Choosing an earpiece

Frequent cell phone users (and most of us are these days) find the Bluetooth compatible earpiece to be an excellent investment for hands-free cell phone use. While many are uncomfortable with wearing an earpiece which resembles an oversize hearing aid, most find the benefits fat outweigh the esthetics. Blue tooth earpieces are lightweight and less obtrusive than headsets and are designed for comfort. Many of the newer models are even offered in designer colors.

Compatability

As great as blue tooth technology is, a blue tooth earpiece is useless if your cellular phone is not bluetooth enabled. It is always possible to purchase an adapter for earlier mode cell phones that don't have bluetooth technology. The majority of newer cell phones will have the capability built in and will indicate this in their specifications. Its always a good idea to make certain before purchase that your new phone is bluetooth compatible, even if you have no immediate plan to use an earpiece or headset.

Buying an earpiece

Your best options for purchasing a quality earpiece are from an established manufacturer such as Motorola or Jabra. the hook that fits over your ear should be sturdy and not be sturdy and not made of thin plastic,. If it looks as though it will break easily, it probably will. Most better quality models are designed for comfortable wear, so the actual earpiece design itself is one of personal preference. Its a good idea to also buy a case to store your earpiece. Another area to look at when purchasing are included accessories. The bluetooth earpiece operates on a small (usually lithium ion) rechargeable battery. An AC battery charger should be included with your purchase. The battery life for a full charge should also be noted, in terms of actual talk time and standby time.

Bluetooth earpieces can range in price from under $20 to over $100. The most practical and cost efficient choice for most people is to acquire a name brand unit in the $40-50 range. There are quite few in this range, such as the Motorola H500 and the Jabra BT150. Likewise, other quality pieces are available from Sony-Ericcson, Samsung, and Plantronics.