by Rick K. for webBikeWorld

More:  Owner Comments (Below)  |  wBW Reviews Home  |  Scala Rider TeamSet Bluetooth Intercom Review

We don't miss the lack of rider-to-passenger voice activation one bit, as it seems to be the most problematic feature of the Midland-Scala intercom and we've had miserable luck with any intercom voice activation system we've tried, so we'd just as soon do without it. 

Interphone at World Trials Moto Comp Ltd. has announced that Takaisha Fujinami, who finished 3rd in the 2007 World Trials Championship, will now be using INTERPHONE by Cellular Line during the official competitions as well as in practice. In Trials, the connection between the rider and his assistant on the track is critical.  The two are constantly talking to get and give information about how to approach the various points of the track. Fujinami and his assistant are using INTERPHONE Bluetooth intercoms to talk each other, because the system acts as a private communications channel over as much as 500 meters (depending on terrain). The system works in full-duplex, which allows natural conversation. The INTERPHONE system has also been used successfully on extreme enduro rally raids - such as the Touareg Rally and Red Bull Romaniacs by Nick Plumb (amongst others). Other uses include training and coaching for off-road riding, as well as keeping in touch when trail riding, track days, road riding, touring, etc. Moto Comp Ltd are the exclusive UK distributors.

When riding with the Interphone intercom there's no noticeable static or noise in the background anyway, even with its "always on" mode.  So who needs voice activation?  In fact, I wonder if the Midland-Scala system would be better off if the manufacturer simply eliminated the troublesome voice activation on their system.

3)  The Interphone Bluetooth intercom has a claimed range of 10 meters for rider to cell phone conversation and an amazing 150 meters (UPDATE: Rumor has it that the new units are now rated at 500 meters) for rider-to-passenger or bike-to-bike communication. 

That's right -- a pair of Interphone Bluetooth intercoms can be used together as a mini-broadcasting network so you can chat up your buddy while riding!  Sure, it isn't a half-kilometer or so that you might get from FRS radio range, but it doesn't pretend to be.  And, by the way, a couple of Interphone units weigh less, they're wireless and they're much easier to use than a clumsy FRS radio system for bike-to-bike communication.

Although we didn't get out the yardstick (make that the meterstick) to take an exact measurement, the claimed transmission distances do seem realistic.  For example, I had to run back in to the house for a pit stop just before taking off for a ride, and I discovered that I could continue to carry on a conversation with my wife using the system through the steel garage door, across several rooms and way upstairs in the back of the house. 

Burn and I also mounted up a pair and went for a ride and it definitely works, out to about 1/10 of a mile, even on the Interstate at around 70MPH.

The Interphone system's clear sound probably is helped by the full duplex transmission between units.  Full duplex is a good thing; it's defined as "Sending data in both directions at the same time.  Usually higher quality but requires more bandwidth. In videoconferencing, full duplex will be much more natural and useable.  Cheap speakerphones are half duplex, whereas more expensive ones are full duplex." according to this East Carolina State University definition).

Talking on the Interphone intercoms sounds pretty much like you'd expect a conversation to go.  None of that walkie-talkie, I talk - you talk, voice activated jilted conversation like you get on most motorcycle intercom systems (and digital cell phone systems -- remember the good old days of analog cell phones?). 

The system also uses DSP, or Digital Signal Processing.  Interphone also claims that the system will increase or decrease the volume (Automatic Gain Control), based on background noise, but I can't tell if that's working or not.

The Interphone system is claimed waterproof and carries a 12 month (UPDATE: recently upgraded to 2 year) warranty.  They also have a claimed 7 hour talk time once the batteries are fully charged  and a claimed (and phenomenal) 700 hours of standby per battery charge.  I assume that "standby" means that the intercoms are turned on but not being used.

Mounting the intercoms on full-face helmets is easy.  The battery/Bluetooth module clips on to a plastic bracket and the bracket has a clip that slips up between the liner and the helmet shell.  The clip is a very tight fit on some helmets and you really have to yarn on the liner to move it away from the shell, but eventually it works. 

