ConsumerWatch

ConsumerWatch: Best Hands-Free Cell Phone Devices

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ― An average of 10 million drivers around the country is on their cell phones at any given moment. On July 1st, it will be illegal to use a cell phone while driving in California, without a hands-free device.

Michael Little admitted to CBS 5 ConsumerWatch it will be a hard habit to break.

"It is dangerous but at the same time it's a real convenience," Little said. "I think some will follow the law, but I think there will be a lot of tickets for it too."

The new California Hands-Free law gives CHP Officer Mike Davis the power to pull motorists over if he sees a handset at their ear.

"It's a $20 ticket with added administrative costs," Davis said. "So you'll get $60 to $80 and then it'll go up over $100 for violations after that."

Joni Blecher known as the Cell Phone Diva and blogger with Letstalk.com said to spend that money on a headset before you get a ticket. Blecher has tested countless headsets and gives her top picks for sound quality, simplicity and price.

Here's her list of favorites:

* Jabra Earbud $10
* Bluetooth LG 30 $40-$50 (includes charger)
* Cardo S800 $90
* MotoROKR t505 $100-$170

Blecher said a basic wired earbud is the cheapest option. The benefit is you don't need a charger or batteries.

Bluetooth wireless technology has come a long way. She said signals are stronger so the sound clarity is much better with most headsets. When you pay in the $40-50 range, you can expect decent sound quality and basic functionality.

The Cardo S800 goes further by letting users connect to two different cell phones with one earpiece.

"You can switch between calls," Blecher explained. "Say you get a personal call and you say, 'Oh, I got to take the work call.' You just tap the unit twice and it switches and takes the call from your work phone."

The MotoROKR is actually a portable box that you can clip to your sun visor. A built in FM transmitter allows the user to place and hear calls through the car stereo. Its voice activated, so there's no need to ever touch the phone's keypad. It's worth noting, the new law does not make dialing or texting illegal unless you are under the age of 18.

Clay Hausmann, Vice President of Marketing at Plantronics expects to see a spike in headset sales in June and two months after the Hands-Free Law takes effect. He said the newest units are made with cutting edge noise cancellation technology.

"If you are walking through an airport you might hear the boarding announcement and you'd have to press the volume button up," Hausmann said. "Now, the DSP algorithm is intelligent enough that it raises the volume level when your ambient nose goes up. You don't need to adjust the sound at all." Hausmann recommended picking a product based on how you plan to use it.

For occasional, casual use $40 is all you need to spend for a basic model.

If you are making important business deals over the phone, in a noisy car, it's worth investing $80 for the Voyager 520 model that contains a noise cancelling microphone system and internal windscreen. If making a fashion statement is important to you, the Discovery 925 costs $120 and offers versions in black and pink.

Plantronics designer and developer Diane Elabidi says consumers will see high end designs in new earpieces. But the new looks won't be at the expense of functionality.

"We accommodate 80 percent of the population," Elabidi said. "They are like jewelry, but just as functional." So there is less of a "dork" factor when it comes to wearing an earpiece and talking away.

Some would argue the act of using a cell phone while driving is a dangerous distraction. Officer Mike Davis agrees but said: "In 2005, we had 1098 crashes where someone had a cell phone to their ear. Compare that to 102 crashes where someone had an earpiece on. That's a drastic difference. While talking on the phone is not the best thing, what the state legislature has done is freed up one of your hands. Driving with both hands is much safer."

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