Jabra 100-46000000-02 Freeway Bluetooth in-Car Speakerphone (U.S. Retail Packaging)

This is a review for Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth SpeakerphoneI'm not one to take my time to write reviews, but after purchasing three of these speakerphones I thought maybe it would be helpful to tell you why this is the best speakerphone I have ever used.We live in California and, by law, have to have our Cell Phones connected by Bluetooth if we use them in the car. I have probably used 4-5 different brands and configurations in the past 5 years - all with mixed results, until I came across the Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth Speakerphone. I really dislike using in-ear Bluetooth devices (for many reasons, but mainly because they interfere with hearing and make you look like a . . . . ). Speakerphones I have used in the past (including the less expensive Jabra products) seemed to never clearly pick-up my voice and transmit it to the caller. When I purchased my first Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth Speakerphone (after reading a glowing CNET Review) I started using it as soon as I charged it for a couple of hours. It is the easiest, most user friendly product I have bought in a long time.Getting up and running requires:1. Charge unit (USB)2. Turn on Cell Phone and put in pairing mode3. Turn on Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth Speakerphone - it will find the phone and announce "Connected"4. That's it, your done.Now to use it you only have to do one thing and remember 2 words:1. Attach the Speakerphone to your visor and turn it on.2. Remember 2 words when it announces by name an incoming call. a) Answer (connects you to an incoming call) or b) Cancel (phone goes straight to you voice answer message).It really is that easy. There is a lot more that the Speakerphone will do, and there is a one year subscription to a second party company that keeps all your contacts + more so you can call one number and transfer to anyone in your contacts, send text, etc. But you really don't need to know or use any of that.Oh, I forgot, the main reason I like the Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth Speakerphone is that my clients have no clue that I am even on a Bluetooth device when I talk to them in the car. No extraneous noise, no wind noise, just a clear voice. That, plus the ease of use is why I keep buying more of these and giving them to my wife, children, etc.Did I mention that once you turn the Jabra Freeway on you don't have to touch/recharge it for a month or more (my experience, moderate use). It turns itself on when I get in the car, and turns itself off when I exit (motion detector).Pros: All of the above. Plus, iTune music sounds pretty good through the 3 speakers and podcasts are great (you can also transmit the music/podcast to you FM radio) - the Speakerphone "knows" to to stop the music/podcast if a call comes in.Cons: It takes a couple of minutes for the speakerphone to turn-off automatically when you you leave the car. For a short time, if you are fairly close to the car (in you home or office) the unit still picks-up calls. This has happened to me only once, and my iPhone asks if I want to not use the Bluetooth on the screen, so it really is a minor annoyance.

Jabra I stand up and give you a standing ovation for the Jabra Freeway Speakerphone. I previously was using the Jabra CRUISER2 Bluetooth In-Car Speakerphone but sadly had to give it up to my dear husband who refused to use a headset. I did not mind because this way I was able to acquire the newer model. The Jabra Freeway is the newest model since the Cruiser 2. It is a tad bit larger, but offers a few more features such as automatic turn on and off with the built-in motion sensor, and acoustically optimized HD quality microphones and surround sound speakers. You pretty much give all the commands by your voice. For example when you call comes in, you can just say "answer" or "ignore". If you want to make a call, just hit the "Voice" button once and say "phone commands", then say "call <John Doe> mobile". It is that easy. That is one big difference between the Cruiser 2 and the Freeway. With the Cruiser 2 you had to hold and count the seconds on the action button to make it do certain commands such as last redial or voice dial. With the Freeway everything is done with the touch of one button and I don't have to hold it for 1, 2 or 3 seconds!I got so excited about talking about the actual usage of the speakerphone that I almost forgot to mention the setup. I am using it with the Verizon iPhone 4G and setup with so simple it took less than one minute. The automated programmed voice is very clear to hear and understand. This is the first time I have had to actually turn the volume down on a speakerphone because it was too loud! The sound is crystal clear. I really do not know how anyone can give this item a bad review unless it does not work with their particular brand of phone. in regards to the FM transmitter functions, it works as well as other types of transmitters I have tried. There is NO wireless FM transmitter out there that is not going to be static free. Think about, the only way is be able to be static free is to be directly plugged into your radio and not be "wirelessly". This speakerphone will be primarily used for phone calls and not for my the FM transmitter. I can hear perfectly loud and clear by the units speakers and have no need to be using it to play my iTunes music through it. the speakers alone will be sufficient for me to hear my calls loud and clearly.Now lets get to the Voice Assist. Forget about it. Not worth it. I did sign up for it since it is a free trial offer for one-year but I don't see any use for it. I asked myself do I really need to urgently send someone a text message or post a status on Facebook? Is it that important that I can't wait till I am out of the car and on my computer, iPad or iPhone. I can wait - I am not that important to be posting about my life's every moment for all to know. Also, what most might not realize is that you have to call a landline phone number that uses airtime off your cellular plan in order to use the Voice Assist. Signing up was not as much of a hassle as some made it sound. Just make sure to read the instructions on the Voice Assist website and you should have no problems. You have to download the firmware upload and apply it, THEN enter your UPC code after the firmware update is applied. This is for units purchased from Amazon ONLY.YOU WILL LOVE THIS SPEAKERPHONE. I am curious to see what is next for Jabra since I can not imagine how something so perfect could be improved. Well now that I think about it, maybe they will come up with "Park Assist" on their next units. :-)EDIT: I almost forgot to add one more thing. This comes with a really nice long micro USB cord. Not one of those "bungee" ones either. It is straight and long enough to fit plugged into a 12V that is inside my center console glovebox while charging the speakerphone still clipped to my sunvisor (while parked of course).