I'm currently road-testing a new product. It's called the Seecode Vossor and it's a bluethooth car phone device that also acts as a rear view mirror, i.e. this device clips on over your existing rear view mirror and acts a bluetooth hands-free phone kit.
Let me start off by saying that for the most part, I am a bit of a techno-phobe. Working in an eCommerce company I shouldn't admit to this but I generally don't enjoy spending hours reading through complicated manuals to try to configure products. Luckily the Seecode Vossor doesn't require this. It was the easiest techie product I have ever come across. Since the mobile phone driving ban I have been meaning to get the car kitted out so that I could make calls again, so when I came across Seecode as a potential product we would stock, I decided to get one myself and give it a thorough test - it's not good to sell a product to customers if you're not happy that it works well! The device requires an initial charge, before you hook your phone up to it (all incredibly straight-forward) and transfer your phonebook over (it takes up to 600 contacts and numbers).
Then off out to the car and clip it on over your existing mirror. Now it takes a bit of pressure to get it on, which isn't a bad thing as it means it certainly wont come off too easily. The beauty of htis product is that there are no cables hanging out of it, it is entirely wireless. When you're about to head off on your journey, you just switch the device on, it recognises and hooks into your mobile phone (note my technical jargon!) and then you're ready for action. Sop your first call comes through, you hear it ringing from the mirror (the speakers are positioned well, reception is top class), you see the number on the mirror glass, and then the name of the person appears on the mirror glass also (through the integrated LCD display) - brilliant. It comes with a redial function, speed-dial for your most popular friends and voice dial (my phone doesn't have that though!) . Then when you need to make a call you just press through to your phonebook on the mirror, and hit the green call button. The clarity of the calls have been excellent to date. The battery lasts for ages, before it needs recharging. Now this is the one snag with it, it doesn't come with a mains charger so needs to be charged in the car. But you can buy a car / mains adaptor for a few euro and work away charging it at home.
The thing I also like about it is that it just blends in as a rear view mirror, you have to point it out to passengers in the car before they notice it. So for light-fingered thieves looking for a Sat Nav or handsfree phone kit to steal, they probably wont notice it either.
Anyway, i'm very impressed with it. It's a practical solution to making calls without distracting your attention too much away from your driving. We're all used to looking into the rear view mirror and then back onto the road, so it's a natural driving accessory which doesn't impact on your driving. It's non obtrusive and it works very well. So it's a thumbs up for Seecode, and you can keep an eye on our website to see it available for sale soon.