Palm Debuts Multiple Hands-Free Accessories

Palm, Inc. has made several additions to its line of hands-free accessories, including three car kits and a new combination GPS/hands-free speakerphone cradle.

These are intended to address a growing need for hands-free accessories in the United States. Five states, including New York, California and Washington, D.C., are currently enforcing, or intending to in the near future, a ban on the use of cell phones without hands-free features while driving. Six other states, including Michigan, New Mexico and Ohio, have the same law in place for certain jurisdictions.

The New Offerings

Palm's new hands-free accessories -- which are all available now, offer Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology, which cuts noise and echo for clearer voice performance.

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The Comfort Plus DSP Hands-free Car Kit: Available for Treo 680 and Treo 750 customers, this kit costs $200.

The Take&Talk DSP Cradle + CarTalk Hands-free Car Kit: This kit offers Treo 680 and Treo 750 users many functions, including an extended antenna for greater network sensitivity. It is priced at $260.

Take&Talk DSP Hands-free Car Kit Cradle: This product is for existing THB Bury UNI System 8 car kit users who want to switch over to a Treo 650 or Treo 700 series smartphone. This product sells for $150.

Palm's new GPS Navigator Car Kit (see picture at left) includes an integrated GPS and a hands-free speakerphone. It gives users voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions and the ability to make phone calls, all while keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. It comes with TomTom Navigator software and a 1 GB memory card pre-installed with maps of the continental United States and Canada. It works with the Treo 680 and Treo 700p and costs $300.

All these products can be ordered from the Palm Store.

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