The Parrot MINIKIT Plus is a great little Bluetooth device allowing you to be hands free while talking on your Bluetooth equipped smartphone or mobile phone. You can use up to 2 phones with the dual mode feature and select which is the main phone. This is great for when we are both in the car and want to use hands free. It can be updated with different languages and works with a large number of mobile phone including Android smartphones and iPhones. This kit required no professional installation and is easy for anyone to install and setup.
In many states, including ours of Oregon it is illegal to talk while handling your mobile phone while driving. The only way this is legal is by having either an in the ear headset or a speaker phone system. Having experience with another maker of speaker phone the biggest problem I had was the volume of the speaker. It made it very difficult to listen to what was being said. The MINIKIT+ has a volume control, but the maximum volume is very loud.
What else is nice about the Parrot MINIKIT+ is the vocal hands-free setup. It has a feature called magic words allowing the user to answer or decline phone calls by voice command. So when you’re getting a call, you can say accept or reject to answer and decline the call. This can be turned on and off.
The MINIKIT+ can store 2,000 contacts into it and you can use the MINIKIT+ to call contacts, while keeping your hands off your phone. When incoming calls are received, if the caller is in your contact list it will announce the callers name. To make out-going calls you can manually scroll through your contacts by using the dial knob or you can push the speak button and say the contacts name and it will dial it for you, real hands free. If you want to program your own voice recognition for your contacts it is possible, but by default the MINIKIT+ will use its own voice recognition system
The Parrot MINIKIT+ is easy to setup with your smartphone. With most smartphones it will import your contacts automatically, and if it doesn’t it is easy to import your list. We did have a problem with one of our phones because it kept pulling entire contact lists from Facebook and Google contacts. So if this is the case you may have either remove those programs or just not use the contacts or just make sure that you speak the correct name. The MINIKIT+ has the ability to connect up to 10 phones but only 2 will be in use when in proximity. If your using the MINIKIT+ and you get a call on your other phone, the second phone will ring and not interrupt the initial call.
Other options include vocal service for SMS and email access. This means you can listen to text messages and emails via the MINIKIT+, allowing you to multitask and keep your eyes on the road. To be honest I only recommend using these types of devices for calls and as needed.
You can also listen to your music playlists through the Parrot (good for outings if you want a small loud speaker), along with GPS applications to listen to the turn by turn directions, much better than using your smartphones weak speaker. When you get an incoming call, the GPS will stop and start again after the call.
The Parrot MINIKIT+ has a vibration sensor which activates the unit when you get into your car and will connect to whatever phone you have on you. So depending on who is using the car, that phone will connect automatically upon entry. The MINIKIT+ is a loud, yet little device that makes taking and placing calls easy. The Parrot MINIKIT+ has voice canceling technology, long a battery life (12 hours of talk time, up to 6 months in low power mode) thanks to the Parrot P6i 416MHz processor, and compatibility with many makes and types of smartphones and Bluetooth equipped mobile phones. It is easy to update when needed.
Looking for a slim, yet loud and clear speaker phone, the Parrot MINIKIT+ is a good choice. No need for a ear piece and the voice commands make it simple and very safe to use.
TIPS for driving while talking:
- Warn people when you’re driving to keep calls shirt.
- Do not get involved in complicated or emotional conversations.
- DO not hold your mobile phone while talking in the car, hence the reason for the MINIKIT+.
- If possible park your car in s safe area, not on shoulders.
- Keep your hands on wheel and use voice commands.
- NEVER text (SMS) while driving.
Giveaway!
We have one Parrot MINIKIT Plus Speaker Phone to also give away!
Main Entry: Tell me how you make calls while driving.
Extra Entry Methods:
- BLOG ABOUT IT!!! 5 entries.
- Grab my banner(shoot me an email I’m willing to exchange banners) 1 entry.
- SUBSCRIBE: (located home page, right hand side) 2 entries.
- Gain an extra entry by tweeting and following me on twitter, becoming a Google follower, and also by sharing this giveaway on Facebook.
- Tweet once a day for an extra entry.
- Like Our Ordinary Life on Facebook
- Add me on Google+
- Remember: List this giveaway on any contest site for 3 entries.
- You can always leave a comment on any non-giveaway post. (1 extra entry per post commented on. just go to home posts are up front, please comment on all new posts and leave your extra entry comment)
Giveaway ends 5-1-2012
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I pull over or call before driving
ordinary life fb fan brittney house
I dont make calls, i just wait til I pull over, or get out of the car.
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I usually don’t because I just have a regular cell phone and it is hard for me to do.
I don’t make calls while I’m driving. I will either wait until I reach my destination or pull in a parking lot somewhere.
Like Our Ordinary Life on Facebook
I use the old fashion way.
trytowin2 at mchsi dot com
Regular bluetooth!
jessicaahays athotmail dot com
As the mom of a 17 year old, I don’t make calls while driving (until I get a bluetooth or hands free device)
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I try not too, since my daughter recently broke my bluetooth.
I like Our Ordinary Life on Facebook.
I use my phone. I know it is a bad idea.