An el Cheapo Phillips head screwdriver is included with the kit and the two Phillips head screws on the clip can be tightened down to make everything secure.  The female screw threads on the clip are brass inserts, but be careful.  The screws do not have to be over-tightened, especially if the clip is pushed up against a tight helmet liner.  Interphone also provide a small spacer in case the screw-on bracket needs more room, like for a thick helmet shell. 

Addendum:  A set of longer screws is included in the package to allow extra length if the clip spacer is used for very thick helmet liners.  We found that the standard clip has an adequate amount of spread to fit several commonly available helmets as long as the clip is placed between the shell and the outer part of the liner.

Interphone also provides a bracket that can be permanently mounted on the helmet if desired.  The bracket has a peel-off label over some sticky tape for this purpose and the Bluetooth module clips on the bracket once it's mounted on the helmet. 

It's slightly problematic getting the relatively short (about 7" or 180mm) speaker wire placed under the helmet liner; again, the unit shown here can also be used on an open-face helmet, so the wire is slightly shorter than optimal for installation on a full-face helmet.

Our unit works nicely on helmets with removable cheek pads because the cheek pad can be removed and the wire can be routed underneath.  Other helmets may require that the speaker wire is routed between the liner and the rider's head, but most liners seem to be soft enough to cushion the wire from chafing the rider.  This problem should resolve itself when Interphone releases the full-face helmet design with thin and long speaker wires.

The back of the speaker is covered with the "hook" part of a hook-and-loop fastener (i.e., Velcro) system and Interphone includes a mating patch with tape that can be attached to the inside of the helmet in the ear pocket.  All told, we had no problems quickly installing, removing and re-installing the units in a variety of helmets during our evaluation.

Like any Bluetooth devices, the intercoms must be paired, and they must go through the pairing procedure the first time they're used.  After the units are paired, the intercom is turned on by pressing the big "Multifunction" button (orange arrow in photo below) for approximately 1 second and waiting for the second beep.  The instructions must be read carefully, but they are relatively easy to follow and it worked the first time. 

Once their paired, pressing on the big button will create a tone in the paired intercom, and you're ready to talk.  The blue arrow points to the button that raises the volume and the black arrow illustrates the button that lowers the volume.  The intercoms seem easy to use when wearing gloves, but once the volume is set, you pretty much don't have to touch them again.

The wire shown sticking out the bottom of the unit in the photo below goes to the speaker and microphone.  The wire must be removed from the module to plug in the recharging unit during charging.  It took us between 3 and 4 hours to charge the units when new, but it doesn't take as long on subsequent recharges, depending upon the remaining charge in the batteries.

We've heard some comments from long-distance riders who say they want their intercoms plugged in to the motorcycle's electrical system so they don't have to worry about the Bluetooth battery going flat during a ride, but really now, how many people are out there riding and talking for more than 7 hours at a clip?  You can charge the thing back up in the hotel room at night.  And if you're camping, you're too much of a rugged individualist anyway to be using an intercom!

We paired one of the Interphone units with a Motorola Razr cell phone, which took a bit of finagling.  I've had trouble pairing this particular phone with the Bluetooth system in my car, so I'm not sure if it was the phone or the intercom, but it took about 3 "Searching for New Devices" before it found the Interphone. 

We tried several calls and answering calls from the cell phone and it worked perfectly, but we do not recommend using a cell phone while riding a motorcycle, so the majority of our evaluation was conducted only using the intercom function.

Let's see -- what else?  Interphone says they sold more than 4,000 intercoms in the first month of production, so these things are hot.  Don't forget, you need two (2) units to talk to each other; you can use one unit for taking cell phone calls if you'd like, but who wants to talk on the phone while you're riding a motorcycle?

Conclusion
The Interphone Bluetooth intercom equals the Midland-Scala Rider TeamSet in its ease of installation.  But the Interphone intercom has really impressed us with its simplicity and functionality.  We didn't have to struggle with it to get it up and running -- we were literally talking over the system within 5 minutes of opening the box.

