The Parrot MKi9200 is the ultimate top of the range in in-car communications system.

Providing both hands-free calling as well as a fully featured music player the MKi9200 is compatible with a wide range of music players and mobile phones through the use of a cable or Bluetooth connectivity where available. The parrot MKi9200 is also compatible with Apple iPhone and iPods and has a range of features to enhance the use of these devices.

With its 2.4 inch high-resolution TFT colour screen and full control through a wireless remote control that can be positioned on either the dashboard or the steering wheel the MKi9200 is easy to use. Add to this training free voice recognition and speech synthesis of the callers name as well as voice guided menus you get a hands free solution that allows you to take and make calls without taking your eyes off the road.

You can pair up to 10 mobile phones via Bluetooth and each one can have up to 2000 contacts linked to the MKi2900 with up to a maximum of 8000 contracts stored in total. When you take a call, the colour screen will show the phone book and display the caller information as was a photograph of the caller if one is stored. When used as a music player the Mki9200 can connect to a wide range of devices or by using the built-in SD card reader. The screen will show the current playlist as well as the name of the artist, the song title and also album art where it is available.

The Parrot MKi9200 has the latest Parrot software to eliminates background and surrounding noise including the noise from inside your car. Dual microphones mean your call should be made in crystal quality and the calls and music are played through the car speakers to give you the best quality sound reproduction

As you would expect the Parrot MKi9200 is a fully fitted car kit and does need professional installation, however the features and quality you get because of this are far superior than a simple headpiece or visor hands free system.

Whilst we like to feature Bluetooth car kits that are compatible with many phones and cars, we realise that specific situations may need a dedicated solution. The ViseeO MBU1000 and MBU2000 Mercedes Bluetooth adapter is the solution to just such a problem.

Quite simply, this device will convert a factory fitted Mercedes carphone to make it compatable with any bluetooth phone, including the iPhone. So for Mercedes drivers who have upgraded (or who need to upgrade) thier mobile phone, they can use the built in handsfree system installed in their car.

As this system is a bridge between the factory fitted car kit – the speakers and the microphone built into your Mercedes – the call quality you get will not change, but it will mean compatability with modern phones, without needing to replace the installed car kit, or your car!. There are two versions available, one for the older Nokia phones and one for Mercedes UHI/MHI cradles. If you drive an older Mercedes one of these Mercedes Bluetooth adapters may just be what you need.

Here at Bluetooth car kits, we like to focus on products that improve your in car calling experience, however in the past we have looked at satellite navigation devices that also have Bluetooth enabled hands free calling. There are obvious advantages in that you only need to purchase one device that will carry out several functions. Also in this security conscious world, it means you only have to remove, and carry, one piece of technology from your car.

The Tom Tom GO 940 Live is currently the top of the range Tom Tom model and has the much touted ‘Live’ over the air update service and Google search, that allows you to find and navigate to the cheapest source of fuel in your area. Beware though, this service is free only for the first 3 months and then will cost an additional £7.99 per month, so adds an additional cost of ownership to the Tom Tom Go 940.

But do not discount this device just yet. It is the top of the range, with a 4.3” screen to help with navigation, packed with the friendly and easy to use Tom Tom software.  If you are driving a lot, then there are significant benefits over a more basic model, such as traffic status updated every 3 minutes, safety alerts via Road Angel, and the ability to search for a business via Google, navigate to it, and call them hands free all from the single device.

Turning to the hands free calling, as with other devices we have looked at the quality tends to deteriorate on noisy roads, particularly compared with a fully fitted hands free kit which will usually include a dedicated microphone. If you are looking at a visor mount hands free, or earpiece device as a comparison, the quality on the Tom Tom Go 940 is acceptable and does have built in echo cancellation and noise reduction technology, and the features you would expect, such as automatic pick up for total hands free operation are included. You can also copy the directory from your phone to the Tom Tom Go.

There is an MP3 player included and FM transmitter to play your songs through the car radio. There is 4GB of memory for storage.

In summary, you get a lot of features, great navigation and Bluetooth hands free as well. If the price is right for you, the Tom Tom G0 940 Live may be as well.

