Look, no hands

Bluetooth-enabled, hands-free mobile kit - resistance is futile

I often get gawped at when I stop at the lights in my car. Admittedly I'm usually staring into space, talking to myself and generally looking like a lunatic.

But, on closer inspection, a tell-tale sporadic blue flash emitting from my ear region should indicate to those in the know that I am actually talking on my phone via my Jabra Bluetooth-enabled headset.

Many of my so-called friends have made snide remarks about me looking like a Borg out of Star Trek (a creature that is half machine and half organic) but I may soon be having the last laugh.

The government, you see, is introducing a law that could mean motorists are fined up to £1,000 for using a mobile phone in their cars.

Now, in business a mobile is essential, especially in the channel. Mobility for resellers visiting customers and new prospects is also essential, resulting in a lot of mileage up and down the country.

When your mobile rings in the future and you are doing a ton down the M4 corridor you could face a Matrix-like dilemma.

Do you take the red pill, pick up the phone and risk an eagle-eyed traffic cop getting on your case, or do you take the blue pill and potentially lose a huge deal? I used to take the red pill. Nowadays, I take both.

Although car kits have been around for some time, the wireless nature of voice recognition in modern phones and increased Bluetooth connectivity means users no longer need to rip and replace kits when they change cars.

Hands-free also means you can use the device outside the car, in other situations where having one or two hands free may be useful.

In addition, upselling Bluetooth cards for PCs and headsets for wireless mobility with mobile phones increasingly looks like a good way to dip a toe into the convergence market for resellers looking to add more lucrative voice and data solutions to their portfolios.