Hands-free = Ticket-free … Drive with Bluetooth today!

For better or worse, many States have enacted driving safety laws that basically require the use of a hands-free device while driving and talking on the phone. Let’s face it, talking on the phone is a distraction while driving and the cause of many traffic accidents. Current and upcoming laws that prohibit holding a cell phone while driving are meant to minimize distractions and hopefully reduce accidents. Many of us have have been cut off by other drivers or seen erratic driving and chances are, that driver it talking on the phone.

If you’re not already making calls hands-free while driving, now is the time to be. Whether or not your State has law(s) that prohibit holding a cell phone while driving, the best solution is to use a hands-free device to conduct your phone calls while driving. We have a 50-state quick guide to current and upcoming driver safety laws.

Today, we’re going to talk about a few basic things:

• What’s a hands-free device you can use while driving?
• Different types of hands-free devices.
• What’s right for you and your loved ones.

What is a hands-free device?

A hands-free device is an ear piece or speaker that lets you talk on the phone without holding your phone. An ear piece would be something you wear around or in your ear. Sound would be transmitting between the ear piece and your phone via a wire or wirelessly (via Bluetooth). A speaker would be something your place in your car that works as a loud-speaker for your phone. These speakers usually transmit sound between your phone and the speaker wirelessly via Bluetooth. In other words, you have some choices, wired vs. Bluetooth and ear piece vs. speaker.

Different types of hands-free devices.

Here is an example of a Bluetooth Headset. As you can see, a Bluetooth Headset has some kind of module, an ear piece and, you can’t see it, but there’s a microphone. For some headsets, there’s also an ear hook. Bluetooth Headsets don’t need any wires since the sound coming from your phone is transmitted to the headset wirelessly via Bluetooth. You don’t need to understand what Bluetooth technology is, but just know that it transmits signals without a wired connection. There are Bluetooth Headsets with wire(s) but there is no wired that you need to plug into your phone…more on these another time. You can find a good selection of Bluetooth Headsets here.

The greatest thing about Bluetooth Headset is there’s no wire that connects to your phone. This gives you the freedom to go about your business without being restricted by a wire. Like Wired Headsets, all Bluetooth Headsets can initiate and end calls and control the volume. Some Bluetooth Headset have the ability to enhance the sound quality by digitally removing background noises via software that’s inside the headset. The person you are talking will love you for having that feature.

You might want to know, there’s a short learning curve associated with using a Bluetooth Headset. Unlike Wired Headsets, Bluetooth Headsets are not "plug-and-play". They need to be first "Paired" with your phone, then "Connected" to your phone. This involves configuring your phone and understanding how to Pair and Connect your headset to the phone…more on this later This is probably one of the major reasons why some people are not prepared to used Bluetooth Headset just yet. Also, a Bluetooth Headset needs to be recharged periodically since it’s powered by a battery. However, these steps just take some getting used to. After that, you’ll be rewarded with convenience and freedom never experienced before with your cell phone.

Here is an example of a Bluetooth Speakerphone. It works much like a Bluetooth Headset where there is no wire, but it has added simplicity because you don’t have to "wear" it. You simply place it somewhere in your car, usually clipped to the sun visor. Some of these plug in to the car’s cigarette lighter so it’s always powered, others have a rechargeable battery that can be charged in the car. If you opt for a "portable" one, you can take it with you and you’ve got a speakerphone that’s good for hands-free calling or meetings. You can find Bluetooth Speakerphones here.

Here is an example of a wired hands-free headset. Some people call these ear pieces, ear buds, headset…we’ll call them hands-free headsets, even though it doesn’t really touch your head. As you can see, a wired hands-free headset consists of a wire, an ear piece, a microphone and some times a button that could initiate or end a phone call. The good thing about wired hands-free headsets is it’s simple to use. Just plug one end in to your phone and stick the other end in your ear and you’re good to go. The bad thing is there’s a wire and if you’re not good at cable management, you may get tangled. You can find Wired Hands-Free Headsets here by choosing your brand & phone model.

Wired Hands-free headsets that you can use while driving have only one ear piece which can be used in either ear. These should not be confused with Stereo Hands-free Headsets where there are 2 ear piece, one for each ear. These are reserved for listening to music and should NEVER be used while driving since they cover both ears. If you use a Stereo Hands-free headset you will be unable to hear anything that goes on around you on the road like ambulances, problems with your car, other cars around you or other road hazards. However, you can remove one ear piece while driving so that your other ear can still hear the surroundings.

So what’s right for you?

If you want simple plug-and-play, go for a Wired Headset.

