Adding Bluetooth to Your Car

Does this happen to you? You're driving home and your mobile phone rings with your spouse's special ringtone. The only problem is that it has that muffled sound that means it's currently in your briefcase. With Bluetooth, you don't have to worry about fumbling for the phone while you're driving. What is "Bluetooth?" It's a standard method for short range, low power wireless communication between two devices, such as your mobile phone and a headset.

Before you dash out and buy a new car that is "Bluetooth enabled," figure out how you want to use Bluetooth communication and just buy the appropriate adapter; it's cheaper than a car.

An earphone may have already come with your Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. If it didn't, it can be purchased for as little as $15 to 20 dollars. When the phone rings, a touch on the headset's button accepts the call and another touch disconnects the call. The phone has to be within the transmitter's range.

If earpieces are annoying, or you want to let everyone in the car hear your phone calls, buy an adapter that sends the signal from your mobile phone to your car's FM radio and your voice to the phone. The two most common types are 12-volt adapters that plug into the cigarette lighter and battery-powered adapters that clip to the sun visor. Be careful buying 12-volt adapters, because some are only chargers for Bluetooth-enabled accessories, rather than transmitters.

If you are more adventurous, you can buy a CD/MP3 player that is also Bluetooth enabled for under $100. The installation is probably not included in this price.

WARNING: Read the ads carefully. Bluetooth is just a communications protocol. "Bluetooth enabled" may mean that a device has a wireless remote, or it may mean the device can take your phone calls, send music to your headphones, and update your GPS system.