Just Mobile PK-06 Hands Free Bluetooth Car Kit Review

February 28, 2008

Virtually every Windows Mobile or cellular device sold today incorporates Bluetooth technology.  Bluetooth, for those unfamiliar with the technology, is a wireless technology which allows Bluetooth devices to communicate with each other up to 30 feet away.  These small wireless networks are generally referred to as a Personal Area Network or PAN.

While mobile devices have had Bluetooth for many years, it has only been recent that vehicles here in the US have had the option to be Bluetooth enabled and often this is a costly option when it is installed by the automobile dealer.  Fortunately the team at Just Mobile have come up with a low cost alternative that works exceptionally well.  The Just Mobile PK-06 Hands Free Bluetooth Car Kit (PK-06) plugs into your car's power outlet or cigarette lighter and gives you Bluetooth connectivity with your mobile device so you can receive calls while keeping your hands safely on the wheel.  Setting up the PK-06 is quick and easy and once configured it will keep the connection information so you can literally plug it in and go.

The PK-06 is stylish in look and design with a silver and black casing that measures approximately 4" wide by 5" long.  At the base of the body is the 12v DC adapter which connects to the power outlet of your car which can swivel to fit in nearly any space around the outlet.  The body of the PK-06 is dominated by the speaker which is under the silver mesh on the front of the body with a small directional microphone that flips up on the top of it.  This microphone can be moved in nearly ninety degrees so you can move it to assure the best audio quality for your calls.  Finally, on the left side of the PK-06 are the volume controls and on/off switch.  Personally, the PK-06 looks great in my car which has a black interior with black carbon fiber inlays.  I can see it "fitting" a bit more with most sports cars or others with aggressive internal styling.

Connecting your Windows Mobile device - or any Bluetooth enabled device - is easy.  Simply press and hold the two volume buttons until the orange light on the front of the PK-06 flashes.  This makes it discoverable to your Windows Mobile device.  On your device, set the PK-06 up as a speaker/headphone (depending on if you have a Windows Mobile 5.0 or 6 device).  Literally, it is that simple!  You can also configure the PK-06 to auto answer when a call is received but you will need to make sure you set your device up to auto answer as well.

From a call perspective, the PK-06 offers excellent call quality and clarity.  In my testing, I had no problem hearing calls or being heard on the device, even on roads that created road noise.  Part of this is the DSP (Digital Sound Processor) that is built into the PK-06.  This advanced feature cuts down on background noise for those you are speaking with through the device but also clarifies the sound coming to you as the listener.  The DSP normally increases costs dramatically so Mobis should be commended for including it while keeping the cost of the device under $100 (US).

Overall it is hard to beat the PK-06 if you have a car that does not have built-in Bluetooth functionality.  The DSP gives clean, crisp audio while the stylish, compact size makes it easy to use and easy to store.  Because of the great swivel design of the base, you can use it in virtually any car without much trouble.

The Just Mobile PK-06 Hands Free Bluetooth Car kit is available from a variety of online retails for approximately $60 (US).  The best price I found was at Expansys at $53.95 (US).