I don’t use the phone, but I would love to win this!
fb fan you xferriza2 danielle b
i dont. you have to be hands free in cali and i dont have a device 🙁
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subscribe via email using ardy22 at earthlink dot net
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I rarely if ever make calls while driving. I wait til I can pull over into a parking lot.
brich22 at earthlink dot net
I’m an email subscriber. 2
I’m an email subscriber.
Pulling over.
I have a blue tooth, but it is not working very well.
I answer the call, but I normally don’t talk much while driving.
mstoolman173@aol.com
email subscriber 2
email subscriber
I eithe wait till I am at a stop light or I can safely pull over
I have sync in my car that connect to my iPhone! a great way to make calls!
I do not drive and use the phone.
like you on facebook as kathleen porteous
kport207 at gmail dot com
follow you on google+ as kathleen porteous
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I dont answer calls while driving right now because its not real safe
kport207 at gmaiil dot com
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I like you on fb Jammie M
The bad way I answer the call, but I normally don’t talk much while driving. sweepmorey at gmail dot com
I normally use the built-in speakerphone but the quality isn’t that great. Would love this device!
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Valerie Taylor Mabrey
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i try not to use my phone when I drive
vmkids3 at msn dot com
With great difficulty, so I wait to make calls till I’m at red lights
i put it on speaker and leave it on my lap
Im a email subscriber!
ptavernie at yahoo dot com
Like you on Face Book!
ptavernie at yahoo dot com
I dont do calls while driving!
ptavernie at yahoo dot com
I use my speakerphone when driving… usually sitting the phone on my shoulder!
Following on FB https://www.facebook.com/Angelasbits
Following on Google+ (angela cisco)
I don’t make calls when driving
I don’t make calls while driving
Generally I have the kids answer while I’m driving and relay messages.
i try not to phone at all while driving
I call with my cell phone right now.
DT: https://twitter.com/#!/nikle714/status/196655952815079424
nikle714 at yahoo dot com
I don’t at all… 🙂
I don’t talk on the phone while driving.
I am a facebook fan of your blog (Marysa N).
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Entry 2
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I never make outgoing calls while I’m driving, but if I get a call, I take it on speakerphone.
Marysa {at} marysa {dot} com
DT: https://twitter.com/#!/nikle714/status/196349237548691457
nikle714 at yahoo dot com
DT https://twitter.com/#!/nikle714/status/196083981039583234
nikle714 at yahoo dot com
Bluetooth
freebiegoddess03@aol.com
I don’t make calls
I use a bluetooth.
https://twitter.com/#!/nikle714/status/195743765728735232
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facebook fan
i dont answer my phone while driving
DT: https://twitter.com/#!/nikle714/status/195369958610436097
nikle714 at yahoo dot com
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Brutus Duffy
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#2
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#1
I don’t make calls while driving at all.
I follow you on Google + as Susan Chester.
I like you on facebook as Susan Chester
I have your banner on my sidebar.
It’s illegal in Oregon, so we don’t answer or make calls while driving. This would be great!
smchester at gmail dot com
I don’t make calls while driving
I do not talk on the phone while driving.
Shared giveaway on Google +
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Maybe one or two depending on where I’m going
I don’t make calls while driving now – too dangerous!
I don’t talk on the phone while I drive plus I don’t usually take my cell with me while I’m out
DT: https://twitter.com/#!/nikle714/status/194219747796205570
nikle714 at gmail dot com
LIKE on FB 🙂
I don’t… I wait until I’m stopped.
I shared on Facebook:
I follow on Facebook as Jaime Nicole
I subscribe by email
jsweeps318 at gmail dot com
Entry 2
I subscribe by email
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I am a GFC follower as jsweeps318
I’m awful – I just talk. This would be great!
I just use my phone 😡
DT: https://twitter.com/#!/nikle714/status/193876789825781760
nikle714 at gmail dot com
I try not to make calls while driving, but if I absolutely have to, I use my cell phone.
I use to do it with ONSTAR but dont have it anymore so right now I try not try not to talk on it..
Email Subscriber, thanks! 2
Email Subscriber, thanks!
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Following via G+ (AngelaWinesburg)
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Following via GFC (hotsnotty2), thanks!
I use a headset, thanks
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DT: https://twitter.com/#!/nikle714/status/193491038269210624
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Follow on twitter (@nikle714)
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sub via email
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On speakerphone.Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
I hook my cell phone to a amplifier that works throught the 12v outlet. It is barely audible.
Like you on facebook – happi shopr
I don’t make or take calls while driving – I’m just now learing how to drive.
I don’t make calls while driving, I’m very opposed to it. Also I’m too busy singing! 🙂
I have a head set that plugs into my phone. It likes to cut out, so I don’t make many calls while driving.
I have enabled blue tooth in my car stereo
since i don’t have a bluetooth head set, i refrain from making and receiving calls while driving. this sure would help!
I never!
I have bluetooth integrated into my car, but the last couple of days it hasn’t been working!
I don’t.
I have your banner, etc. too!
I have a bluetooth set up in my car but it would be great to have one in Bob’s car, too!
my car has a link to my phone
I like this post
i am an e-mail subscriber
i like on FB
I just use my speaker phone. Its hands free in Cali too.