It can read text messages, deliver navigation directions

May 18, 2010 08:16 GMT  ·  By

On Monday, BlueAnt announced the launch of S4, its hands-free voice controlled Bluetooth car speakerphone, meant to offer drivers the possibility to communicate while on the road without touching the mobile phone. All that drivers need to do is to use their voice for communication, as the S4 gets ready for voice commands when the phrase “BlueAnt Speak To Me” is uttered.

“Then say the command to activate your phone’s voice dialing feature and you can make a call just by saying the person’s name (“Call Mom?”) if your phone supports name dialing. When the phone rings, you will know who is calling without looking at your phone because the S4 will read out the caller’s name and ask you if you want to answer: all you have to do is say “answer” or “ignore”. The S4 accomplishes this with text to speech (TTS) technology and by transferring and storing up to 2,000 phonebook entries from each paired mobile phone,” the company announced.

Moreover, the solution comes with the SafeReader application (from BlueAnt and Vlingo) on the S4 used with Blackberry and Android devices, which will deliver all text messages by voice through the hands-free, in an attempt to reduce distracted driving. In addition, the S4 enables users to benefit from the navigation apps on their handsets by delivering voice directions through S4’s A2DP feature.

The features list of S4 includes: - Best in class sound, with rich audio quality - True multipoint to connect and conduct calls on two mobile phones simultaneously - Voice isolation technology that is constantly monitoring and removing background noise during a call to ensure excellent voice quality - Sleek design with touch-sensitive volume controls - Portability and zero installation cost because the S4 attaches to the car’s sun visor.

BlueAnt expects for its S4 solution to offer a great hands-free experience to users. According to the company, the speakerphone is set to become available for purchase via Best Buy on Sunday, May 23, featuring a price tag of $99.99. Moreover, the S4 is expected to be put on sale in the US via AT&T too, starting with June 6. Additional info on BlueAnt hands-free products are available here.