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CNN Live At Daybreak

Alternatives to Handheld Cell Phones

Aired June 28, 2001 - 08:40   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: A first in the nation: New York Governor George Pataki is expected to sign into law a bill that bans using handheld cell phones while you're driving. New York is the first state to ban a distraction that many safety officials think is a major cause of highway crashes.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: But connected motorists shouldn't despair.

Allison Tom found a variety of hands-free cell phones and accessories on the market, including a voice activated system that's state of the art.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLISON TOM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're at Discount Cellular with Mike Sanpanos (ph). And he's going to walk us through some hands-free accessories for your cell phone.

Mike, what's the first thing you have for us?

MIKE SANPANOS (ph), DISCOUNT CELLULAR: This is a basic model. It's called a hands-free cigarette lighter adaptor. It's more for entry-level phones. And the base price is like $25.00.

TOM: All right, good. What else do you have?

SANPANOS: This model right here is more for heavier users. It's our most popular. It's called an earpiece microphone. So it would plug right into your ear. And the microphone here would allow you to speak hand free.

TOM: OK. And there's a different kind of model available as well, right?

SANPANOS: Correct. This one is a headset. It's more popular for people who are really on the go, using them full time in their vehicles or on trains or what not.

And this model here is what they call a Navigator. And that one is also a cigarette lighter adaptor. And the phone just sets right in and gives the hands free.

TOM: What are, roughly, the costs for each of these devices? SANPANOS: The costs on them -- this one is $25. It's an entry level. This one's more like $39. This one is $45 and this one is $59.

TOM: OK, great. Thank you very much, Mike.

SANPANOS: Thank you.

TOM: We're here with Stephen Murrin. And he's showing us his voice activated hands-free kit.

And tell us what this is all about this, Stephen.

STEPHEN MURRIN, CELL PHONE USER: Basically, it's a cell phone that attaches to your car. And you don't have to dial in any numbers as you're driving down the road. You could just hold down one of the keys and it asks you to voice activate a call. And it'll tell you...

COMPUTER VOICE: Who would you like to call?

MURRIN: Yvonne Latour (ph).

COMPUTER VOICE: Yvonne Latour (ph).

COMPUTER VOICE: Connecting.

MURRIN: And it connects my wife just by me saying her name. And it will start to ring. Your voice comes in here. And the party you're speaking to comes out in a speaker down to your feet. And there's an antenna in the back of the car that gives you better reception.

TOM: Great. Stephen, thank you very much.

MURRIN: Thanks.

TOM: I'm Allison Tom for CNN in Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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