But what matters most is the sound, and the Interphone system is about as clear and loud as you can get, considering the small, think speaker.  Don't get me wrong -- this isn't Bose quality sound by any means, but it works, it's loud enough to hear the conversation, it doesn't seem to be affected by ambient noise and the full duplex DSP system really does seem to make a difference.

►Review Updates

October, 2007 - After removing and reinstalling our Interphone intercom about 4 times, the microphone boom broke where it meets the speaker (photo above).  We sent an email to GiMoto Canada, where we purchased our units, with a copy to BlueAnt in the U.S.A. and Moto Comp Ltd. in the UK.  We received the following responses from GiMoto Canada and Moto Comp:

GiMoto Canada (website): "(We) fully support the product.  The issue you have mentioned has been corrected in the current design and there have been no further issues.  Any party who has purchased from GiMoto Canada and addresses this issue will receive new boom and mic which is shipped the next working day.  Note that this return policy is in relation to purchases from GiMoto Canada only; we are unaware of how BlueAnt or Moto Comp address the defective item.  Our only requirement is you ship the defective unit back in the included envelope by surface mail.

Sorry to hear of the problem you had with the headset."

Moto Comp (website):  "I can only endorse what (GiMoto Canada) said.  There was a small problem with the first batch of headsets - the design has been changed in later production, with an additional sleeve moulding added to hold the earpiece together under stress, rather than relying only on the integrity of the ultrasonic weld.  Even then, it was only usually a problem for people who were repeatedly removing and re-fitting it to their helmet, or in very close-fitting full-face helmets.  The design mod seems to overcome this problem, and the alternative 'comfort headset' also improves on this still further in the latter case.

In the UK we operate a clear 'no-quibble' warranty with Interphones supplied by or through us.
If anyone has a problem with any aspect of the product, we simply ask them to mail it to us and will will repair or replace as necessary to give them a fully functional system.

We have replaced a small number of headsets from early production for exactly the problem you had, but not had any repeat failures from these customers which gives us some confidence that:
a) it was only a small (fractional) percentage problem (perhaps a combination of less than perfect weld and type of use/user); b) that the design mod addresses both these issues; c) users are very happy with the product and our service.

In fact we are pleased to note that in spite of the inevitable (but low level) field failures we have experienced, (unavoidable with a new 'technical' product in this environment) nobody has asked for their money back as a result, only wanting it fixed as soon as possible, with plenty of praise for our warranty policy and customer service.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you want any further information."

BlueAnt Wireless (website):  (They concurred with GiMoto Canada and Moto Comp).  In addition, I can confirm that our technical support center has not reported this as being an issue with recent stock hence it does appear to have now been resolved.  If I can assist with any specific help for US based customers, please let me know."

We plan on returning our units to GiMoto Canada in exchange for the new "comfort" intercoms and will report back.

March 2007 - Both GiMoto and BlueAnt now offer a two-year warranty on the Interphone intercom.  Also, the manufacturer now rates the bike-to-bike communication distance at 500 meters!

Finally, the units only weigh 3 oz. (86 grams), including the mounting bracket with clip, the Bluetooth module and the speaker/microphone unit and wire.

Each box contains:

• One Bluetooth Interphone Module

• Speaker

• Anti-noise microphone on boom

• Mounting brackets (both screw and glue type) to suit any helmet

• Battery charger

• Mounting screws, spacers and tool

• Owner's manual (in Italian, English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese).  The English section is 13 pages long, including the Table of Contents and warnings.

 ►Owner Comments

Comments?  Send them to Comments are ordered from most recent to oldest.

From "E.P.":  "In response to a few comments I read regarding Interphone talk time between riders.  The intercom will last much longer for rider to rider if you don’t leave it activated for the entire ride.  If you want to talk to who you are paired with, hold the button for three seconds and connect.  When you are finished hold it for 3 sec and disconnect.

