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Parrot announces Minikit Smart Bluetooth car kit

The Parrot Minikit Smart combines a Bluetooth speakerphone and a universal car cradle into one, well, smart package.

Antuan Goodwin Reviews Editor / Cars
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
Expertise Reviewing cars and car technology since 2008 focusing on electrification, driver assistance and infotainment Credentials
  • North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year (NACTOY) Awards Juror
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Antuan Goodwin
2 min read

The Parrot Minikit Smart combines a Bluetooth speakerphone and a universal car cradle into one, well, smart package.
The Parrot Minikit Smart combines a Bluetooth speakerphone and a universal car cradle into one, well, smart package. Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Parrot, makers of the previously reviewed and highly rated Minikit Slim Bluetooth speakerphone, has just announced the latest in its line of hands-free car kits, the Parrot Minikit Smart. However, the Smart has a trick up its sleeve. It's not just a speakerphone, it's also a universal phone cradle and a USB charger.

The Minikit Smart attaches to the vehicle's windshield with a suction cup and connects to any handset that supports Bluetooth wireless, acting as an external speaker and microphone for for hands-free calling. If it sounds anything like the Minikit Slim, we're sure that call quality will be quite good. Thanks to support of PBAP, the unit will sync address books when paired with compatible phones for easy access via voice activated dialing. Up to 2,000 contacts can be synced per phone, and up to 10 phones can be saved in the unit's memory.

A2DP audio streaming is also supported, so users are able to stream music through the Smart's loudspeaker. However, this feature is most handy when used in conjunction with, for example, navigation apps, where the boosted audio output can help users to hear critical turn-by-turn directions over road noise.

The Minikit Smart features the same control scheme as and a feature set similar to the Minikit Slim.
The Minikit Smart features the same control scheme as and a feature set similar to the Minikit Slim. Antuan Goodwin/CNET

The Minikit Smart features a powered USB port for charging your devices.
The Minikit Smart features a powered USB port for charging your devices. Antuan Goodwin/CNET

Like most Bluetooth speakerphones we've tested, the Minikit Smart features a rechargeable battery--this one boasts 10 hours of talk time or a week of standby--but can also be powered by its included 12-volt car charger. The Smart also features a powered USB port for connecting and charging your handset of choice and even ships with three 3-inch pigtails for connecting phones that use Mini-USB, Micro-USB, or Apple 30-pin dock connectors.

Parrot Minikit Smart will be available in November 2010 at an MSRP of $129.99 through BestBuy.com, Crutchfield.com, 6th Avenue Electronics, Car Toys Al & Ed's, ABT Electronics, Car Toys, Fry's Electronics, Bell Canada and ParrotShopping.com.