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If you get a speaker that sounds great, you’re probably pleased. But if you get a speaker that sounds great, acts as a stand for your phone or tablet, connects to any Bluetooth device, and can help you make hands-free phone calls, you’re definitely pleased.
That’s right, if you’re looking for:
- a Bluetooth speaker
- a stand for your mobile device and/or
- a hands-free Bluetooth device for your phone
check out the Gum Rock Bluetooth Portable Suction Speaker Stand that will give you all three. This three-in-one speaker packs a lot of features into one small package at a very reasonable price.
I was sent the Gum Rock in green to test for possible review by Mobile Fun.
Speaker
This speaker connects to your cell phone, tablet, computer, TV or any other Bluetooth-enabled device to play sound. You don’t need to worry about which connector your device uses, so long as it has Bluetooth, you can connect it to the Gum Rock.
Connecting the speaker is simple, without the need for a password. Open the small door on the side of the speaker and flip the switch on.
You’ll see a blue LED light flash from the bottom of the phone (unless you get the black model which doesn’t display the light), indicating the speaker is ready to pair via Bluetooth. Go to Settings on your device and choose Bluetooth, then find the speaker (mine was labeled MSC-BT01) and choose Pair.
The range of the speaker is stated as 35 feet but if you have any obstructions, such as a wall, the distance will be less.
Design
The speaker has a suction cup at the bottom so you can attach it to any flat surface such as a window, mirror, wall, desktop, or, as another reviewer pointed out, your forehead. Be careful if you do this while jogging!
The Gum Rock is covered in a silicone material that is splash-resistant, though the inside of the speaker is not waterproof so don’t dunk it in the bathtub. But you can attach this speaker to your bathroom mirror and enjoy your tunes in the shower.
The speaker has play/pause, fast-forward and rewind buttons so you can control your sound from the speaker. The buttons have raised dots, similar to Braille, so you can use the buttons without having to look at the speaker.
The Gum Rock is lightweight at 3.17oz/90g and small enough to carry around in your purse so you can have it with you in the car and at home.
The speaker comes with a USB charge cord and a micro USB connector so you can charge it from your computer or from a USB wall outlet. The battery charges in about 2 hours and has a music playback time of 5-7 hours at 70% volume.
Check out this video from Mobile Fun showing the Gum Rock in action:
Bluetooth Hands-Free Calling
The Gum Rock has a microphone so you can use it as a hands-free device for your phone calls. You can answer and hang up calls by pressing the Play button so you don’t have to dig your phone out of your purse or pocket when you get a call.
The hole for the microphone is small so be sure to point the microphone towards you when making a phone call. My test of the Gum Rock found that callers could hear me best when the microphone hole was aimed in my direction.
Stand
The speaker also functions as a stand so you can attach it to the back of your tablet or phone to prop it up at any angle. You can use the Gum Rock to support your device in either landscape or portrait mode.
Sound
The speaker is only 1.6in/40mm in size but has a rich sound for such a small speaker. There’s only one speaker so you can’t get true stereo sound, but the quality of the sound was better than expected for a speaker of this size. I tested the speaker with a variety of genres of music, audiobooks, podcasts, and apps such as YouTube, iTunes, Pandora, and Spotify. The sound was rich and clear and only crackled when I wandered out of Bluetooth range.
Availability
The Gum Rock Bluetooth Portable Suction Speaker Stand is available from Mobile Fun, currently on sale for $22.99, marked down from $26.99, in your choice of:
Your Thoughts
Do you like the versatility of the Gum Rock Speaker Stand? Have you been looking for an inexpensive way to get a Bluetooth hands-free device in your car? Which color Gum Rock do you like best? Let us know in the Comments section below!
Hi Carolyn,
That looks a interesting gadget. It would work on my phone too. I’m getting used to my new phone now. I had lots of icons everywhere, but figured out how to delete them. I installed the night program you recommended too. I must turn some notifications back on, especially Skype. I took a photo and moved it to my computer (via Bluetooth) for editing and so I will do a blog post about photography with a phone. It’s a bit awkward. It seems hard to kep the phone still. I have VR on my camera too. The weather is horrid today, but I might go to the park tonight to photograph the bonfire, fireworks and funfair. We are still celebrating Guy Fawkes night and some people are celebrating Diwali.
I might consider something for hands free in the car. I’m not sure which would be the best gadget…
Hi Mike, Not only would this work with your Galaxy S2 as a speaker, it also could work as a hands-free device for your car. Check out Mobile Fun’s UK site to find the Gum Rock there: http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/gum-rock-bluetooth-portable-suction-speaker-stand-blue-p40464.htm
I’m glad you’re enjoying your new phone, Mike. I think you’ll find having a camera on the phone to be extremely handy for you, both for still photography and video recordings.
