The products include a jacket which will enable snowboarders to switch seamlessly over from listening to their Apple iPOD or MP3 player to taking a mobile phone call.

Most impressive was a white beanie fitted with a Bluetooth enabled headset. Alternatively there is a more sturdy black snowboarder's helmet fitted with the same headphones.

These products were designed by Burlington, Vermont based Burton in association with Motorola. In terms of pricing a Motorola product manager guessed the jacket would cost around $100 more than the standard jacket from Burton and the beanie would cost around $80 extra. The jackets are available for both men and women.

The Bluetooth enabled stereo headset can be fitted into the snowboarding jacket's hood and a microphone is embedded in the jacket's upper section near to the collar. The headset can be removed for cleaning and used as ordinary headphones.

The clever bit is the Bluetooth module which clips onto the inside arm of the jacket. The unit displays caller ID so the snowboarder can see who's calling. Other controls include an on/off power button, battery meter and music player buttons. Naturally the system also supports voice dialing.

The jacket was actually being modeled @ CES by professional snowboarder, Jeremy Jones, who is sponsored by Burton.

source Rob Mathis

Interestingly the snowboarding helmet was developed in association with Momo Design in Italy. Last year Motorola launched a Bluetooth enabled headset and boom microphone combo for motorcycle and scooter helmets called the HS830. Again this was developed with help from Momo.

The INQ found somebody @ Motorola who actually knew about the HS830 @CES and is reliably informed that it costs $179 and is available now in Europe. The INQ's been trying to review one for ages.µ