The unit stays on in standby mode without draining the battery and is simple enough to reconnect as the touch of a button.  When my wife and I are on a ride, we keep an open connection in town or when deciding gas/restroom/food stops.  For the rest of the time we don’t need to hear each other breathing or the wind from their unit.  If we want to talk it is simple enough for either of us to push the button and connect.

Also, this gives you an entire day of use if there aren’t convenient stops to recharge the battery.  Fortunately for me, I have a cigarette lighter installed to use a car charger on my bike.  The only problem I have is with my cell phone.  It tends to run out of battery life when searching for a signal when on the long rides (hence the need for car charger port).

The Interphone hasn’t been a problem with cell calls or intercom.  Actually, by not staying in connection with the other paired head set, it makes it easier to receive phone calls by not having to deactivate with the other headset."

From "D.N.":  "I am always looking to your website for reviews on products.  After reading your review on the Interphone, I also read a few customers' personal reviews.  I made a purchase of two Interphones for about $300 total and had them in hand in just 3 days.  I was hoping that they were going to be here before a group ride but they did not make it which was not really an issue.

After receiving them, I believe it took me about 30 to 40 minutes to set up two helmets with the system (pretty easy).  I did plug them in and give them a complete charge.  After that I turned them on and let them sit on the table for 7 hours in the paired mode and one of them crashed at just over 6.25 hours.  I believe the other one lasted into the next day since one of the batteries had died.

Just purchased a new Bluetooth phone as the old one was was only blue in color and was toothless.  That was very easy to set up, less than 30 seconds the phone was connected and I was able to receive a call and communicate with the family.  The Bluetooth phone connectivity is the largest reason for the purchase and it works so slick.  Just say hello and just talk like normal.

I have not had the chance to test the cell phone to interphone connection while riding and will update on that later.  The headset to headset connection works reasonably well as it is not meant for idle chat as you ride down the freeway or back roads.  It is made so you can say hey, do you need to take a break or look at that sunset over there and you do hear some wind even with the full face helmets above the 50mph mark.  It beats the hand signals or trying to yell through a full face helmet.

So I believe they work great for what they were made for and did not expect them to like a full day on a single charge.  I can see where if I were going on a long trip, it would be nice to have the capability to plug them into the bikes power while using them for a couple of hours or so when you reach that 4 hour time line or having the ability to upgrade to a battery that lasts longer than say 8 hours.  Then again after about 4 to 5 hours, my wife is ready to stop for the day.

For me I will use the cell phone connection the most just for the purpose of keeping in touch with my family instead of missing and having to pull over and dig my phone out of my pocket and call them back.  It is meant for short quick conversations only."

From "A.M.":  "...Another compliment for your site first - it has guided most of my purchases since we bought our first 2 bikes (pillion, me? not!) late last year.  I enjoy simply reading the reviews because they are well written and help me understand the world of motorcycling. Well done.

I purchased 2 Interphone sets on eBay for US$269, no shipping cost, which price seems to be available from two sellers.  Setup from opening the boxes to paired was 3/4 hour.

They have transformed our riding experience.  We can talk about routes, things to watch out for, and tell the other to turn off the indicator without tooting madly!  We got 6 hours battery time from one of them on first use, the other lasted beyond trip's end at 6.5 hours.  For any longer trips, we will simply turn them off for agreed periods of time or top them up at restaurants over lunch.

When reception deteriorates over distance (we got 200m comfortably) you can shout and the essence of the words come through - urgent, not urgent.  My husband paired his with his Palm Treo within seconds, it works well, and he is pleased that he doesn't have to take his helmet off to make calls, e.g. to ask our friends to open their garage door for us when we've arrived.  We will not be using cell phones while riding.

We have no problem with wind noise - it is no different to that which we get in the helmet in any case.  We are both wearing ear plugs and the speaking volume is good.  Overall we are very happy with them and I don't think I'd enjoy the isolation of longer rides without them.  Thank you to webBikeWorld; they are the reason we chose them."

