Guess how much?
This is a the new Sony MEX-BT2500 Bluetooth enabled head unit and not only is it Bluetooth enabled for hands-free mobile phone operation but it supports the A2DP profile which mean that you can stream your music and navigation output from your ultra mobile PC straight into your head unit in high quality and without wires. This is something I’ve been looking for for a while but have only seen the Parrot and Pioneer head units. I had no interest in them because they were damn expensive at over $400. The Parrot unit has since come down in price but this new Sony one looks a whole lot nicer. Especially at 185 Euros. That’s a great price for Europe. (found on Amazon.de.)
It has a ‘super sensitive’ mic that can be used for hands-free mode (I wonder if it can be used for speech input on a ultra mobile PC via BT?) and there’s a front mounted Aux input for traditional audio connections. Apart from that its a fairly standard unit. It’s not known if it supports track control via a Bluetooth remote profile. (AVRCP)
Its available from the end of March in the UK and European-wide pre-ordering seems pretty easy to find. Info at Sony.co.UK. I’m not sure about the U.S which already has the MEX-BT5000 at around $300 which, now that I’m looking is actually available in Europe at something in the region of $400. Applying the usual crooked mathematics associated with pricing of products in the UK and US and you come to a figure of under $200 for the MEX-BT2500. A complete bargain and wireless freedom.
