Posted by Joan Bergstrom on 3/23/08 2:02am
Msg #240345

Calif Bluetooth technology for 2008

Starting in July 2008 Calif will have to have the bluetooth technology.

I have the bluetooth through my Motorola zip phone and its okay, but its not great. I don't think the earphone has enough time before it needs to be re-charged.

Anyone else have a bluetooth ear piece to suggest?

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 3/23/08 7:04am
Msg #240347

My Suggestion Isn't For Everyone...

...as my bluetooth technology "ear piece" is rather unique. I've put off for over 20 years, with pride being the stumbling block, taking the necessary step of purchasing hearing aids. Both my father & paternal grandmother passed along their hereditary hearing loss to me & it's taken this long for me to say enough is enough when it comes to missing key words in conversations. What I've purchased is the latest in hearing aid technology. They are "in the canal" ear models manufactured by Oticon & what's special about them is they "communicate" with one another. One of the problems with most hearing devices is you lose your sense of "direction" where the sound is coming from. The Oticon hearing system is designed to help eliminate that & give you the ability to distinguish exactly where you are in relation to your surroundings. The other really neat feature of the Oticon Epoq is that it's bluetooth enabled. By purchasing their optional "Streamer" technology (which looks just like an I-Pod & wear on a cord around your neck) I'll be able to pair the hearing aids with a cell phone, a landline, a computer, or an I-Pod & listen to the sounds through the devices themselves. A microphone built in to the Streamer allows the user to converse back & forth to a caller. They're currently on order & should be here by the end of the month. I can't wait!

Reply by John_NorCal on 3/23/08 8:56am
Msg #240351

Re: My Suggestion Isn't For Everyone...

I have the very same model hearing aids and have worn them since September. The unit is great, I can play my mp3 player through the Streamer and telephone conversations are super, you hear it in stereo!
A word of caution though, if a person has a Blackberry or a Motorola, you have to make sure that you have Bluetooth version 2.0 in your phone. Otherwise the phone will not work correctly, it will consistently drop or not make the Bluetooth connection. Oticon told me that the problem seems to be with Blackberry and Motorola. I talked to my cell service (Sprint) as well as to Motorola and both told me that my particular phone, a Moto Q, cannot be upgraded to Ver. 2.0. Pretty frustrating considering my phone is only 8 months old! Guess I will go online and purchase a Treo!

Reply by John_NorCal on 3/23/08 10:00am
Msg #240354

Re: My Suggestion Isn't For Everyone...

Just ordered my new phone! I'm getting a Blackberry Pearl, it's the only one that has Bluetooth ver. 2.0 according to Sprint. Got to make sure that you have 2.0 or the Oticon Streamer will not work correctly.

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 3/23/08 1:03pm
Msg #240371

Thanks for the "Heads Up"...

...as I currently have a Motorola V551 & it's an older model cell phone. I'm sure it's not 2.0. I've been hesitant about changing cell phones due to the fact this Motorola has a "fast forward" feature not available any more. This may cause me to upgrade based on what you're saying.

Rather amazing you & I would share this same technology, John. I'll let you know how my devices work for me after the 31st of this month.

Reply by JK/TX on 3/23/08 9:30am
Msg #240353

I have the bottom of the line earphone (SH310-Southwing-Motorola--I think--type is small--bought from Cingular/now AT&T). I want both my hands free to drive while I'm on the phone. It's not on all day so I don't know how long the charge last. It's on approx. 2 hrs a day and I charge it maybe once a week.

It also comes in handy when I'm on the phone at home, my phone is so small and that makes it impossible to hold it to my ear w/my shoulder. Somehow I set mine to automatically answer after a couple of rings.... I need to work on that.

Recently I was on the phone (a land line) w/a lady on her cell and our conversation went dead. When she called me back she told me someone's (someone standing near her) bluetooth picked up our phone conversation. I don't know if she knew that for sure. But since I have had my bluetooth, I have wondered if it is possible, seems it has to be possible if you have your phone set to bluetooth enabled.

Reply by John_NorCal on 3/23/08 10:02am
Msg #240355

From what I have seen with my own phone, there is a setting in the Bluetooth manager that will allow other devices to pick up your call. You have to make sure that setting is disabled.

Reply by JK/TX on 3/23/08 10:25am
Msg #240356

Mine too. I'm not in the habit of disabling it when not in use.

I lost an assignment because I had my earphone turned on and forgot to hang it on my ear when I got in the car. My phone rang while driving and I could not get the bluetooth out of my purse (the black hole!) fast enough.... missed the call and assignment. dang!

Reply by OR on 3/23/08 10:42am
Msg #240358

Re: Bluetooth technology for 2008 I love my, JABRA

It works with most any blue tooth ready phone. I have had my for 2 years and I love it. A charge lasts me about 4 days. The quality is clear about 98% of the time. On a rare occasion there will be some static, I just hang up and call the party back.
I alos have had that experance were another person be able to hear me my conversation while I was talking to another person even when there wasn't a blue tooth involved. I think that the 3 person gets connected like they do with 3 way calling but not enough so that the other 2 people can hear them talk. Go figure it happens, I don't worry about it.

Reply by NVnotary on 3/23/08 11:28am
Msg #240362

Re: Bluetooth technology for 2008 I love my, JABRA

I love the new JABRA I just bought at Costco. It stays in the car and is attached it my visor. I hit it once when I get in the car and it connects to my phone. I can even leave the phone in my purse. When I get out of the car, it disconnects in 15 mins. I absolutely love it. It met my needs with out an earpiece

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 3/23/08 10:51pm
Msg #240397

Re: Bluetooth technology for 2008 I love my, JABRA

Is this JABRA the device you can buy at Best Buys? I have a Costco membership and I didn't know it was offered at Costco.
Maybe I just didn't ask the right questions when I talked to them last week?

Reply by OR on 3/24/08 11:22am
Msg #240425

Re: Bluetooth technology for 2008 I love my, JABRA

I got mine from US Cellular

Reply by NCLisa on 3/24/08 11:42am
Msg #240427

I have a Motorola ear piece

that I use 7 days a week, all day. When we go away to horse shows, I never bring the charger, and it works fine, Friday, Sat & Sun til I get home and put it on the charger Sun. night. It has never died on me.

I just ordered a Jawbone, which has not come yet. I wanted a backup earpiece in case I lost my Motorola.