From "D.S.":  "Please update your web site to tell people that the advertised specifications for this product is in error.  I purchased two of these units and made a two week trip with my wife riding as a passenger on my motorcycle.  Immediately we found that we could get no more than 4 hours of use out of the units before the batteries were dead.  As soon as I got back from our trip I called Interphone customer service in the United States, as the advertised specifications were "up to 10 hours of talk time".  They indicated something must be wrong with our units and that they had to call the main factory, and they would get back to me.

Finally, after two weeks and two more calls by me they stated that you only get 4-5 hours of talk time in intercom mode, and that the 10 hours of use that was advertised was for using blue tooth communications to a cell phone.  I asked to return the units for credit, since they did not meet the specifications on their web site at the time I made my purchasing decision, but they said that there was nothing wrong with my units and they would not allow me to return for credit.

Shortly after that Interphone changed their web site, and it now states approximately 5 hours of use in intercom mode.  I would not recommend buying this or any product from this company, as they did not stand behind the advertised specifications and would not allow an exchange for a legitimate reason.  I would not have bought this product in the first place if I had known that the batteries only last 4 hours in intercom mode, and I don't think most people would.  A typical use of this product is for rider to passenger communications, which means using it in intercom mode....and most people ride for more than 4 hours in a day.

I think it is important for people to understand that what Interphone calls "Talk Time" is not actually talking time, as I also originally thought.  Anytime two units are paired in intercom mode it counts against the Interphone "Talk time".  So if you start riding at 8:00 am in the morning with them paired in intercom mode and never say one word to your passenger, the batteries will be dead in by 12:00 or 1:00 pm at the latest.  The spec should say 4-5 hours battery life when paired in intercom mode - it doesn't matter whether you are talking or not."

Editor's Note:  See the note in the Addendum section above regarding the latest on battery life.  The BlueAnt site claims "Up to" 10 hours talk time when connected to a cell phone and "Up to" 5 hours talk time when using the intercom feature.  The Interphone Canada website claims "Up to" 7 hours talk time and "Up to" 700 hours standby".  The OGK Shop also has a product data sheet that claims "Up to" 7 hours talk time.  Mobile City USA claims "Up to" 10 hours talk time and "Up to" 700 hours standby (this site also has an comprehensive listing of compatibility with other Bluetooth devices).  The Interphone Canada site sells a cigarette lighter charger cord for $19.99CDN.  We've used the product and never ran down the battery, albeit on shorter rides.  My opinion is that the functionality of the Interphone units outweighs the potential battery life issues.

From "D.B.":  "I had been looking for a bike to bike intercom system for my wife and I to use for some time.  I did not want to use the bulky and expensive FRS systems.  After monitoring the reviews (particularly webBikeWorld) of different Bluetooth headsets and intercoms I settled on the Interphone.

The installation was easy and took just a few minutes.  Without repeating what the review has already covered, I will share our experience with the Interphone.

Both units are mounted on open faced helmets.  One with a face shield and one without. While using the intercom between two bikes the sound quality is very good.  We have tested up to 80 mph (129 kph) with very little background noise (on loud Harleys), however there is a little wind noise above 50 mph (93 kph).

The range so far has been further then the specs indicate.  We have tested on an open road in the mountains at about 600 feet (188 meters) and the units worked fine.

We have found only two drawbacks to the Interphone.  The first may not be specific to the Interphone and may be a combination of the Interphone and the cell phones used.  When pairing with a Motorola V325i or a LG Chocolate cell phone, the phones will not recognize voice commands above 30 mph (48 kph).  There appears to be just too much background noise.  For incoming calls, the answer capability works fine and the sound is clear even at high speeds. The person on the other end does hear a little wind noise.

The other issue is the battery life.  We have not been able to get 7 hours of talk time in the intercom mode between bikes as stated in the specs.  The most we have obtained is 5 hours.  As my wife and I travel up to 450 miles (724 km), taking 7+ hours of ride time a day, this has been an issue.  I plan on purchasing the cigarette lighter adapter (to be available soon).  This will allow us to charge the Interphone units while we stop for breaks or food.

