Headsets

Jabra PRO 900 Series Unveiled

December 6, 2011

Today, Jabra launched the Jabra PRO 900 series, which includes two headset models - the Jabra PRO 920 (base unit wired to desk phone + headset is wireless) and the Jabra PRO 930 (base unit wired to PC [USB] + wireless headset). Jabra stated these are entry-level wireless headsets with a retail price of $199 is aimed at companies that cannot afford typically expensive wireless headsets, so they designed these headsets for this market.

I'm not sure $199 is exactly inexpensive, but I'd have to see how much competing products from Plantronics and others cost. In any event, they are targeting the Jabra PRO 930 for companies implementing Unified Communications and leveraging PC-based telephony, i.e. a SIP softphone, Cisco softphone, etc. The Jabra PRO 920 on the other hand works with any desktop phone that supports Electronic hook switch control (EHS/HHC) and then you simply wear the wireless headset, freeing you from your desk by eliminating the need to disconnect or remove the headset.

Both the Jabra PRO 920 and Jabra PRO 930 contain sound quality enhancements such as Jabra SafeTone™, which protects hearing by cutting off sudden loud noises and securing safe average sound levels. Each wireless headset also features a noise-canceling microphone that eliminates ambient background noise from an office environment when on an important call.

Posted in Cisco, Computer Hardware, Gadgets, Headsets, SIP, VoIP, Wireless

Andrea SuperBeam Buds Headset review

October 11, 2011

We all have come to love our stereo headsets featuring separate audio channels for both the left and right ear, but what about dual or stereo microphones? If stereo speakers makes 'sounds' better for you, why can't stereo microphones make 'sounds' better for the remote party on Skype or a 3rd party called via your mobile phone?

Well, Andrea believe their SuperBeam Buds answers that question. Featuring a unique boom-less design, each of the two earbuds has a microphone built-in enabling true binaural surround sound recordings. These two mics (one at each ear) leverage Andrea's patented Adaptive Beam Forming to cancel unwanted background noise without the need for a clunky boom mic stretching across your cheek to your lips.

The SuperBeam buds also somes with a HD USB-based sound card, which bypasses a computer's lower-grade sound card for better fidelity and gain. You simply plug the USB device into an available USB slot and then connect the microphone jack from the earbuds to the USB device.

Posted in Accessories, Gadgets, Headsets, Reviews, Skype, VoIP, Wireless

New! Plantronics MDA200

September 20, 2011

Plantronics is launching a new line of devices designed to help companies migrate from traditional desk phone-only usage to a unified communications (UC) infrastructure, including a new a multi-device adapter, the MDA200, as well as corded and wireless USB adapters.

The goal of these Plantronics "UC Enabler" products is to leverage your existing investment in traditional voice communications, such as desk phones, headsets and audio communication devices. The MDA200 is a multi device switcher that instantly turns any corded or wireless USB headset into a multipoint headset. The MDA200 lets you answer, end, hold and switch between calls from any connected device with a press of a button. It supports Bluetooth and DECT wireless headsets.

MDA200 Wired USB headset configuration to deskphone & USB to PC

The goal of the MDA200 is so that you can use your existing corporate desktop phones, headsets, and even softphone applications, while also enabling the employee to use their existing personal or corporate-issued) Bluetooth headset paired to their mobile device. This enables corporations to deploy softphones from leading UC vendors including Avaya, Cisco, IBM, and Microsoft and leverage existing audio devices. The UC Enabler Category also includes a range of USB adapters, for both corded and wireless headsets, that are designed to turn nearly any Plantronics headset into a USB device.

Posted in Computer Hardware, Gadgets, Headsets, Mobile Phones, News, TMCnet, Unified Communications, VoIP, Wireless

Jabra SPEAK 410 Review

April 21, 2011

A couple months ago, Jabra sent me a Jabra SPEAK 410 to review. It got lost in the shuffle of other things I was reviewing. The Jabra SPEAK 410 is a pretty cool USB-based speakerphone device that directly integrates with Skype, Microsoft Lync/OCS, Avaya, Cisco, and IBM Sametime, enabling you to simply press the green handset icon on the device to answer a call or press the red handset icon to hang up the call. This is especially useful if you want to deploy this in a conference room setting.

