Even shoppers with little means can find hands-free solution

By EVE HIGHTOWER
ehightower@modbee.com

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You can text. You can dial. But don't dare talk into your cell phone and drive.

Starting Tuesday, it will be illegal.

You can use your cell's built-in speakerphone, but cannot hold your phone while driving.

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The safest, most lawful way to get around a DWT (driving while talking) ticket is with a hands-free device. The choices are plentiful, but can be expensive and a bit overwhelming.

Basically, they break down this way: wired headsets, wireless headsets and wireless speakerphones. Whatever you buy, ask about the return policy in case the earpiece doesn't fit or you find the audio quality is subpar.

WIRED HEADSETS -- Just plug them in, and these old-school sets are ready to use right out of the box. They range from $12 to $30.

The best wired headsets are less expensive and provide better sound quality than most wireless products, according to Paul Martin, sales manager at Mr. Fone in Modesto.

The drawback is obvious: It has a wire. If the wire gets hooked on something, the earpiece can get yanked out of your ear.

WIRELESS HEADSETS -- These are the most popular items on the market, salespeople say. They are increasingly stylish and easy to use once you get the hang of it, said Simon Hermiz, who manages the Verizon store on McHenry Avenue in Modesto.

Drivers don't have to carry their phones for the headsets to work. Depending on the model's quality, drivers can answer a call by tapping a button on the earpiece, dial by speaking into the earpiece and get reception several feet from the phone, said Katie McManus, a mobile sales consultant at Best Buy in Modesto.

Wireless headsets with the help of Bluetooth technology take time to set up and get the hang of, even the newer products. Driving 70 mph on the highway is not the place to learn.

The cheapest Bluetooth starts at $10. Most sold at stores in Modesto range from $40 to $150.

If you're willing to spend the money, Jawbone produces top- of-the-line wireless products that include technology origi-nally developed for military use that filters excessive noise. The Aliph Jawbone headset retails for $99 to $130.

"It's like standing right next to the person you're talking to," McManus said.

Before sinking money into one of these, make sure it's com- patible with your phone. All phones on the market today are Bluetooth-compatible, McManus added, but some older phones are not.

WIRELESS SPEAKERPHONES -- These newfangled things slip onto windshield visors and turn cell phones into speaker- phones, so folks can talk and everyone in the car can listen.

Bluetooth models include headsets that slip onto visors. When leaving the car, you can take the headset with you and use it as a regular wireless device.

Prices for wireless speakerphones range from $55 to $130.

For phones that play digital music, wireless speakerphones double as stereos, Hermiz said.

In general, you get what you pay for with wireless products, but you don't have to break the bank to comply with the new state law, McManus said. Most customers walk in the door with an amount they're willing to spend, she said. She finds a product within that range that works best for the customer.

Customers Tony Azou and Tyra Howard of Modesto opted for the mobility of Bluetooth. Azou said he doesn't mind shelling out some cash to comply with the new law.

"It's the right thing to do to avoid an accident," he said.

Bee staff writer Eve Hightower can be reached at ehightower@modbee.com or 578-2382.