• On TechRepublic: 10 cool USB flash drive tricks

Scosche SolChat solar-powered Bluetooth speakerphone Video

To play this video, you need Javascript enabled and the latest version of Flash installed. Install Flash now
Scosche SolChat solar-powered Bluetooth speakerphone
Created: 05/12/2009
Video description: The Scosche SolChat solar-powered Bluetooth car speakerphone has a nice feature set, decent performance, and offers a convenient way to go hands-free--and cord-free--in your vehicle.

Scosche SolChat solar-powered Bluetooth speakerphone Video Transcript

[ Music ]

>>[background music] I'm David Carnoy, executive editor for CNET.com and I'm here to give you a quick tour of the Scosche SolChat. This is a Bluetooth speaker phone for your car and it has a green element to it because it has some solar charging capabilities. It's a pretty simple device. You attach it to your windshield or the visor on your car. There are two separate adapters for that and then you just leave it there and you turn it on when you get into your car. Initially you're going to want to fully charge the battery. You can do that by either attaching the included USB cable to your computer or there is a car adaptor that allows you to charge this in your car. But the nice thing about this device is if you have some sunlight coming through your windshield the device will continually charge itself. With the battery fully charged you get about 12 hours of talk time and about 450 hours of standby time. Another feature that's built in is voice announcer, when you [background noise] get an incoming call there's actually a voice that tells you that calls incoming. And if you're able to transfer your key contacts to the device, not all phones support Bluetooth transfer, if you are able to do that you can actually have the device announce the caller by name. On all the device worked as advertised. The speakerphone is actually very loud. We had no trouble hearing callers. They didn't have any trouble hearing us. They did report a slight echo at times. We had no trouble pairing our Bluetooth cell phone with this speaker phone and the device will automatically pair if you have your Bluetooth on when you walk into the car. And what's nice is that once you walk away from your car the speakerphone will automatically disengage and turn off when the pairing is lost. In the final analysis we came away liking the Scosche SolChat. This is a nice alternative if you don't want to get a Bluetooth headset. A Bluetooth speaker phone is a good option for the car. It's also that it has built in solar charging is a nice added feature. [background music] I'm David Carnoy and that's the Scosche SolChat Bluetooth speakerphone for your car.

Related Videos

The Green Show: Accessorize with solar panels

We look this week at Sony's motion-sensing TV, Scosche's solar-powered Bluetooth speakerphone, and Greenpeace's funny app for smart phones.

Nokia 2366i

The Nokia 2366i is easy to use, has a simple design, and offers decent call quality. It also offers a speakerphone and Bluetooth.

CNET Live: June 5, 2008

Vote buying, solar-powered briefcases, and 'The Secret History of Star Wars' are featured.

Loaded: No pain, no gain

Yahoo Music looks like MySpace, the first solar-powered airplane takes flight, and how to get in shape with your Nintendo DSi.

Samsung SCH-U540

The Samsung SCH-U540 cell phone has a generous range of features including 3G support, Bluetooth, and a speakerphone. Call quality was decent too.

The Green Show: A fully electric jet ski

We get a look at a solar-powered light from PiSAT Solar. Also, there's an application from Earth 911 that can help you properly dispose of your recyclables, and the company EcoWatercraft unveils the first electric jet ski.

Samsung SGH-T609

The Samsung SGH-T609 offers Bluetooth, a speakerphone, world phone support, a megapixel camera, and an expandable memory slot.

'Underdog' Santa Clara University competes in Solar Decathlon

Santa Clara University student Yasemin Kimyacioglu talks to Martin LaMonica from CNET News.com about the green features of the Mission style home her university entered into the Solar Decathlon in Washington D.C., a competition to build the best solar-powered house. It's the university's first entrance into the competition.

Nokia 2680 - GoPhone (AT&T)

The Nokia 2680 doesn't offer the best menu interface or speakerphone, but the prepaid phone is a decent basic phone for occasional use.

Loaded: Battle of the sexes

iPhone mania begins! Get ready! Plus, there's a new solar-powered keyboard on the loose, Microsoft wants to be cooler, and women get more frustrated with their technology than men do.

Scosche SolChat solar-powered Bluetooth speakerphone Review

Editors' rating

The good: The Scosche SolChat is a Bluetooth car speakerphone that has a built-in solar panel to continuously charge the internal lithium ion battery; clips onto a visor or can be mounted on the windshield with included suction-cup mount; car/USB charger included for charging when sunlight isn't available; voice-announce caller ID; voice dialing; speakerphone is loud.

The bad: Solar charging is slow and only adds about 1 hour of talk time; callers reported hearing slight echo.

The bottom line: The Scosche SolChat solar-powered Bluetooth car speakerphone has a nice feature set, decent performance, and offers a convenient way to go hands-free--and cord-free--in your vehicle.

Read full review

Scosche SolChat solar-powered Bluetooth speakerphone Specs

Manufacturer: Scosche Industries, Inc.
Part number: CBHSOL

General
  • General

Read full specs

Scosche SolChat solar-powered Bluetooth speakerphone Prices

Online stores

Store Certified rating Inventory Price
Amazon.com

Rate this store
See store profile
In stock $60.13