BlackBerry Storm and Bluetooth Headsets

If you're rushing out on launch day to pick up the BlackBerry Storm 9530, it's probably a safe bet that you've already got a Bluetooth headset. With more and more states banning the use of handsets while driving without the use of a Bluetooth ear piece, consumers are purchasing such accessories not because they're cool or because they can free up hands while chatting on the phone, but because it's the law.

BlueAnt V1 and Aliph Jawbone

Whatever your motivation, you can't got wrong with either Aliph's Jawbone or BlueAnt's V1 Voice Control Headset, two of my personal favorites. Both are a bit pricey, at $99.99 and $89.99 respectively at the CrackBerry Store, but they're worth every penny when you consider their stylish looks and advanced feature sets.

For example, Aliph's new Jawbone headset features the company's "NoiseAssassin" technology to separate your speech from background noise, so callers on the other end of the line hear little to no distortion. Of all the Bluetooth headsets I've used, the Jawbone offers the highest call quality.

BlueAnt's V1 Voice Control Headset comes in a close second. The most noteworthy feature of the V1 Voice Control is, hence the name, its ability to respond to a wide variety of voice commands, reducing the need to use your hands to place calls and perform a number of related functions. The headset even "responds" to your commands by speaking back to you. The Jawbone is also voice-powered, though it doesn't work as well in this regard as the BlueAnt V1, in my experience.

Micro USB-to-Mini USB Adapter for BlackBerry Storm

The final recommended BlackBerry Storm accessory on my list is a micro USB-to-mini USB adapter. If you're not a current BlackBerry or smartphone owner, this suggestion may be moot; however, if you're like me and have owned and/or used more mobile devices than you care to remember, you probably have an equally daunting collection of charging and syncing cables.

For the past few years, mini USB has been the most commonly used power/sync cord specification for smartphones and mobile devices, and until the release of the BlackBerry Pearl 8220 last month, all of RIM's latest devices featured mini USB ports. The Pearl 8220 was the first BlackBerry to feature the new, smaller, microUSB port, and the Storm also has microUSB.

The vast majority of the charging/sync cables I have are miniUSB, and they won't work with the Storm. But instead of simply disposing of all those cables, a mini USB to micro USB adapter enables me to use my various cords with the devices like the Pearl 8220 and Storm.

Prices on such adapters vary, but Amazon.com is currently selling a Motorola adapter for less than $2.

Still haven't had enough smartphone accessories? Hakuna matata--Swahili-to-English translation: no worries--we've got plenty more where these came from. Check out "The Best Ways to Carry Your RIM BlackBerry in Style." For a more humorous take, read " The 14 Silliest Smartphone Accessories: How to Humiliate a BlackBerry, Embarrass an iPhone."

And if you're still having trouble deciding between the BlackBerry Storm and Apple's iPhone 3G, click on over to our "BlackBerry Storm vs. iPhone 3G: 8 Reasons to Pick the Storm."