A feature that would be nice to add to the Interphone is a mute capability.  This would allow the riders to mute when they do not wish to talk, eliminating the constant wind noise at high speeds, and may even increase battery life.

All in all we are happy with the Interphone and look forward to using them this summer."

From "S.O.":  "I have just (tried) and returned to the supplier, BlueAnt, their Interphone intercom units.  After reading your not too appraising evaluation of the Midland Scala units I purchased the Interphone ones and had nothing but problems. 

For a start at 70KPH with a full face helmet I had continual wind noise in my ear from my wife's unit (No, not nagging to slow down).  No amount of fiddling could eliminate it.  When I wore my wife's helmet the interference disappeared.  It seems that they are sensitive to turbulence and different helmet design when worn by pillion passengers.  We had to stuff a scarf up into the helmet to stop the noise.

As the units are on all the time you only get about 4-5 hours intercom talk before the battery is flat.  One of the units microphone was loose on the stork and after only 2 charges one of the recharging units failed to operate.  The sound quality on one unit was scratchy and you had to talk slowly to be understood.

Blueant replaced one of the units but the problems still persisted and then offered a full refund on both units which I have accepted.  I have read your glowing report on these units and thought that somebody had finally got it right, sadly that is not the case for me.  The problem that still exists is where to from here for motorcycle intercoms."

From "R.W.W.":  "With the aid of webBikeWorld's informative reviews I zeroed in on a pair of the Interphone motorcycle communications units and ordered same from BlueAnt in early May 2007 ($189 each, no shipping charge).  They arrived about a week later-way sooner than I expected, considering availability comments from another one of your reviewers.

The were easy to set up and pair and work as advertised, in spite of the fact we both have shorty helmets and merely slapped the earpiece's Velcro-type backing to the soft inside of zip-on neck curtains.  Riding in Florida during the "love bug" season, we've been wearing face shields and the Interphones, with minimum protection from wind and road (and Harley) noise, seem adequate for the relatively short road trips taken so far. 

We haven't had the opportunity to test battery endurance; I'm wondering whether they will last the advertised 7-hour talk time. When the units are paired, the circuit is open all the time and I assume that counts as "talk time."

I'm still having trouble understanding how exactly the two units reconnect after they've been turned off.  Although the manual explains adequately how to switch from cell phone to intercom, I haven't found the part about how long one should press the button to get the units to find one another once they've been reactivated. It could be just me.  As a pre-Nintendo era button pusher I'm challenged by all devices that feature multi-function switches, whereby pressing combinations of buttons or maintaining pressure for a prescribed time period yields various results, I've resorted to carrying user manuals with me.

Speaking of cell phones, right out of the box I paired one of the Interphones with my Vox non-Bluetooth cell phone equipped with a Cardo BTII Bluetooth adapter (RadioShack, $19.95).  That was easy and works just fine.  According to the Interphone manual, the Interphone comm units can pair with up to five other Bluetooth devices and switch from one to the other with a press of the multifunction switch.  I haven't had a chance to test this feature.

I suspect that my Interphone's initial pairing with the cell phone is the reason we're having a challenge with the rider-to-rider pairing.  With the other Interphone waiting to connect, mine may be looking for the cell phone; it's a matter of getting the two units on the same frequency.

With the thought of new, 3/4 helmets in a foreseeable future we attached the comm unit to the shorties using the supplied double-stick tape.  The mounting bracket is on there for keeps.  We would have used the clamp-on bracket, also supplied, but the helmet liners were too tightly glued to the shells, a potential problem mentioned in the wBW review.

Thanks for all your thoughtful, well-researched wBW reviews."

From "R.W.":  "I preordered 2 of the Blue Ant units from Mobilecityonline, one for me and the other for my wife.  Mobilecityonline didn't process my credit card until the units shipped, about 3 weeks after my initial order.  The units were a bit hard to install, but with a little pittances and we got them in.  We have used them on a couple of trips around Kansas City and they work great.  Mine has a bit of static once in a while, but nothing to really complain about.  I got a new helmet yesterday and had no trouble moving the unit from my old helmet to the new one.  My wife loves being able to talk to me, kind of a back seat driver."

