Plantronics CS50-USB headset

October 6, 2004

Plantronics CS50-USB

Plantronics has unveiled the CS50-USB wireless headset at the Internet Telephony Conference and Expo today in Los Angeles. The headset will allow users to roam up to 200 feet from their PC. They're marketing it as a VoIP headset working in conjunction with major softphones. It will begin shipping to retailers in North America this December, and will cost about $300 USD. "VoIP provides simple, portable and cost-effective telephony service, but until now, lacked mobility. The CS50-USB delivers wireless connectivity allowing users to take and end calls away from their desks and computers," said Joe McGrogan, director of product marketing for Plantronics. "Plantronics worked with its OEM softphone partners to develop PerSonoCall, the CS50-USB's software that provides the answer/end and ring detect capability for most major softphones."

I'll have to find out which softphones this headset works with when the exhibit hall opens in 20 minutes. Hopefully, the list includes Xten, Skype, and other major VoIP softphone clients.

UPDATE!
I met with Plantronics, and they told me they will indeed work with Skype, Xten, Avaya, and several other softphone clients. They are working with the vendors to provide tight integration, including ringing the wireless headset. I asked them, "What about outbound dialing? There is no keypad on the headset, so do you plan on implementing speech-rec dialing?" They told me third party vendors are indeed working on it. So expect to be able to just say, "call Mom" and it will initiate a Skype call, SIP call, etc.

UPDATE 2!
You can buy the Plantronics CS50-USB headset on Amazon pretty cheap - around $180. Also check out the good Amazon customer reviews on this headset. I hope to review this headset myself soon.

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Plantronics has unveiled the CS50-USB wireless headset at the Internet Telephony Conference and Expo today in Los Angeles. The headset will allow users to roam up to 200 feet from their PC. They're marketing it as a VoIP headset working in conjunction with major softphones. It will begin shipping to retailers in North America this December, and will cost about \$300 USD. "VoIP provides simple, portable and cost-effective telephony service, but until now, lacked mobility. The CS50-USB delivers wireless connectivity allowing users to take and end calls away from their desks and computers," said Joe McGrogan, director of product marketing for Plantronics. "Plantronics worked with its OEM softphone partners to develop PerSonoCall, the CS50-USB's software that provides the answer/end and ring detect capability for most major softphones."

UPDATE 2!
You can buy the Click for Amazon price:
Plantronics CS50-USB Wireless Headset for VoIP Softphones
Buy Now', STICKY, TIMEOUT, 6000);\" onmouseout=\"return nd();\">Plantronics CS50-USB headset on Amazon pretty cheap - around \$180. Also check out the Click for Amazon price:
Plantronics CS50-USB Wireless Headset for VoIP Softphones
Buy Now', STICKY, TIMEOUT, 6000);\" onmouseout=\"return nd();\">good Amazon customer reviews on this headset. I hope to review this headset myself soon.

Plantronics CS50-USB headset

VoIP & Gadgets Blog

Plantronics CS50-USB headset