Hands-free Buyer's Guide

INSTALLED CAR KITS
Installed Car Kits are hands-free devices installed (usually professionally) into your car with the wires running behind the dash mostly hidden from view. Advanced models are connected to your car stereo system to let you hear your cell phone call through the car speakers or provide automatic muting of the stereo when you have an incoming call. Once installed, this car kit is a permanent fixture and isn’t practical to move from vehicle to vehicle. It’s inconspicuous and seamlessly integrated but requires a lot of setting up and it's not portable. 

PORTABLE CAR KITS 
Portable Car-Kits are hands-free devices that can plug into vehicle outlets or function wirelessly with Bluetooth technology. Usually the speaker and the microphone is integrated into the same component. Portable car kits offer versatility to be used in rental cars and other vehicles. The “Plug in” type can be moved from one vehicle to another with compatible outlets. A car kit with Bluetooth technology offers the most versatility and can be used virtually anywhere.

• Wired Plug in
  Wired, plug in type portable car kits offer true hands-free communication with a vehicle’s cigarette lighter port. Unlike the charge needed for Bluetooth car kits, wired car kits offer an unlimited amount of talk time while plugged into a vehicle power outlet. The microphone and speaker is built into the plug in unit for an easy setup. Setup is simple and quick but some may find the cords inconvenient and in the way.
• Bluetooth [?]
  A Bluetooth type portable car kit offer the wireless use of a wired car kit with the microphone and speaker built into a compact unit. But unlike the wired car kit, which is powered by the vehicle, the Bluetooth counterpart requires its battery to be charged. These wireless car kits can be attached via suction to windows or visor clips. It’s best for those who want the complete hands-free experience with maximum versatility.

WIRELESS HEADSETS (Bluetooth)
Wireless headsets are predominantly known as Bluetooth headsets offering wireless communication via Bluetooth technology. Unlike wired headsets, Bluetooth headsets require its battery to be kept charged. The latest Bluetooth headsets can now offer up to 8-10 hours of talk-time. The advantage of a Bluetooth headset is the freedom of movement it offers to up to 30ft away from your phone. Your phone must be Bluetooth-enabled to work with a Bluetooth headset.

[?] Bluetooth provides a way to connect and exchange information between devices such as mobile phones, laptops, PCs, printers, digital cameras and video game consoles over a secure, globally unlicensed short-range radio frequency. Bluetooth lets these devices communicate with each other when they are in range. The devices use a radio communications system, so they do not have to be in line of sight of each other, and can even be in other rooms, so long as the received transmission is powerful enough. Most Bluetooth headsets can function within 30ft of the Bluetooth-enabled phone.

[!] A prime objective for Bluetooth technology is interoperability. Any pair of devices carrying the Bluetooth brand should be capable of working together at a basic level. Any pair of devices supporting compatible Bluetooth profiles should be capable of connecting and using one another's services. This means that users can mix and match devices from any manufacturer, and the Bluetooth brand guarantees that they will work.

• Compact
  Compact Bluetooth headsets measure approximately 2.5-4” in length with a slim-profile. Compact Bluetooth headsets come in a wide range of styles and colors to satisfy most. A typical Bluetooth compact headset includes an ear hook, which wraps around the ear for security. Most Bluetooth headsets feature an on/off button, volume control, voice dialing, etc., but various features depend on your carrier and phone model. It’s best for those who desire a wireless headset with great voice clarity and freedom of movement.
• Ultra Compact
  Ultra-compact Bluetooth headsets measure approximately 1.5.-2” in length with a very small profile. They are so small and light that you may forget you’re wearing them. There are “inside the ear” types of headsets, which plug into your ear without ear hooks and others with ear hooks. Some enjoy the added security of ear hooks but well designed headsets don’t require it. Most Bluetooth headsets feature an on/off button, volume control, voice dialing, etc., but various features depend on your carrier and phone model. It’s best for those who desire a discreet headset and/or the latest in technological ingenuity.

WIRED HEADSETS
Wired headsets come in a wide range of styles and shapes that plug directly into your phone and offer good voice clarity. Price differences correlate to the clarity of voice/sound quality and the top models offer Noise-Canceling. Wired headsets, unlike Bluetooth headsets, do not require any set up except plugging it into your phone. Wired headsets are comparatively inexpensive to their wireless counterparts but do not offer the freedom of movement. If your phone isn’t Bluetooth-enabled, these are your best and only choice.

• Over-the-Head
  Over-the-head type headsets are arguably the most secure headsets to use. Over-the-head headsets wrap around the top of your head with one earpiece and a boom microphone extending to your mouth. The boom microphone offers excellent voice clarity with its close proximity to your mouth. These headsets offer a secure fit with excellent voice clarity but some may find them too large to travel around with.
• Ear bud
  Ear bud headsets are compact, discreet, and have been around since the beginning of headsets. The earpiece inserts into the ear and further down the cord is the microphone piece with some models offering a shirt clip for optimal microphone positioning. Most ear bud headsets offer an on/off button and other features dependent on your carrier and phone model. It’s best for those looking for an easy to use headset that doesn’t mind an excess of cord. 
• Boom
  Boom headsets are like a hybrid between an “over-the-head” and “ear bud” type headsets. These headsets feature the voice clarity and mic to mouth proximity like the “over-the-head” headsets, but offer the compact use of the “ear bud”. It’s a great alternative to those who want the best of both worlds when considering the “over-the-head” and “ear bud” type headsets.