Jabra Drive - Review - Shafer Benoll

For those who have never gotten used to the Bluetooth headsets and still need a hands-free solution for their Windows Phone, enter the Bluetooth Speakerphone. Jabra makes a dainty assortment of speakerphones and today nosotros turn our sights on to the Jabra Bulldoze.

The Jabra Drive is a bones Bluetooth speakerphone that is solidly congenital, has simply enough features to go far highly-seasoned and decent call quality. Moderately priced at $49.95, the Bulldoze might be a practiced choice for those looking for a hands-free solution that doesn't have too many bells and whistles. To come across how well the Drive performed, follow the suspension.

Design and features

Jabra Drive

The Bulldoze is a uni-torso designed speaker that uses a wide metallic clip to fit securely to your auto visor. Volume controls remainder above the speaker with the noise cancelling microphone sitting in between the "-" and "+" buttons.

Jabra Drive volume keys

The large speaker doubles as a multi-part button and has a LED lite to alert and confirm operations. To the right side of the Drive you lot will find the ability button and micro-USB port. The overall size of the drive, when placed on the car'south visor, is about the size of a deck of playing cards.

Jabra Drive

The Jabra Drive does back up multiple connections, allowing you to stay connected to 2 active Bluetooth devices at the same fourth dimension.

Performance

Jabra Drive Power Button

While the volume controls are contained, the remaining functions are controlled by the speaker/multifunction button. The speaker is slightly raised and hinged to create a button that is used to answer calls, reject calls, end calls, voice dialing, terminal number redial, and mute. Some of these features are device dependent.

The Jabra Bulldoze does back up music playback and voice navigation for some phones. The music or vocalism navigation should be automatic and mutes automatically on incoming calls. The Jabra Bulldoze supported music playback nicely with the HTC HD7S and Samsung Focus. However, I wasn't able to get vocalization navigation to come through on the Drive using Garmin Streetpilot or Plough past Plow Navigation. I'm not certain if this is an outcome with the phones or the navigation software.

Call quality was really dainty and the racket filtration features are among the best I've seen. In using the Drive at interstate speeds and with the radio in the background, the only sound picked up by the microphone was my voice. While the speaker is a touch smaller than other Bluetooth speakerphones, call book was respectable.

Now for the bad or should I say, not so skilful. While the Bulldoze has voice announcement to alarm you that the bombardment is low or when your Windows Telephone is connected, that is the just phonation alerts the Drive has. The ringer is prissy and loud but without voice caller ID y'all have to either a) accept a chance on answering the telephone or b) check caller ID from your phone. I've been using the Jabra Cruiser Two for the past several months and having audible caller ID is hard to give up.

Overall Impression

The more than I used the Jabra Bulldoze, the more than I liked it. Call quality was very skillful and the speakerphone didn't take upwards much room on the visor. However, I similar to see who's calling before I respond the phone and the lack of caller ID on the Bulldoze was a drawback for me. I was able to piece of work around this limitation past placing my phone in an iGrip Phone Mountain only it would have been nice to have audio caller ID. With the Bulldoze having the ability to take sound alerts for connectivity and low battery, it may only be a software issue to add caller ID (hint, hint).

All in all, if you're looking for a basic BT speakerphone and tin alive without audible caller ID, the Jabra Bulldoze is a decent selection. If you tin can't live without aural caller ID, expect at the Jabra Cruiser instead.

You lot can discover the Jabra Drive over at the WPCentral Accessory Store for $49.95.