Posted in Accessories, Avaya, Computer Hardware, Gadgets, Headsets, Reviews, SIP, Skype, TMCnet, Technology and Science, Unified Communications, VoIP

Sony Ericsson VH700 headset Review

October 26, 2010

The Sony Ericsson VH700 Bluetooth headset is an interesting Bluetooth headset, if only for the fact that it's not wireless. How can it be Bluetooth which is a wireless specification and yet not be wireless? Perhaps this picture of the VH700 will explain it best:

As you can see, the Sony Ericsson headset sports a small rectangular base unit controller with all of the user controls (power, volume up/down, charging connector) and it holds the battery, as well as a clip for attaching it to your clothing. Connected to the base unit controller is a wired ear-piece with a traditional earbud on the end. On the back side of the ear bud is a call control button used to take or make calls.

As you can see, it’s not 100% wireless since the ear bud + cable runs to the battery casing/Bluetooth transmitter.

Posted in Accessories, Apple, Gadgets, Headsets, Mobile Phones, Reviews, TMCnet

Plantronics M1100 Savor Review

September 27, 2010

The Plantronics M1100 is not your ordinary Bluetooth headset. This is Plantronics' high-end Bluetooth headset featuring 3 microphones. Yes, that's right - 3 microphones on a single Bluetooth headset, which Plantronics claims improves the audio quality over their 2 microphone product line, such as the Plantronics M100 (their mid-tier product). This is the first 3-microphone Bluetooth headset on the market.

Posted in Gadgets, Headsets, Mobile Phones, TMCnet, Unified Communications, Wireless

Plantronics Voyager PRO+ Review

September 27, 2010

Today, Plantronics launched the Voyager PRO+ headset, featuring several improvements over the older but very popular Plantronics Voyager PRO headset. Improvements to the Voyager PRO+ include A2DP support, Battery Meter indicator for the Apple iPhone, and support for the Vocalyst speech-enabled hosted service offering. This is the second major headset launch today by Plantronics. Today, they also launched the Plantronics M1100 "premium class" Bluetooth headset (see review).

Like the M1100, the Voyager PRO+ supports voice recognition commands.

Posted in Accessories, Gadgets, Headsets, Mobile Phones, Reviews, TMCnet, Wireless

Plantronics K100 In-Car Bluetooth Speakerphone Review

September 15, 2010

The Plantronics K100 In-Car Bluetooth speakerphone was launched today and I have an exclusive first look / review. Ever wish your car had an in-built speakerphone with full Bluetooth integration with your mobile phone? Ever hop in a friend's or family member's Mercedes, BMW, or Audi and watch them make a full-duplex phone call over their car's stereo speakers? Now you too can have this capability without shelling out $30,000+ for a premium vehicle. No, you too can have this feature for just $79.99$39.20 via Plantronics brand new K100 In-Car Bluetooth speakerphone! The K100 has a visor clip so you just clip it right to your sun visor.

I have seen other sunvisor Bluetooth speakerphones. The first time I saw one was in SkyMall magazine, an airline magazine, while I was flying to ITEXPO.

Posted in Accessories, Gadgets, Headsets, ITEXPO, Reviews, TMCnet, Wireless

Interactive Intelligence Interaction SIP Station Review

August 24, 2010

Interactive Intelligence sent me their new Interaction SIP Station to check out and review. It's an interesting little product that aims to replace big bulky desktop SIP phones with a simple little SIP-based Power over Ethernet (PoE) box that has a headset jack for connecting any standard headset. The obvious market is call centers where agents often take calls using a headset and a softphone application and have no need for a desktop phone with a full touch-tone keypad, speakerphone, handset, etc. In fact, often the handset stays cradled and the agent simply answers the call with the headset, which essentially means the desktop phone is a glorified PBX-to-headset converter.

Posted in Gadgets, Headsets, Reviews, SIP, TMCnet, VoIP

Plantronics M100 Review

August 17, 2010

The Plantronics M100 Bluetooth headset has arrived and here is my unboxing + review. The first feature you should be aware of is the dual mics on the M100. When the dual mics are combined with the built-in Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and Plantronics wind and background noise reduction technology, in theory you have the best damn sounding headset on the planet. But before I we determine that, first the unboxing video...

Posted in Accessories, Android, Gadgets, Headsets, Mobile Phones, Reviews, TMCnet, Wireless

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