By professional quality, we mean a kit that needs to be installed into the car electrics, so that it uses your audio speakers and overrides the car stereo when you receive a call.

Although these kits are more expensive that visor mounted car kits, or ear piece kits, and you need to add the cost of the fitting and installation, when you compare this to the cost of your car, and that you have an integrated solution that is not reliant on battery power, the costs are relatively small.

So which kit should you choose? The first consideration is compatibility with your car (most kits will fit most cars) and also with your mobile, or mobiles if you have more than one phone in the family. Again most Bluetooth enabled kits are compatible with most Bluetooth enabled phones.

Feature sets are often very similar and will often mirror the capabilities of your mobile.

The quality of the call and the noise reduction can vary between car kits and manufacturers, but apart from this you should select the style of the control module and how it will fit in your car.

Two recent additions to the market are the Motorola IHF1000 and the Parrot MKi9000, both offering a range of features for under £100 plus installation.

This screen less device works from a wireless remote control that you can place either on the steering wheel or on the dashboard. This will control all the functions of the MKi9000, and in turn your iPhone or iPod.

The Parrot MKi9000 has the usual telephone functions and allows you to pick up a call, hang up, and handle dual calls. In addition there are the features that Parrot have pioneered on their other Bluetooth hands free kits, such as automatic phonebook synchronisation with speech synthesis of contacts, training free voice recognition and a voice menu to access the functions on the MKi9000. In addition there is a dual microphone for enhanced speech clarity.

The music player features allows your iPhone or iPod to stream music. You need to use the iPod connector cable, but you can then listen to your music through the car speakers.

The Parrot MKi9000 kit does need installing into the car wiring system, and although full details are given in the documentation, if you are not technically minded, you may want to look to get it professionally installed. In addition some of the features are not available for older iPod devices but Parrot claim full compatibility between the iPhone and the MKi9000.

Tom Tom, with the launch of the Go 720 have improved the feature set and now provide a sleek slimdevice with a host of features.

Although there is a large 13 cm LCD touchscreen, the device itself is slim, so can be taken easily with you once you leave your car. There is an enhanced hands-free kit with a new quality sound system that links to your mobile phone through Bluetooth and includes optimised acoustic design with enhanced noise reduction, echo cancellation and an automatic answer feature to make sure that you can take your calls completely hands-free.

In looking at the SatNav features, the Tom Tom Go 720 has options that allow you to customise maps so that if you travel a route regularly you can indicate roadworks or blocked streets, or where street names change. These collections can then automatically be shared via the Tom Tom ‘Home’ service.

There is an integrated MP3 player or you can connect your iPod directly to the Tom Tom Go 720, and music or navigation instructions can be played straight through the car stereo through built-in FM transmitter.

This is integration of technology at its best and Tom Tom now have a device that may start to rival separate hands-free systems and it means that you do not need a variety of devices such as an FM transmitter, iPod connector and Bluetooth hands-free car Kit. Finally one little tweak that you my either like or loathe is the ability to record your own driving instructions with a customised voice such as your children. If you’re looking for a SatNav with built-in Bluetooth hands-free or indeed just a hands-free kit but would like a SatNav kit as well, the Tom Tom Go 720 may be the device to you.

Stream music from your mobile or MP3 player and then take your calls through the speakers of your radio.

Easy to use – just plug it into the cigarette lighter, and tune in the radio!

An alternative you may want to consider is retrofitting either an entirely new in car entertainment system, or if the option is available, modifying your existing system.
One manufacturer that offers such kit is JVC. The KS-BTA200 Bluetooth Interface comes and with a small microphone, but otherwise connects directly into your existing JVC car stereo.

it is compatible with the following models:

KD-NX5000

KD-AVX11

KW-AVX800

KD-DV7301

KD-G731

KW-XG701

The innovative handlebar control connects wirelessly to the speaker and microphone attached to your helmet, and via Bluetooth to your mobile phone which you can leave in your pocket or bag.

In addition to promising crystal clear sound, and volumes that increases with your speed, the kit has an FM RDS radio (it actually speaks the name of the station when it is tuned in!) and the capability to connect to a Music player on your Bluetooth mobile, or via a cable to your MP3 player.

Full information on the SK4000 Motorcycle handsfree kit