improve |
| bluetooth kits are more often than not built into | | | | compatibility & usability. For instance the MKI |
| the units, and pick up far less background noise | | | | range are compatible with iPods so you have |
| than older models. Due to this your contact on | | | | music integration via parrot kit. The iPods are fully |
| the other end gets a loud and strong connection | | | | controllable via the parrot control unit so functions |
| via your phone. There are many different styles, | | | | like track browsing, song forwarding, Volume |
| designs, shapes and sizes of sun visor kits ranging | | | | increase etc can all be performed at the touch of |
| from large function rich kits like the Bury CV9040 | | | | a button. The Bury CC9060 is provided with an |
| to the Small and pretty kits like the Pama Alpha | | | | excellent touch screen monitor and equipped with |
| or the Parrot Minikit Slim. | | | | the very latest voice recognition software. This |
| As you would expect with all universal kits the | | | | allows you to use your phone via the bury unit |
| features and functions vary tremendously. State | | | | via voice commands. You don't even have to |
| of the art kits usually come from Bury and Parrot | | | | train the kit, just install and start. |
| and the rest tend to follow behind. A lot of | | | | The Integrated kits provide a much better all |
| universal kits now have features like TTS (Text | | | | round performance. The quality of audio |
| to speech) and voice to text technology that | | | | reproduction is far greater then the Universal kits. |
| allows the dictation of text messages and more | | | | Integrated Kits also have many additional features |
| advanced kits can be controlled voice commands. | | | | over the universal kits. Making & answering |
| The Bury CV9060 is a particular market leader in | | | | calls is usually easier too so if your looking for a |
| this field with menu system that can be fully | | | | good all round performance Integrated is the way |
| navigated by speech, apart from several | | | | forward. However the universal kits are portable |
| functions, such as to hang up while in conversation | | | | and can be easily transferred from vehicle to |
| (obviously you don't want the conversation to end | | | | vehicle. The sound reproduction is still good |
| abruptly depending on whats said either end!) | | | | however you may have to fight with the radio |
| The Majority of Universal kits purchased are to | | | | for volume control. |
| be used socially either for a group of people | | | | In summary, if you want an all singing & |
| (family or friends) to share when out and about, | | | | dancing bluetooth car kit you should go down the |
| or for individuals or couples who have more than | | | | integrated route, however if you want some thing |
| one vehicle and want to change frequently. These | | | | more simple and portable the universal kit is the |
| device can be removed in seconds and charged | | | | one for you. However both are excellent options |
| while driving making them a great hansdfree | | | | and are much better than manually talking on |
| solution that are cheap, reliable and totally portable. | | | | your mobile phone while driving. |