I look forward to your post on smartphone photography. You should also check out cool editing apps that are free for your new phone: check out Fun Photo Editing Apps to Make You Look Fabulous or Hideous! https://wonderoftech.com/fun-apps-to-make-you-look-fabulous-or-hideous/
Happy belated Guy Fawkes Day, Mike!
Why don’t you send me the yellow one and I’ll test it out……:).
Sounds pretty cool, especially at that price and if the sound is good. I’v been looking for something like this.
One other feature I like better on my new 5s vs 4s; it seems the glass screen stays cleaner, it doesn’t seem to pick up as much finger smudge as before. Have you heard that about the 5s?
Hi Bill, Yeah, I think you’d really enjoy this speaker, no matter what color. 🙂
I hadn’t heard of the glass on the 5s staying cleaner than the glass on the 4S and I haven’t seen any mention of that on the Internet either. But hey, if it’s working for you, that’s great! :-bd
That’s pretty cool Carolyn and I’m wondering if that would help me. I can’t hear on my phone unless I have the ear pieces on and they don’t stay in very well. I need to get a different set but just haven’t done that yet.
Now my Mom really needs something. Her problem is she’s almost deaf. She hears better on the cell phone though then a landline. Even the hearing impaired phones she doesn’t hear well on. Well now she’s not hearing very well on this new phone we got her and she uses headphones. We were trying to get her some type of speaker that we could plug into it but have yet to find anything. I think she has a type of Samsung but not exactly sure. I’ll definitely have to check on that one now.
She’s just really going deaf but if we can find something that would help more then I’m on it.
Thank you!
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, This speaker may help you and your mom because it can amplify the speaker of your phone so the sound is louder for phone calls, music, podcasts, audiobooks and any other sound you may have coming out of your phone. So long as the phone has Bluetooth, you should be able to pair it with the Gum Rock.
I can’t guarantee that the speaker will be loud enough for you and your mom but it’s definitely louder than the speaker on a phone.
Hi Carolyn,
This device looks really fun. I’m going to ask for it for Christmas. I think it would work well for hands free operation in the car. Can I have it all set up before I start driving, or is there something I’d have to fiddle with if a call came through?
Ann
Hi Ann, Great question! Once the Gum Rock is paired with a phone, you’re all set, you don’t have to pair it every time you turn it on. To use the Gum Rock, flip the switch on and the blue light will flash to show you it’s on. The Gum Rock also makes a sound to let you know that it’s connected to the phone right after you turn it on.
To answer a call you would either press the Play button on the Gum Rock or answer the call on your phone. Either way the phone call will be transmitted through the Gum Rock.
Mind blowing is the only word that can describe this gadget . The fact that it supports all Bluetooth enabled devices simply amazes me . This gadget is a perfect combination of high class technology and creativity . Thanks for making us aware of this speaker Carolyn !
-Pramod
Hi Pramod, I’m glad you like this speaker too! The Gum Rock has a lot going on, especially at such a low price.
Hi Carolyn,
This small speaker gadget does look interesting and the best part is that it is portable and easy to carry around. Good to know that the sound quality is also comparatively good, nice little invention.
The only feature I would be doubtful of would be the suction cup, most of the products with that feature lose their efficiency in a quick time. Let us see how this one goes 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend.
Hi Praveen, The suction cup works amazingly well. I affixed it to many surfaces, including my forehead. It stuck firmly, though did leave a circle indentation on my forehead for a while. Perhaps I shouldn’t have left it on my face for so long?
I like these Gum speaker, I can use them for my phone. I love the design I think I will place an order soon.
Hi CA, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I’m so glad you like this speaker. You’re right, the design is very cool. Enjoy!
Looks great 😀
It would have been interesting if it was a uni-directional speaker (would be useful in public places…acts like a headphone, but not a headphone).
I don’t use hands free (Heck, I don’t use my mobile phones very much..I use phones for 2 reasons: emergency contact and alarm. I guess I am living in the stone age, in terms of mobile phones :D).
Thanks for sharing, Carolyn 🙂 It does look interesting – not too big, not too small, plus lots of features.
Hope you had a wonderful weekend 😀
Hi Jeevan, Yes, you could use this speaker with your computer, if your computer has Bluetooth so no need for a mobile device. You’re right, the size and shape of the Gum Rock makes this speaker very convenient.
Too bad I didn’t have clue of this. That is why I like technology, it just make things easy everyday for us. Thanks for sharing this. I will definitely try it.
Hi Anetta, Yes, this is a very useful tool to help share files. You’re right, it’s easy to set up and use. I hope you are able to set up shared files on Dropbox and put them to good use!
I am setting up an account. Thanks
Excellent, Anetta!