PEIKER acustic says its 2005 worldwide sales of conventional and wireless hands-free kits reached the 500,000 threshold, in part due to strong North American growth.

PEIKER supplies the hands-free kits, including Bluetooth wireless systems, sold by DaimlerChrysler, Ford and several European imports. In North America. PEIKER's hands-free systems are sold under the UConnect name by DaimlerChrysler and Mobile-Ease by Ford.

Sales of Bluetooth units are expected to comprise an increasing share of the company's North American sales in 2006, says Bruce Clutton, CEO of PEIKER North America.

PEIKER launched the Bluetooth vehicle hands-free era in 2000 with the world's first Bluetooth car kit, but until 2005, sales of Bluetooth units lagged in the United States and Canada. That is changing for two reasons: the increasing number of regulations banning the use of handheld cell phones by drivers and the rising popularity of Bluetooth cell phones, which tend to be top-of-the-line models with advanced features consumers want like mobile internet service, says Clutton.

"Once consumers acquire Bluetooth-enabled phones, they want the total wireless experience that comes with a Bluetooth car kit," underlines Clutton. "By further enhancing the hands-free experience, making it even more user-friendly, Bluetooth hands-free kits are becoming a 'must have' item for new car buyers and for after-market installation."

To assure flawless operations, the PEIKER Bluetooth system is programmed to recognize three major North American mother tongues: North American English, Mexican Spanish and Quebec French. Other standard features include:

• exceptional, digital noise reduction for quiet calls at all speeds;
• automatic synchronization of a Bluetooth phone and the vehicle system as soon as the ignition is on; automatic muting of the vehicle's radio/entertainment system when the phone is activated;
• storage capability for up to 32 names, each with four different numbers.
• Calls can be initiated or received from anywhere in the vehicle so long as the Bluetooth-enabled phone and the car's ignition are turned on. The phone can be anywhere in the car, in a jacket pocket, purse or brief case.

For non-Bluetooth phones, PEIKER offers a universal system through the same automakers. PEIKER's wired systems offer most of the state-of-the-art features that the wireless units boast, like remarkable sound quality and noise-reduction technology. Nor do consumers have to replace the entire unit when they buy a new phone, they just buy a new cradle that adapts the phone to their existing unit.