Mobile car ban drives Bluetooth

Chatting on your phone while driving could be banned

Legislation banning the use of mobile phones in cars is spurring car manufactures to look for alternatives such as Bluetooth.

Bluetooth is a wireless technology that allows devices to communicate with each other. Because it can be used with a hands-free headset that can connect to a mobile phone even if the device is some distance away, it could be a perfect way to get around the ban.

The UK, in common with other governments around the world, is currently considering a complete ban on using mobile phones in cars.

The car manufacturers are responding and Saab is already making a car with Bluetooth built into the dashboard.

Moving mountains

Others are bound to follow, thinks Nick Hunn, Bluetooth expert and Managing Director of TDK Systems.

Bluetooth facts

Developed by consortium of firms including Nokia and Ericsson

Named after Viking King with fondness for blueberries

Devices hop 1,600 times per second over 79 channels

"The car industry has a lengthy development cycle with even the smallest design modification taking years to appear on the showroom floor," he said.

"In the case of Bluetooth, however, all of the big players are moving mountains to make it happen by next year," he added.

He thinks initially top-of-the-range models will be Bluetooth-enabled, with more affordable models following suit by the end of next year.

According to research conducted by General Motors, 70% of all mobile calls in the US are made by people travelling in cars.

The use of Bluetooth in cars could prove the killer application that the technology has been searching for, thinks Mr Hunn.

Bluetooth headsets are available from UK shops such as Carphone Warehouse but they are not cheap, ranging from £70 to £150.