Hands Free Cellular Car kits

Cellphone Hands free Car kits.

With the Announcement by the Government that from November 1st cellphone use in cars must be in conjunction with a hands free kit, we have sourced a variety of solutions for our fleet and trade customers.

After consultation we have arrived at four basic solutions, simple effective and universally accepted as the "norm" two of these are mid to high end "parrot" Bluetooth devices with full connectivity, MP3 and charging all intergrated into the vehicles audio system. The third parriot is the entry level hard wired LCD display while the last option is a low cost "Free2Talk" solar powered device. This has impressive transportability that meets the often transient requirements of the small business operator without the complex hard wiring requirements of the others. We also have the "Bury" kits that accommodate any number of cellphone handset variations with a universal cradle mount and more regularily are fitted into commercial and trade vehicles. These in all instances must be priced "on application"

As with all things technical these kits, Bluetooth or hard wired, inevitably have additional cost factors that are unique to their application into an individual vehicle. The complex nature of car audio in new vehicles means that the more complex the sound system, then the more expensive and more difficult it is to install the stereo interface into the car kit. As an example a Ford Focus only requires a $50.00 loom to make the connection between the car kit and the stereo, whereas a Bose equipped vehicle will need the full $190.00 interface to achieve the same result. Naturally then a standard pricing schedule evaporates in the face of such confusion.

In the Parrot range we have settled on three universal solutions. The enry level CK3100 with a B/W LCD screen, the MK9100i and the MK9200i both with full duplex Audio and LED screens, the 9100i having a more basic black and white screen, with the 9200i being equipped with the impressive colour LCD, the picture to the left is the 9100i and on the right, the 9200i.

 
  

The DYNATRON DTL 9000 option is a solor powered device that connects via bluetooth and is fixed to the windscreen at visor height. Requiring only an intial 2 hour charge the DTL 9000 has 450hrs standby and 13 hours talk time, 3 hours of sunlight is enough to give 1 hour of talk time. The clarity and reception is impressive and if the clients handset has voice activation, the DTL 9000 utilises that protocol. This device requires no wiring and can be moved from one vehicle to another simply by detaching from the window and reattaching to the next. Where a client uses more than one vehicle the DTL 9000 removes the need to buy two kits. There is a range of these devices on the maket but the DTL 9000 does offer a significant advantage by being solar charged - all the "others" require recharging and inevitably they "go flat' when its most inconvenient.

Pricing is the next question. At Dynatron we have always sought to manage the product and installation cost on a nationwide basis. Cellphone kits are however a more complex issue as installers outside Auckland tend to be less compliant on their labour rates, especially as the correct location of the car kit itself is as much an emotional decision as it is a practicle one. Inappropriate fitting of the hardware and in particular the LCD screen where the dashboard is disfigured or damaged as a consequence springs to mind with remedial repair costs that far outweigh the job value itself.