Motorola and Burton launch techie winter jackets

Snowboarders and skiers can now take their phone calls while careening down the mountainside. Motorola and Burton have teamed up to making the Bluetooth-capable Audex jacket. The jacket has a Bluetoth control panel built into the left sleeve that allows wearers to accept and make ingoing and outgoing calls. In addition, speakers and microphones are integrated into the hood for both listening to music and mobile phone use.

With a push of a button, the Bluetooth control panel can start, end and ignore calls from compatible phones. The screen can show the phone’s address book and contacts can be called by speaking into the collar’s built-in microphone. The panel also has two iPod modes - by using an iPod with a dock connector, wearers can control volume and start and stop songs. Users can also scroll through and select songs in playlist mode. A microphone and a set of two speakers are in the hood, but users can plug in headphones through the 3.5 mm jack.

Technology enabled clothing has been around for a few years. Some may remember the ScotteVest, the jacket with many pockets and channels for wires. Jackets with solar panels built into the back have also been released by several companies.

The Audex jacket is just one of a future line of products from mobile phone maker Motorola and snowboard manufacturer Burton. An Audex helmet and padded hat will be released in the future.

The jacket retails for around $600 and is available in several colors.