A little larger than the typical cell phone or PDA, the Spracht Aura Mobile BT conference phone is a versatile little unit. You can use the Aura as a Voice over IP (VoIP) conference speakerphone for Internet phone calls with a Bluetooth enabled PC or Mac -- without the need for any additional software to make it work. If your computer isn't Bluetooth enabled, you can use the included cable to connect the Aura to your computer's headset and microphone jacks. The Aura can convert a cordless landline phone into an instant conference phone as well.
Best of all, though, the Aura can turn your cell phone into a professional-sounding speakerphone. I'd been using a Bluetooth headset in my office for conference calls, but even in my very quiet office, I was often told (not always politely) that my headset wasn't cutting it. After using the Aura on a few calls, I was hooked. This 9-ounce, full-duplex device really packs some decent sound, and the 3-watt dual speaker pushes the volume far beyond where your ears are willing to go.
On the downside, I sometimes had trouble making the Bluetooth connection. To be fair, it's possible that my Treo 700P was to blame, but I experienced a few false starts connecting the device to the phone. Still, the Aura easily beats the Treo's built-in speakerphone, and it has other nifty features to boot. At $149.95, it's not a bad deal overall.
The Aura comes with a wall-plug power adapter, car charger, VoIP cable, cordless phone cable, and external microphone. It gives you up to four hours of talk time between charges and even has a nicely integrated car visor grip for hands-free calls while driving.
Victor R. Garza
Victor R. Garza is senior contributing editor to the InfoWorld Test Center.