Cellular - Bluetooth Intercom and Bike-to-Bike from Bikes in the Fast Lane

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Cellular - Bluetooth Intercom and Bike-to-Bike

November
2006

  File under Bluetooth Gadgets
  Author: Mike Werner
  Location: Normandy, France

Read the special articles on Bluetooth and motorcycles:

All Motorcycle Helmets with Bluetooth

All 3rd Party Bluetooth add on for Helmets

NOTE: We have written a lengthy product review of the CellularLine Interphone. Click here to read it.

Italian electronics manufacturer, Cellular, have a Bluetooth intercom that does exactly what bikers want: it allows you to not only communicate with your pillion, but also with other bikers ! The unit is called Interphone.

The Bluetooth unit looks very much like other Bluetooth units; a small pod that is placed on the side of your motorcycle helmet (any helmet). The unit has in the pod the volume control, a multi-function switch (for pairing, on/off, answer call and other functions) and a multi-function led (operation mode, battery level). Attached to the pod, is a slim loudspeaker and a boom microphone.

Intercom

You pair the Bluetooth unit with other unit, your pillion passenger or your mate on another motorcycle. Once paired, you can talk all your want.

No need to press a Push-To-Talk button, just speak. The battery will last you 7 hours of talking time, or 700 hours standby time (ie, not talking).

Motorcycle-to-Motorcycle

Normally, Bluetooth has a reach of about 10 meters. In this case, due to some manipulation of Bluetooth, you have a reach of 150 meters (according to the Cellular Line people I spoke to at EICMA, they have had 400 meters range in a clear field). If you're out of reach, just get closer and resume talking.

Cellular state that the sound is excellent up to 130 kph !

If you increase your speed, the unit automatically increases its volume.

Phone

Yes, since we're talking Bluetooth, you can use the unit to take and place GSM phone calls (your phone must be Bluetooth compatible). Your phone must be within 10 meters of the Bluetooth unit.

Depending on your phone's capabilities, you can activate it by voice control.

Of course, when you receive a phone call, you park your motorcycle to continue talking, don't you ??

Personal Note: It all sounds very good. I've not seen any company extending their Bluetooth reach 15x. Is it true ? Does it work properly ? I've tried several times to contact the company via email, and they don't seem interested in dealing with non-printed press. Maybe it works, and maybe it doesn't, you can judge yourself. It's a pity that there still are companies out there who have not woken up to the internet. Their loss !