You don’t want to be caught with your hands on your BlackBerry — in your car, that is. Many states have passed hands-free driving laws, which penalize drivers who get caught holding their phones to their ears. Many have also passed laws that ban text messaging while driving (a much more egregious offense). That makes hands-free devices even more important. While we typically see solutions in the form of Bluetooth headsets, there are other options that can provide more uses. Take car mounts for instance. They let you talk hands free, but they also allow you to perform other functions, such as using your BlackBerry as an MP3 player or GPS unit. There are a few different types of car mounts, and each one provides different advantages. Here are the best in each category. Click on all images for a larger version. Window Mount: iGrip Custom Fit Flexible Mount 
When you think of car mounts, chances are you think of the traditional window mount. They center on a suction cup that attaches to your window, and typically contain a gooseneck that allows you to position your device exactly how you want it. The device then sits in a cradle. It’s all pretty simple, and many companies have versions of it. Yet there seem to be a lot of bulk in these units, particularly in the cradle. That’s why I prefer the iGrip version. The suction cup and swivel are in place like any other window mount unit, but the cradle is minimalistic. You just snap in your BlackBerry device and that’s it. The edges are thin, and the only places where the mount wraps around the device is at the corners. That leaves all of your important buttons and mounts free for manipulation. That is, you can plug in a car charger if you want. Or you can use your convenience keys. The only downside to such a custom mount is that each device will require a different one. The iGrip Custom Fit Flexible mount costs $19.95, and is available for the following models:
- Curve 8900
Storm 9500, 9530, 9550, 9520
Pearl 8100, 8110, 8120, 8130
Tour 9630 and Bold 9650
Bold 9700, 9780
Pearl 3G
BlackBerry 8800, 8820, 8830
Curve 8300, 8310, 8320, 8330
Curve 8520, 8530, 9300
Bold 9000
Dash Mount: Arkon Weighted “Friction Style” 
Did you know that in some states it’s illegal to use a windshield suction cup mount? That might seem odd, but those are the breaks. The last thing you want is to get stopped merely for the BlackBerry hanging from your window, so you’ll need an alternative. Arkon provides one of those with its Friction Style Dash Mount & Holder. As you can see, this mount is a unit that sits on top of your dashboard. The bottom of that unit is a friction pad that keeps the mount connected to your dashboard even as you go through the stop-and-go motions of driving. It even has a safety hook, just in case something goes awry. If you can’t mount your BlackBerry to your dashboard, this is one viable solution. The case is a bit bulkier than the iGrip described above, but that’s for good reason. It’s compatible with multiple BlackBerry models, so you don’t need a unit that’s designed specifically for your device. According to the listing, it works with basically every BlackBerry ever made — it even has the Torch 9850 and 9810 listed there. You can get the Arkon Weighted “Friction Style” Dash Mount & Holder for $28.45. Air Vent Mount: Arkon Removable Air Vent Mount 
Another alternative to the windshield mount is the air vent one. These have gained some popularity, since they put your smartphone even closer to you. That makes it easier to handle certain tasks. It also makes for a greater distraction, since the device is right there for the using. Arkon has an interesting line of air vent mounts that work as well as any on the market. They have models for specific BlackBerry devices, and they also have a universal one, in case your device doesn’t fit into their specific ones.
- BlackBerry Bold: $7.86
BlackBerry Storm: $14.95
BlackBerry Pearl: $19.95
BlackBerry Curve: $6.56
Universal smartphone: $15.75
Cigarette Lighter Mount: iGrip Custom Fit 
Your car’s cigarette lighter probably gets plenty of use. You can plug in a car charger and keep your device’s battery at 100 percent while you travel. But power is not the only use for a cigarette lighter adapter. They can also be used as car mounts. This might seem odd, but once you look at one in use it makes plenty of sense. Using the same gooseneck as the windshield mount, you can plug the iGrip Custom Fit right into your car’s cigarette lighter. You can then use the gooseneck to make your BlackBerry visible while driving. This type of mount can be a bit distracting, since it almost always requires you to look down. But it also gives you easy access to the device. That can come in handy at red lights. The only downside is that the cigarette lighter mount does not charge your phone. This poses two problems. First, obviously, it means you’re using battery rather than replenishing it. Second, it means you can’t charge your device unless you have a second cigarette lighter. In any case, the mount costs $19.95, and as with the windshield mount there’s a different one for each BlackBerry style.
- Curve 8900
BlackBerry 8800, 8820, 8830
Storm 9500, 9530, 9550, 9520
Pearl 8100, 8110, 8120, 8130
Bold 9700, 9780
Pearl 3G
Curve 8300, 8310, 8320, 8330
Curve 8520, 8530, 9300
Bold 9650, Tour 9630
Bold 9000
Remember, too, that you can use BlackBerry Bold 9000 accessories for the Bold 9930. Cigarette Mount with Charging: ColorCases 
If you’re going to mount your device with your cigarette lighter, don’t you want the charging effect, too? While many cigarette lighter mounts don’t provide this function, there is one from ColorCases that does. It’s a universal car mount that while ideal for the iPhone still works for BlackBerry. And it packs a surprise or two as well. The ColorCase mount uses your cigarette lighter as a base, and has the same gooseneck as the non-charging cigarette lighter mount. The only difference is that this one conducts power — specifically to a micro USB jack. You can plug that right into your BlackBerry and get a charge. Best yet, it also contains an FM transmitter. Just plug the wire into the headphone jack and you can play music from your BlackBerry on your car stereo. You know, if you have an older car that doesn’t have an auxiliary input. The only downside here is that it’s a micro USB, meaning it will work only with older BlackBerry models. Thankfully, there’s an easy solution. Just pick up a micro USB to mini USB converter. It’s small, and it’s only $2.69. You can get the ColorCase cigarette lighter mount for $10.40.
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