Bluetooth accessory maker Parrot has announced the latest addition to its MiniKit line of hands-free Bluetooth smartphone car kits with the MiniKit+, which can handle two Bluetooth mobile phones simultaneously and pair with up to 10 such phones, storing up to 2,000 synchronized contacts with each. The kit, which will arrive in October, assigns different bell tones to each of the two phones in use, and both speaks the names of incoming calls and lets drivers accept or reject calls by voice.
The MiniKit+, which is attached to the sun visor, automatically detects when the car door is opened thanks to a vibration sensor that puts the unit into “on” mode. It has an A2DP speaker capable of playing music wirelessly from the primary smartphone if desired, or can speak GPS information. The unit can accept firmware updates by connecting it to a computer and vocally putting it in update mode. The MiniKit+ also features DSP audio to reduce or eliminate background noise and improve audio quality.
Drivers need only press the green button on the MiniKit+ to launch voice recognition in order to initiate a call. Users just speak the name of a contact in their address book. An optional subscription service from Parrot called TextFriendly also allows users to vocally listen to or dictate e-mail and SMS messages.
The Parrot MiniKit+ will be available next month and retail for $89.
