How to Choose the Right Cell Phone for Your Blue Tooth Enabled Car

Blue Tooth technology can turn your car into your own personal conference room without needing to take your eyes off the road. But, as with all great technology, you must make sure every piece is compatible. Follow the steps below to choose the right cell phone to use with your Blue Tooth enabled car.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet access
• Computer

1. Buy a Blue Tooth enabled car or a Blue Tooth car kit. Most car manufacturers, from luxury brands like Mercedes, BMW and Lexus to mid-line brands like Toyota and Chrysler, offer cars with Blue Tooth packages. There’s no point in getting the phone without the car!

2. Ask your car’s manufacturer which phones will work with your Blue Tooth kit. If you had a car kit installed in your car after purchase, consult the car kit’s documentation for a list of compatible phones.

3. Go to Best Buy or another cellular phone carrier Web site, such as Cingular. You can find Blue Tooth compatible cell phones online by selecting “Blue Tooth” as a browsing criterion in the Web site’s cell phone search.

4. Compare each phone’s plan, price and carrier. If a phone is Blue Tooth compatible, it will work in your Blue Tooth enabled car, so all you need to worry about is how much you’d like to spend, how many minutes you need per month and whether you prefer Verizon, Cingular or another network.

5. Purchase your phone online or write down the make and model you like best and go to the store directly to avoid possible shipping costs and delays.

6. Follow your cell phone and car kit’s instructions to set up your Blue Tooth connection. Make sure you test your phone in your car right away to ensure it works to your standards.

Tips & Warnings

• When searching for a cell phone online make sure the phone is Blue Tooth compatible. Blue Tooth should be one of the first features listed on the Web page.
• Ask your friends which cell phone network they have and whether they like their coverage. Each network works differently in different locations.
• Make sure your cell phone’s network works in your area. Most websites will have you type in your zip code to search for networks that work in your area, but you should go to that network’s Web site directly to make sure.
• Blue Tooth or not, cell phone conversations can be distracting when driving a car. Avoid using your phone in traffic or poor weather.

[cindysuecj]

on 5/3/2008 Just because a phone is bluetooth, doesn't mean it will work with any bluetooth car! I have a 2005 BMW with bluetooth and a bluetooth phone that does not work in it. You need to check with the car manufacturer to see which phones will work...even then it is at best very confusing and there are many conflicting reports.