Just plug one end in to your phone and the other end in to your ear and you’re good to go. You can leave your phone in your pocket, carrying case or put it somewhere in your car. If you put your phone somewhere in your car, just remember to take it with you when you get out. Look for headsets that have a button that can initiate or end calls. There aren’t many Wired Headsets that can control the volume, but you can adjust that on your phone. Different phones may have a different plug so make sure you get one that’s compatible with your phone.

If you phone does not have Bluetooth, you have to go for a Wired Headset.

If you’re not sure if your phone has Bluetooth, look for the Bluetooth logo on your phone’s original box or user manual.

If you only want be hands-free while driving and prefer to hold your phone outside the car, go for the Bluetooth Speaker.

You just need to Pair your phone with the speakerphone once and every time you get in the car, turn on the speakerphone and you’re good to go. If you go for the type that you clip the visor or place any where, you will need to plug in the charger periodically to charge it. If you opt for the type you plug into the cigarette lighter, it will always be charged and powered, but some cars have cigarette lighter that may be too far away for you to speak in to or hear.

Check if your phone has Bluetooth. If you’re not sure if your phone has Bluetooth, look for the Bluetooth logo on your phone’s original box or user manual.

If you want ultimate freedom both inside the car and out, go for a Bluetooth Headset.

If you’re on the phone, you can continue the call even when you get in the car or vice versa. Bluetooth Headsets come in many styles and come with many features. Choose one that suits your style and your needs as there are many designs and features.

Check if your phone has Bluetooth. If you’re not sure if your phone has Bluetooth, look for the Bluetooth logo on your phone’s original box or user manual.

Still not sure about using Bluetooth?

Here are some things you’ll want to know about Bluetooth.

Bluetooth Headsets and speakerphones are actually simpler than most people think. It’s basically a 3-step process - Pair, Connect, Call

Pairing - Think of this as your phone getting to know your headset. Pairing introduces your headset to your phone. After they’re paired, they’re not on a talking basis yet, but they now know each other and ready to establish a relationship or "connect". Like any relationship, you usually only have to do this once. But if you don’t talk in a while, you may need to re-introduce each other as they may have "forgotten" each other.

Connecting - Now that your phone and your headset know each other, they can go deeper and "connect" which each other. Think of this as a date or meeting. When your phone and headset are in close proximity, they may automatically connect, your phone may ask you if you want to connect or you can configure your phone to ask you or connect automatically. We’ll play along with our relationship thing here, if two parties are in a relationship and they’re the same place at the same time, they’ll connect.

Call - OK, you’re connected now so you can make phone calls via your Bluetooth Headset or speakerphone.

Pairing and connecting usually works like this. You first put your headset in "Pairing mode" and you’ll need to refer to the headsets manual to find out how to do that as different headsets have a different way of getting in to pairing mode. It’s usually hold one or two buttons for about 5 seconds. Next, you go into your phone’s menu settings and turn On Bluetooth and "look for" Bluetooth devices close by. The headset usually stays in Pair mode for a while so you have time to do this. Your phone will then show you what it finds and display the model no. of your headset. Select your headset’s model or name and it will prompt you to enter a pass code which is usually "0000" or "1234"…most likely "0000" but check the headset’s manual. After you enter the pass code, your phone will take a moment and tell you you’re Paired. Now depending on your phone, it may connect automatically with the headset or ask if you if you want to connect. Now is a good time to see if you can set your phone so it connects automatically or, if you prefer, ask you every time whether you want to connect.

Occasionally, your phone and the headset will lose connection. In this case, you may need check if it needs to be reconnected or paired again. Your phone will have a list of Pair devices and if your headset is not in the list, you need to Pair again. If the headset is still in the list, you just need to select it to reconnect. If it won’t connect, Pair them again.

Bluetooth devices usually work wirelessly within a 30 ft. range. There are Bluetooth connections that can connect as far as 100 ft. but headsets usually don’t have that range. A 30 ft. range is plenty for hands-free calling since your phone shouldn’t be that far away anyways.

You need to recharge the Bluetooth Headset’s battery periodically. We always specify the talk the and standby times for every Bluetooth Headset we sell so you can refer to that. They range any where from 4-10 hours of talk time. That doesn’t sound like much, but keep in mind that’s talk time. If you’re talking for 4 hours, you may want to stop. Standby times usually range from 80 hours to a week or more or less. This is the time the headset is On, but you’re not on the phone, so that’s a long time.

So I have gone over the basics of hands-free and Bluetooth devices for hands-free calling. We’ll dive deeper in to this discussion real soon.

50-state quick guide

Currently, 30 states have enacted laws that restrict or prohibit drivers from using cell phones while behind the wheel. Which state do you live in?