Be hands off at all costs

Drivers don't need to spend up large to comply with new laws on cellphone use, say transport officials.

With top-end, hands-free devices costing more than $500, motorists can escape punishment with free headsets and cheap plastic cradles.

Latest figures reveal there are 3.8 million mobile phones in New Zealand - suggesting a sales bonanza for companies selling hands-free technology.

But Ministry of Transport safety manager Leo Mortimer was concerned most companies were promoting only the expensive options.

"Not too many people out there are promoting the $20 to $30 devices."

From November 1, motorists can make or receive a call "only if they do not have to hold or manipulate the phone in doing so", according to the Ministry of Transport website.

They are also banned from sending texts and emails while driving.

Punishment is an $80 fine and 20 demerit points.

Motorists can beat the ban in a number of ways. Aside from pulling over to use the phone, they can connect their mobile to an earpiece or a hands-free kit, or rest it in a cradle and talk over speakerphone.

Unsurprisingly a wide range of products are available for all budgets.

Most use Bluetooth, a wireless exchange of information between compatible gadgets over short distances.

If you're buying a Bluetooth hands-free kit, you'll need a Bluetooth-capable mobile.

The recommended retail price of Bluetooth hands-free kits ranges from about $110 for a Nokia model to almost $550 for a Navman device incorporating GPS navigation.

Earpieces also come in Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth models. Bluetooth earpieces cost as little as about $50 or you could use the free non-Bluetooth headsets that come with most phones. A cradle for your phone can cost as little as $20.

Lasith Weeraratne, product manager for JB Hi-Fi and Hill and Stewart, said Bluetooth products had been "flying off" the shelves since the ban was announced.

Navin Rudra, of Digital Mobile, said shoppers were pouring in to buy hands-free kits and predicted November and December would be busier.

Talking up the kits

With sales of Bluetooth hands-free kits soaring, we put some of the most popular models to the test.

The two best-sellers at JB Hi-FI are the BlueAnt S1 and BlueAnt Supertooth 3 and both are easy to use.

Like other Bluetooth kits, they have to be "paired" with your phone, a one-off process that should only take a few seconds.

Both have good sound quality and simple, easy-to-use instruction pamphlets, and it was nice to see a well-marked on/off switch on the S1.

Both BlueAnts, plus four other devices tested, are designed to clip on to your sun visor. The drawback of that was that I kept craning my head upwards to ensure I could be heard. It was also a little distracting hearing the voices of colleagues and family members floating around the car.

The alternative is a Bluetooth earpiece, but I decided to test my non-Bluetooth phone instead.

I secured it in a $30 car cradle from Dick Smith and plugged in the hands-free headphones that came free with the phone.

The cradle seemed a bit loose and I was worried it would fall off as I drove.

But when my partner rang, it was nice to hear his voice in my ear rather than floating round the car.