Cellport Announces Availability of Universal Hands-Free System
8 January 2001
Cellport Systems Announces Availability of First Universal Hands-Free System For Safer Use of Wireless Phones in Vehicles
BOULDER, Colo.--Jan. 8, 2001--Cellport Systems:New Cellport 3000 and Next-Generation Voice Recognition Models to
be Featured at Consumer Electronics Show (Booth No. 22708)
Cellport Systems, a world leader in providing in-vehicle wireless communications and telematics systems, today announced general availability of the Cellport(R) 3000 Universal Hands-Free System for wireless phones in vehicles.
Products will be available at selected locations throughout the U.S. in January 2001 and will be a highlight of consumer technology showcased at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
The system uses a patented Universal Docking Station and phone-specific Pocket Adapter to accommodate different manufacturers and models of phones.
Other features include intelligent battery charging and an external antenna connection, which improves signal strength and reduces dropped calls.
The company also announced that the national auto parts and service leader, Pep Boys, will be an authorized installation partner at locations throughout the U.S. Cellport Systems is establishing national distribution partnerships with top wireless carriers and dealers.
"Cellport 3000 is a safer, smarter solution for integrating wireless phones and mobile Internet into cars, and it provides a much better value for consumers by being universal," said Pat Kennedy, Cellport Systems CEO and founder. "The average consumer keeps his vehicle five to seven years, but the average wireless phone user changes her phone every 12-18 months. It solves the problems of fleets, corporate vehicles, auto manufacturers and wireless carriers who have been looking for a way to cost-effectively accommodate multiple people with different phone models in the same vehicle with one hands-free solution."
Typically there have been three barriers to customer acceptance of other hands-free systems: poor sound quality, safety concerns and a lack of upgrade options with single-phone platforms. Cellport 3000 removes all these barriers by providing a universal solution that accommodates a multitude of popular phone models, allowing customers to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road, and greatly reducing noise and echo through advanced Digital Signal Processor (DSP) audio enhancements.
The company will also be demonstrating its next generation of hands-free systems at CES. The Cellport 3000 VR, which will be introduced later in 2001, incorporates voice recognition functions, such as voice dialing and a voice-driven phone book. Unlike other voice-recognition systems that have to "learn" the caller's voice, the Cellport 3000 VR is speaker-independent and understands simple commands spoken in English.
Suggested retail pricing is $199 for the Cellport 3000 (currently available for Motorola(R) and Nokia(R) model phones). Additional Pocket Adaptors are available at the suggested retail price of $59. Pocket Adapters for many other popular phones will be available for shipment in 2001.
