Is the car's Bluetooth interface worth the effort?

Re: Is the car's Bluetooth interface worth the effort?

I don't spend much time calling from a car, because of the risk of distraction, but I do have to admit that Bluetooth is a great feature. I answer an occasional call while cruising down the highway. In the past, I'd either ignore the call, or go digging through my pants pocket to get my phone, hoping to answer before it transferred to voice mail. It wasn't easy, and it wasn't safe. Mostly I just didn't answer. With Bluetooth I just tap the button on the wheel and I'm instantly connected. It's very nice.

Tom

 

Re: Is the car's Bluetooth interface worth the effort?

I do like the knowledge of having the Blue tooth set up in our car can be a very nice and useful feature.
I do find it difficult to use at times. Switching from one phone to another seems to be an unneeded step. I don't understand why the Blue tooth cannot recognize another phone and automatically switch itself to the phone in use.
The learning factor is my biggest handicap, I thought the Blue tooth would dial my "phone book" numbers just by my asking it to do so. This is not the case. But selecting the number to be called from my phone book list has become easier as I get use to the systems requirement. I'm still working on setting up the speed dial.
Overall I am happy with it, time will tell if I get to be a pro at using it.

 

Re: Is the car's Bluetooth interface worth the effort?

I like the BlueTooth feature, though it could use a little more refinement. The biggest being that it is wonderful you can pair 6 phones, but why is it so tedious to switch from one to another? Personally, I think this should be a "priority" list that autoconnects (i.e. try the first, if not found, try the second, etc...). That would be far more practical, especially you can't change phones quickly or while in motion.

Of course, other minor gripes include while moving, you will not see the number and only see the name if it's in the phone book.

It would also be nice if the BlueTooth profile supported displaying SMS messages on the MFD, but if they won't even show us incoming call numbers, fat chance of that happening...

And of course the voice dialing is so slow and tedious that it is useless. Pull out the handset.

On a related note, my MotoKrzr phone can only transfer one contact at a time, which is a PITA, but I know that's the phone (or actually, Telus) and not the car.

Overall though, love the BT feature.

 

Re: Is the car's Bluetooth interface worth the effort?

+1

I guess for a buisness person, or field tech something like this would be useful. Imo bluetooth headset is far superior and easier to use.

I dont use my phone except for work, and maybe 2-3 personal friends...oh and the folks

 

Re: Does anyone know which pay as you go phone have Bluetooth for Prius

Sorry I can't answer your question as I don't know how compatible the V195 is. What I do know is as long as my bum points to the ground I will never own another Motorola phone, no way, never!

I had a pre-digital, analog Motorola flip which was big compared to todays phones and had a standby of 24 hours with its big battery and it was great, had 2 Motorola phones since and they both died, one had an intermittent fault which caused it to switch off mid call the other died within a week and was repaired so without a phone for 2 weeks right after forking out a good deal of cash to buy it then 5 days out of warranty it died again and they wouldn't fix it. So no Motorola phones ever again. I got a $85 Sagem phone for my wife which lasted 3 years with no problem but we replaced it with a Samsung 3G phone for improved coverage. I also have a 3G phone now, an LG.

 

Re: Is the car's Bluetooth interface worth the effort?

wow resurrection of a very old thread...

since some states have instituted hands free laws to kick in this summer, BT is becoming the thing to do.

i personally feel that BT in the Pri is limiting (but then again, im biased since i dont have it ) having a soon to be one year-old, having an extra hand is not convenient, its REQUIRED!!, so using an ear bud is the best way to go.

having forgot my ear bud a few times and being in the store shopping (because of my work schedule 4- 10's, i do all the grocery shopping and misc errands) i found not having the hands-free option to be extremely inconvenient.

so my advice, go to your wireless provider, immediately discount the first 5 on the list (dont buy cheap you will regret it!!!)

i now use a plantronics BT 655... it has reasonably low battery life ( my old Motorola had like 15 hours talk time, several weeks of standby) only 4 hours talk time, a lot of standby (dont remember and dont care...) but also has noise cancellation technology that accounts for excessive drain. the headset comes with wall charger, portable battery operated charger (only good for maybe 2-3 recharges...so not extremely useful) but also with a USB charger. so i can spot charge it nearly everywhere.

cost me 75 to 110 (i now have 3 of them for various family members) depending on when i purchased them

 

Re: Is the car's Bluetooth interface worth the effort?

Bluetooth is a great feature.. Use it all the time.. I would say use whatever best suites your needs.

 

Re: Is the car's Bluetooth interface worth the effort?

Bluetooth is a great feature.. Use it all the time.. I would say use whatever best suites your needs.

 

Re: Is the car's Bluetooth interface worth the effort?

Thanks.

 

Re: Is the car's Bluetooth interface worth the effort?

Bluetooth is right up there at the top for my favorite features. I use the phone all the time while driving. The sound is just fine and I never use a headphone. My car is only a week old and I don't know what I would do with out it!! When I left the dealership with my new car the windshiield suddenly fogged up. I reached for the traditional buttons and couldn't see any. I panicked and called my sister in Dallas who has a Prius and said, "Help, I can't see." She replied, "The defroster is on your steering wheel stupid."

I still have to program my phonebook into the system. Right now I am dialing on my cell, listen that it is ringing and hang up, then talk through the car speakers.

Don't give up on making this work for you!!

 

Re: Is the car's Bluetooth interface worth the effort?

1. If you drive in New Jersey you can new get a primary ticket for handheld cell phone use. The police can stop you if they see you handling a cell phone while driving. Thus, the car bluetooth approach is the only way to go. So upload your phone book asap.

2. If you live elsewhere, do it anyway because you will be a safer driver for not using a handheld phone. You will not be as distracted and pay more attention to not being in a crash because of inattention. The life and car may be your own!.

3. Some states have secondary laws that permit police to issue cell phone use tickets after they have stopped you for a primary offense such as speeding. So even if you speed, the Bluetooth approach will make you ticket cost less.

There are probably many more good reasons. That is why most manufacturers are going to Bluetooth or Sync in their vehicles. It is to save use the cost and tragedy of being in a crash.

 

Re: Is the car's Bluetooth interface worth the effort?

Part of your satisfaction is going to depend on the phone you use and how well it implements BT and its phone directory. I'm reasonably happy with BT on my 2008.

However, I'm not happy about having to dig deep into menus to change back to my phone after my wife has driven the car and vice versa. If the system is so smart, why can't it figure out which phone is in the car? And if both phones are in the car, why can't it present you with a choice of which to use? So my pleasure with BT is tempered by this silly limitation.

 

Re: Is the car's Bluetooth interface worth the effort?

Ditto!