With more than 1 billion Bluetooth-enabled products currently available, consumers are seeking more ways to integrate their handheld devices everywhere they go. For those who want to add full hands-free cell phone functionality or enable streaming audio support in the car, Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. today announced four solutions to meet Bluetooth needs in the vehicle.

A growing trend of Bluetooth technology is the ability to wirelessly stream music from a mobile phone to a vehicle’s head unit. Alpine makes this possible with its new 2007 Ai-NET head units (CDA-9883, CDA-9885, CDA-9887, iDA-X001, IVA-D105 and IVA-W205) and the new KCE-300BT Bluetooth interface module, developed in cooperation with Motorola Digital Media Services and sold separately. Users can listen to music from audio service providers such as Motorola streaming audio services on Bluetooth-enabled phones or devices with Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) streaming audio support. If the device has the Audio Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP), basic control of the music files such as Play/Pause, and Track Up/Down is enabled through the head unit.

With the growing need for hands-free use of mobile phones, the compatible head units display caller identification, missed calls, dialed calls and received calls. For the IVA-D105 and IVA-W205 AV head units, the address book can be accessed, and calls can be made through direct dial on the PulseTouch touch screen unit. The system also supports the auto-answer function available on many Bluetooth-enabled phones.

Consumers looking to improve a double-DIN factory monitor can upgrade to the new TME-M740BT, a 7-inch WVGA touch screen monitor with a built-in Bluetooth microphone and antenna. The screen offers excellent visibility and image quality with 1.15 million pixels. On the display, users can access the address book and missed/dialed/received call histories. The TME-M740BT includes a speed dial and quick call function, and a 12-key direct number input. The unit allows for streaming audio and can access music stored on a mobile phone with control of basic playback functions such as play/pause and track forward/backward.

Additionally, Alpine offers the KCA-100BT Bluetooth adapter to support the DVA-9861 and DVA-9965 head units. The KCA-100BT automatically initiates network connection upon entering the car, and allows for Voice Tag dialing. The KCA-100BT is streaming audio ready, supporting both A2DP for music, and AVRCP for control of play/pause, track up/down functions.