Japan bans cellphone use while driving; IOData is ready

We saw this Bluetooth headset + adaptor for non-Bluetooth cellphones and were left rather unmoved, especially given the Y30,000 ($275) pricetag, but Wireless Watch Japan puts a pertinent spin on the news by reminding us of the fact that Japan is banning cellphone use while driving as of November 1, suggesting that we could be seeing a lot more in this vein before long. With pricing this steep, though, we'd have thought the usual cable type of earphone mic is likely to outsell the Bluetooth variety. Not much hope for makers of the usual kind of Bluetooth headset, either, as there are only about two Japanese phones that have Bluetooth built in as yet.

[Via Wireless Watch Japan]

[David Van Virden @ Dec 19th 2005 2:23AM]

Why can't some forward-thinking industrial design firm make a bluetooth earpiece in the form factor that Lt. Uhura used on Star Trek? I would so totally buy one right now.