From "K.R.":  "I purchased a pair of Interphones from Mobilecityonline a month ago.  I returned them for a refund after giving them a 29 day trial.  I love the idea of Bluetooth (I also have a Zumo 550 GPS which is Bluetooth) communication and getting rid of the wires, but the Interphone had some pretty big negatives at least as far as I was concerned.

Basically the communication quality was just as poor as my Chatterbox at speeds over 50 mph.  The faster you go the worse it gets.  The Interphone was not any worse than my Chatterbox, but it was not any better either (they both are practically useless at real highway speeds).

But what really was the key factor in my decision to return the Interphone was the battery life when listening to music.  Right or wrong, legal or not legal I like to listen to music when I ride.  The Interphone battery charge lasted less than an hour and a half when I streamed music from my Zumo 550 to the single earphone. 

I talked to Blue Ant tech support and they said that it was because the unit is mono and it was trying to process a stereo music signal and it caused the battery to not last a very long time.  Apparently I am not alone in my music listening while riding as the tech said it was the number one complaint and reason for returning the Interphone.  I was able to listen to music on the way to work in the morning but half way home in the evening the unit would start beeping to let me know it was running short of battery power.

The Blue Ant tech also said that there are talks in his company about maybe developing a stereo Interphone with more battery life in the future but so far it has not gone beyond the talk stage.  I guess I will go back to being tethered to my bike with my Chatterbox, at least until something else comes along.  By the way, your website is the BEST!"

From "B.C.":  "By way of update, we purchased a set of the units from Rob at GiMoto in February this year, got them in about three days (Edmonton to Ottawa), with free shipping at the listed price for a pair. 

Although we find the single headset and boom microphone combination a bit limiting, especially for installation in our ARAI helmets (RX-7 Corsairs for road use and new Arai XD units for on/off road use), the systems work fine.  Setup takes seconds and once one is familiar with the multi-function main control, connection and mode selection is easy, even with heavy gloves on.

During our annual trek to Daytona this year, we used the devices during our commutes and we can attest of ranges up to and slightly beyond 500m and at higher road speeds.  We do find that between the single headset and the somewhat limited maximum volume setting (especially if wearing earplugs) at higher speeds or when its windy, hearing the other party can be difficult.  But by the same token, we do appreciate some design and power consumption constraints that were likely considered.

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of a pair of the 'Comfort' headsets that Rob says should be out later this spring.  This headset is supposed to have a dual speaker pieces and hopefully, a longer or more flexible boom microphone setup.

Bottom line, with some minor issues, we are very happy with the units and have recommended them highly to fellow riders.  We had many people ask us about the systems during our trip south.  We did not see anyone selling the units at Daytona this year, which was a shame.

Great site, keep it up."

From "C.A.":  "I just placed an order with GiMoto.  After entering my location of the USA and processing my order, the GST (Editor's Note: Canada Goods and Services Tax) was removed from the order.  Note that I did call to confirm availability and was informed by the owner, Rob, that they have plenty in stock.  He was very helpful and recommended the $5 shipping Expedited option for shipments to the USA since this provides a tracking number."
 

From "D." (April 6, 2007):  "Well, if you recall, I ordered my BlueAnt interphone from mobilecityonline on Feb 1st as a pre-order for $151.99 each.  Of course shortly after I ordered, the pre-order price went up to $189.  Not sure if they were going to honor my original price or not.  Expected arrival date has been March 30 for a long time now so last Friday I called mobilecityonline to inquire about the status of my order and was told the units would be coming in this past Monday and then shipped out. 

Since I hadn't received my order by today, I just called mobilecityonline again and now they're saying "maybe June, we just don't know because they haven't been released yet".  I think in this case, I'll just go ahead and order from GiMoto.  According to GiMoto, there isn't any duty being charged on these units coming into the U.S. at this time (hope he's right)."