BlackBerry VM-605 Visor Mount Bluetooth Speakerphone review

Features
The VM-605 connects with your BlackBerry or other Bluetooth device with a four-digit PIN. The unit supports hands-free calling and A2DP stereo-audio streaming. Once paired to a phone, the unit doesn't import your contacts, so you'll have to depend on your phone's voice dial feature for truly hands-free driving. However, double tapping the front panel button will redial the last-called number and, on supported phones, the VM-605 will read aloud caller ID info.

No play/pause controls are available when paired to an A2DP stereo-audio source, but volume control is available.

The VM-605 also features a built-in FM-transmitter. Pressing the FM button will cause the unit to automatically scan the airwaves for a clear FM frequency. Once a clear channel is found, the VM-605 will verbally announce, for example, "Frequency, eighty-eight point one megahertz." You should then be able to tune your car's stereo to the proper frequency to hear your calls and any streamed audio over the vehicle's speakers. If the signal isn't clear, holding the Volume Up button will cause the unit to rescan for another station.

Performance
The internal speaker is far too tinny to be optimal for prolonged music listening, but for voice calls, it's fine. Calls were reported clearly on both ends of the line, with no noticeable echo.

Audio quality when FM-transmitting is, predictably, as good as your average FM radio station, but ultimately depends on the density of FM stations in your area. On the crowded airwaves of the San Francisco Bay Area, we had a hard time even finding a consistently clear frequency and found ourselves rescanning often when testing outdoors.

For your $99, the VM-605 doesn't feel as bulletproof as the more expensive Motorola Motorokr T505, but both units have nearly identical feature sets. So, unless you can find the Motorokr at a fairly deep discount, the VM-605 is a slightly better value, particularly for BlackBerry users who want to use an OEM accessory.