The question of whether radiation from mobile phones is damaging is yet to be answered conclusively, and the question of what action can be taken remains.
Many people use headphones not just for their hands-free properties, but also because they believe it reduces the amount of radiation to the skull. Bell Phones, the makers of the RF3 cellular phone headset argue conventional models also transfer radiation to the skull through the wire.
Their solution is to create a headset incorporating a wireless air-filled tube, which joins the microphone to the earpiece, and prevents radiation running up the wire and into your head.
We don't have the technology or expertise to comment on whether mobile radiation is dangerous, nor can we test whether the RF3 does keep radiation away from the head- although it gels with what we remember from high-school physics.
What we can do is test how well the RF3 performs as a headset, and whether or not the -radiation reducing" air-filled tube also reduces sound quality.
The headset comes as either an ear-hook (AU$75) or an ear-bud (AU$65), and adapters are available for a variety of mobile phones. We tested the ear-hook for a Nokia 3310, and found the sound quality to be of good quality, at least as good as that for other headsets.
The microphone didn't work very well for the full extent of the tube, with some people we spoke to complaining about low sound. We found bringing it slightly closer to the mouth solved the problem, but naturally this would differ depending on your personal volume level.
If you are concerned about radiation from mobile phones, and have AU$65 to spare, the RF3 could give you peace of mind. Just be certain you don't leave the phone on your belt, or the radiation will simply enter a different, and some would say equally important, part of your anatomy. On the other hand, if you regularly smoke, drink, and chat on your mobile while driving, mobile phone radiation is probably the least of your worries.
RF3
Company: RF3
Price: AU$65
Phone: 1800 141 312
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