By now most of us know that the NEW “Hands Free” California law will be enacted on July 1, 2008, just around the corner!  What does “Hands Free” mean and what are the choices for us “Baby Boomer”- Hot Rod lovin’ folks that like to talk and cruise?

First we must define some of the terminology and options.   Take Bluetooth versus Tethered for an example.  Remember when Blue Tooth meant that you ate too many blueberries, and it took some serious brushing to get it off your teeth? Well to be “hands-free while using a cell phone you will need a headset, visor or dash adaptor and they are either “Bluetooth or Tethered”.

Bluetooth – plain and simple to us, means “cordless”.  It’s a technology that allows you to use cordless headsets, car dash adaptors or visor clips.  Your phone must be Blue tooth enabled to be cordless.  This started out costly a few years ago and now it is a lot more reasonable.

Tethered – means that if you choose to wear a headset and talk on your cell phone while driving – the headset you use must have a wire that plugs into your cell phone and goes into your ear while driving.   If your phone IS NOT Bluetooth enabled you will need one of these!

REMEMBER – No matter what cellular provider you have, IE / Nextel, AT&T, Verizon etc – you can get a headset to fit all these phones from us.  Headset price ranges = from $11.99 (tethered headset) all the way up to a slick $350.00 (Bluetooth setup) that hooks to your stereo system and answers your phone through your radio speakers (easy install.)

I own Dedicated Fleet Communications, Inc. (above Mike Bratton’s State Farm Insurance) off the McKnight exit.  We are a business-to-business Master agent for Sprint / Nextel.  If you want an education on headset technology, come upstairs and see Scott Fox.  He’s very knowledgeable.  Once you do purchase a headset, Scott will hook it up to your phone and make sure it works to your liking before you leave our office.  Just mention to Scott that you are a Roamin Angel and (with each new phone activation) you will get a “FREE” Bluetooth phone, and a  “FREE” tethered headset.  If you bring your cell bill, he will check it to make sure you are not spending too much for your monthly services too. 

Note of caution: I had one customer using a Bluetooth SPEAKER phone in his car.  He answered a call from his “girlfriend” while his wife was sitting next to him!  (He came in for a headset and legal counseling the next day). 

After July 1st – I can imagine the number of wives / girlfriends in our club may not particularly like me.  WHY you ask?  I know some of my fellow street rodders will be telling them, “Mel said, after July 1st I can’t drive and talk on the phone.  SO DON’T CALL ME!”  Thanks a lot guys.  (Last option…don’t take calls while driving!)

Contact Mel at 272-1555