We welcome all Californians to help us support the Parrot as a new State Bird!

Visit ParrotNotQuail.com today!

Sometimes it’s better to think twice before trying to become a good driver

Watch the funny video on Youtube or watch it on break.com

San Diego Living
Fox News 6 Morning Show
May 29, 2008

“Many states ban hand held cell phones while driving, that’s why Parrot offers its
MINIKIT right here, which features best in class voice recognition and audio quality… And they
have the CK3200installation car kit … ”

Ok let’s be clear, 2 laws will take effect on July 1st, 2008 in California thanks to Gov Schwarzenegger:

# SENATE BILL 33: Prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from using any wireless telephone or mobile service device while driving, including hands-free devices, walkie-talkies, pagers, two-way messaging devices and laptop computers.

# SB 1613: Requires all California motorists to use hands-free devices when using a cell phone while driving.

So please be kind with California Highway Patrol teams, drive safely and, if not a customer yet and if you are over 18, get a hands free car kit from Parrot asap!

Brian Cooley, editor at Cnet was one of the first to test the Parrot cd-less car stereo, at SEMA 2007.
Get ready for this impressive digital car stereo. And remember, it’s officially “Made for iPod”!

Watch the Parrot RK8200 video on CNET TV.

Here is a list of disadvantages that the earpiece manufacturers and resellers don’t want you to know about:

1. Nearly all Bluetooth earpieces have an internal battery that can’t be removed. These batteries have a short life of approximately 300 charges, or approximately one earpiece per year (less if you recharge every day). And prices range from $20-$300, averaging about $50.
2. The earpiece can’t be used while it is charging.
3. The earpieces don’t fit everyone comfortably. One size definitely doesn’t fit all; yet you cannot try the earpiece before you buy.
4. The earpieces are uncomfortable for those who wear glasses or sunglasses.
5. For reasons of hygiene, the earpieces should not be shared.
6. Earpieces are easily lost, stolen, or broken.
7. Bluetooth headsets, on average, last just 26 hours when not in use and only 2 to 3 hours when talking.
8. Many users purchase more than one Bluetooth earpiece, then finally give up and buy an integrated Bluetooth car kit.
9. Potential harmful effects from radiation through the earpiece.
10. Most people find the earpieces uncomfortable and ugly, and/or experience lousy audio quality.

Source: Ken Lum, Safewireless.com - More information on www.parrotsafedriving.com

David Pogue from CNBC spotlights his favorite tech gadgets from the Consumer Electronics Show 2008 live. Watch the Parrot digital photo frame in MMS action!

Watch the video on nytimes.com

Meet Parrot team at the Consumer Electronics Show 2008, 7 - 10 Jan

Las Vegas convention center :
South Hall 4
Parrot Booth 35838

North Hall
Parrot Booth 6024

Sands Expo
Convention Center :
NFC Zone
Parrot Zone in Booth 73825

Las Vegas - USA
www.cesweb.org

Parrot products are featured up front, on page 10 of Crutchfield new catalog, across from the page of “iPod for your car” accessories.

Click on the image to read the page dedicated to Bluetooth accessories

Washington is to become the fourth US state to ban the use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving.

The law would go into effect Jan. 1, 2008 (same as California). The ticket would cost drivers $101 and it would not be reported to insurance companies. Using a hand-held phone while driving would be a secondary offense.

Drivers would still be allowed to use “hands-free” cell phone devices such as headphones or an earpiece.

According to the 2007 Pemco Insurance Northwest Poll, 85 percent of Washington drivers believe that talking on a cell phone while driving should be legal only if the driver has a hands-free device, or made illegal altogether.

Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., all have laws prohibiting the use of hand-held phones while driving. California passed a similar law that will go into effect in 2008.

Read more about this new law on Seattle post-Intelligence web site and the Seattle Times web site

The Parrot staff is going to Las Vegas to attend the 40th edition of the International Consumer Electronics Show. Expect new and exciting wireless products from Parrot to be unveiled on this blog in avant-premiere Monday, January 8!

Parrot booths:
South Hall 3, Information Technology & Wireless Communication, Parrot booth 31764
North Hall, Mobile electronics, Parrot Booth 6613

Slashphone.com team has just received their Parrot SOUND SYSTEM sample for review. This is one of the first sample to reach America.

Unpacking and demo video by Vincent Nguyen… with the help of his son! Great wireless music demo using a HTC smartphone with Bluetooth stereo.

Click here to see the video on youtube.com

On January 1, 2008, driving and calling will be forbidden for Californians who don’t use hands-free car kits. Offenders will get a $20 fine while repeat offenders get their fine upped to $50. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the California Highway Patrol are not joking about in-car security!

According to Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto: “Cell phones are the No. 1 cause of distracted-driving accidents in California. Accidents by drivers using hand-held phones outnumber those driving hands-free by a ratio of 25 to one.”

There’s never been a better time to switch to a Bluetooth phone and a Bluetooth hands-free car kit, isn’t it?

Read more about the new law on the San Jose Mercury News site

Edmunds.com is one of America’s most influential and authoritative source and intermediary of automotive information. They’ve published an excellent report on Bluetooth use in cars, featuring the Parrot CK3100: “What the Heck Is Bluetooth and Why Should I Care?”

Extract:
The advantage of Bluetooth-enabled devices is that Bluetooth is a standard operating “system” for lack of a better word. Various devices from diverse manufacturers can communicate wirelessly.
…
From an automotive perspective, Bluetooth offers the ability to utilize your personal cell phone through an in-car system.
…

Aftermarket kits are also available if you’re not in the market for a new car. A company called Parrot makes several adapter kits as does Motorola and others. The kits are very affordable with prices starting well below $200.”

Click here to read this article on Edmunds.com

The Parrot Photo Viewer was selected as one of the high-tech “Toys of Summer 2006″ in the July issue of FastCompany magazine. See Fastcompany.com