Uconnect Bluetooth technology for 2005

[dholly]

Uconnect uses Bluetooth technology to integrate the same cell phone you carry on your belt or in your purse into a hands-free system installed in your Caravan. Uconnect features include voice dialing, an audio address book, microphone mute for privacy, call transfer and English, French, or Spanish-language compatibility. Up to five different phones can be used with the system in the vehicle. Uconnect's control pad is mounted on the dashboard and its microphone is attached to the overhead console. A hidden speaker transmits the audio. Your own mobile phone may be placed anywhere inside the vehicle. Conversations may be continued while entering or exiting the vehicle, without disrupting the call.

We liked the idea and got an SXT w/ Uconnect, but still need to upgrade the family phones to Bluetooth enabled.
In the interim, if anyone currently uses this feature, would you kindly you share your thoughts or overall assessment?
You know... programming ease, sound quality, convenience, cost justified, etc., etc... those kind of things?
Also, any strong preferences regarding Cingular BT phones, i.e., Motorola v551 perhaps?

Thanks

[HiRez_L]

Bluetooth is about the most hackable wireless protocol in use, bluetooth phones can be hacked from a long-distance away so that others can use their number to place calls (and run up your bill), so that the phone can be turned on in silent mode and others can eavesdrop on you (effectively turning the phone on your hip or in your car into a "bug") and a wide variety of other nefarious uses. You couldn't pay me to use a blue-tooth phone, and i would caution others to stay away from them as well. Here are some links to reference the dangers of using a Bluetooth phone:
http://www6.tomshardware.com/busines...defcon-05.html
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,117203,00.asp
http://www.silicon.com/networks/mobi...9118440,00.htm
http://www.silicon-trust.com/home/ne...eters_away.asp

[dholly]

HiRez - Thank you for a very interesting, thought provoking reply and the links.

All along, I thought there was adequate encryption or authentification safeguards with BT...obviously that is not entirely correct. So, for the time being, it sounds like the only foolproof protection is to remain 'hidden' mode. I wonder how many people with BT just leave their phones on 'discoverable' mode? Dunno, but still have to [want to] believe the odds of getting "BlueBugged" are pretty slim.

I was a bit relieved to see Nokia, Sony-Ericsson, and TDK rather than Motorola phones slammed, as I was headed in that direction. When checking BTenabled cell phone features, I will now be looking very closely at the ease of 'toggling' between modes.

[HiRez_L]

If you're going to have a bluetooth phone, making sure you're hidden and encrypted is the wisest course. Also make sure you change default passwords and usernames, you'd be surprised how many people leave these set as they came from the factory, and leave themselves wide open.

[dholly]

Yep, thanks, all solid advice.
I share your penchant for privacy, no wireless routers in my home and office networks either!
LOL, I've got to get me one of those 'BlueSniper' rifles!

[HiRez_L]

People think I'm weird because my network is all wired . . . but with CAT5 cable, you never have to worry about people picking up your network traffic or using your bandwidth, or frames dropping when sending video from one system to another . . .