CARDO LAUNCHES SUBSCRIPTION-BACKED PACKTALK CUSTOM

In a bid to make intercoms more financially approachable , Cardo has launched a new unit with a cheaper buy-in price , but the ability to pack a punch with subscription features . The new member of the PackTalk family will sit in the centre of the range , with the Edge still the top dog in terms of the range , while the Spirit remains the entry point . The Packtalk Custom will offer some of the best of both worlds , with a similar waterproof design to the Packtalk Edge . While pricing is yet to be set , Cardo ’ s local distributor Darbi Accessories expects the unit to be priced at around $ 549 and it will only be sold as a single unit and won ’ t be available in a twin pack as many of Cardo ’ s other units are also offered . The baseline specs are pretty good and the Packtalk Custom can connect to up to 15 riders and has the same 1.6km potential bike-to-bike range as the leading Packtalk Edge . However , it ships without the high-end JBL speakers of the Edge and unlike that unit , cannot be charged while you ’ re riding . Battery life is on par with the Edge as well with up to 13 hours on offer according to Cardo . So , how do the plans work ? There will be three options starting with the basic “ Silver Plan ” which offers music sharing , three audio profiles and a speed dial function for $ 19.99 a year , the “ Gold Plan ” which adds Universal Bluetooth Intercom , Bluetooth bridge and 2nd Channel Connection to the Silver functions for $ 29.99 a year , while the “ Platinum Plan ” goes for $ 39.99 a year and unlocks Voice Commands and Eco Mode as well .