Best Bluetooth Headsets For Business
Bluetooth headsets eliminate clumsy wires, boost productivity and, with more states requiring hands-free devices in vehicles, have become required equipment for businesspeople on the go. Vendors offer a dizzying array of headsets, differentiated by price, battery-life, weight and clarity. Many of today's headsets are multipoint, allowing use for both desktop and mobile phones. Developers also look to separate themselves from their competition through software or hardware design elements designed
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GN Netcom's Jabra PRO 9400 headset (retails for about $250) was designed to meet the communication needs of office personnel. The Bluetooth headset provides up to 10 hours of talk-time, and its DSP noise-reduction technology is designed to minimize the sounds associated with a noisy office environment. Users can wear the Jabra PRO 9400 headset with a headband, earhook or neckband accessory and can manage up to three different phones. The unified communications-ready headset's multiuse technology lets users respond to all calls, whether they're made via desk, soft or cell phones, from up to 150 meters away from their workspace.
Looking to improve productivity and enhance the business environment, organizations continue to invest in Bluetooth headsets for their call center, office and mobile workers. In fact, sales of Bluetooth headsets and speakerphones are expected to grow 12% in 2011, according to an August 2010 report by Strategy Analytics. Businesses are investing in Bluetooth headsets to boost employee productivity and reduce workplace injuries such as the neck and back strains often associated with long-term, ongoing desk-phone use. Other organizations -- especially those with mobile workers, such as truck drivers or off-site sales representatives -- are using Bluetooth headsets to promote safe driving and meet the hands-free laws many states have enacted.
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Available in charcoal gray, glow green, electric blue and sparkle pink, the Plantronics m100 (lists for $79.99) delivers up to 6 hours of talk time and 10 days of stand-by life. At 9 grams and 8mm thin, the lightweight Plantronics m100Plantronics m100 headset includes soft-gel ear tips in three sizes. The headset's multipoint technology allows users to pair one headset to two devices.
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Users of Aliph's Jawbone ICON Bluetooth headsets ($99 list price) can listen to phone calls or music. The Jawbone ICON uses multipoint technology to support up to two phones simultaneously and uses standard micro-USB charging technology to eliminate the need for extra cables. Aliph's proprietary Digital Sensor Signal Fusion system was designed to reduce wind noise and its Voice Activity Sensor for a natural-sounding speech signal. Users can manage the headset's controls via Aliph's MyTalk website.
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With the BlueAnt Q2, users can tune-in to phone calls and music, using the same Bluetooth headset. The Q2 includes BlueAnt's Wind Armour text-to-speech technology and seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Bing 411 for instant access to news, weather, sports and other information. Users can tap the headset's menu of voice commands, such as "answer," "ignore" and "caller name announce," which reads the name of incoming calls based on a database of up to 2,000 contacts. BlueAnt Q2 (suggested retail of $129) includes multipoint technology that supports two phones.
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The 13-gram Motorola HX1 includes a stealth mode with bone-conduction technology that eliminates most noise and wind. The HX1's ear sensor was designed to use an ear sensor to seal-out external noise; as the user speaks, the sensor taps vocal vibrations and converts them to speech, according to Motorola. In addition, the multipoint-enabled Bluetooth headset features Motorola's CrystalTalk noise-cancellation technology. The headset has a talk-time of up to 7 hours and standby time of about 10 hours.
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The environmentally friendly Sony Ericsson VH410 -- available in red, silver and black -- is part of the company's GreenHeart initiative, and is made from recycled plastics and finished in water-based paint. Part of the company's Extra accessory line, the 11.6 gram, over-the-ear headsets provide up to 10 hours of talk time and 350 hours of standby time. Users can pair the VH410 with two phones, and operate with all manufacturers' Bluetooth-enabled devices, according to Sony Ericsson.
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Sound ID's 510 headset, which is compatible with all Bluetooth-enabled handsets, is compatible with the Sound ID EarPrint App -- available for free from the App Store -- that lets iPhone users customize sound settings to meet their hearing preferences. The app also allows users to control sound quality on both sides of the call. The Sound ID 510 ($129.99 list) includes 3x NoiseNavigation to improve sound clarity via three microphones; a touch sensor for volume adjustment and A2DP audio streaming that allows users to listen to music, GPS, web casts and other audio. The multipoint-enabled 510 mutes the music if a call comes in.
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The MoGo Talk XD family -- available for BlackBerry and iPhone -- is a collection of thin Bluetooth headsets that stores and charges in the back of the mobile phone. The ID8-Mobile models come with a replacement battery door. Instead of an earbud or ear loop, MoGo Talk ($99.99) uses a flexible, thin rubber eartip that conforms to the ear, to create a seal that blocks out noise while securing the headset in place. Another MoGo Talk model stores and charges inside a laptop. The 9-gram headset delivers up to 4 hours of talk time and more than a week of standby time, and has a range of up to 33 feet.
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Samsung's Modus HM3500 ($59.99) is a convertible-style Bluetooth headset with dual microphones and noise-cancelling technology that also converts to a stereo Bluetooth headset. The Modus HM3500 comes with a removable ear hook, ergonomic rubber ear buds and stereo earbuds. The headset has a talk time of 6 hours and standby time of 200 hours, according to Samsung. The device includes a battery level check, micro USB interface and auto volume control.
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Designed specifically to meet the needs of road warriors, mobile executives and professional drivers, VXi's BlueParrott comes equipped with a flexible ear hook, headband and neckband. The VXi BlueParrott ($119.99 list) also includes AC, DC and USB chargers. The headset's Extended Talk feature provides up to 16 hours of talk and 150 hours of standby time on one charge, and a functional range up to 66 feet, according to VXi. The multipoint-enabled headset lets users switch between two devices and its noise-cancelling capabilities block-out traffic and road noise.
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Employees who work in an active, hot environment may be interested in JayBird's colorful family of SB2 Sportsband Bluetooth headsets. Designed to handle both phone calls and music, the SB2 Sportsband ($99 list) are available in nine hues including Limonade Green, Sonic Blue, Orange Crush, Runner's Red, Toffee Apple Red, Midnight Black, Polar Blue, PowderPuff Pink and Snow White. The headset also comes with extra ear pads and can be paired with two devices.
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Bluetrek's Crescendo Bluetooth headset is pre-installed with the Microsoft Bing411 call-out application, and can read and send texts and emails using its Dial2Do texting application. Designed for executives, Crescendo eliminates background noise in environments of up to 85 decibels, according to Bluetrek. Pre-installed voice prompts guide users and the headset's voice command function recognizes more than 95% of American accents, the vendor said. The headset (list of $99.99) has a talk time of up to 5 hours and standby time of up to 7 days.
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The LG HBM 900 Bluetooth headset has tri-microphone technology and a boom microphone to reduce noise and cancel echo. The multipoint headset simultaneously pairs two phones. The HBM 900 (which retails for $99.99) also includes automatic volume control to increase or decrease call-volume, based on the surrounding noise-level. The headset has a 4-hour talk time and 150 standby time, according to LG, and a range of up to 33 feet.
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The LG HBM 900 Bluetooth headset has tri-microphone technology and a boom microphone to reduce noise and cancel echo. The multipoint headset simultaneously pairs two phones. The HBM 900 (which retails for $99.99) also includes automatic volume control to increase or decrease call-volume, based on the surrounding noise-level. The headset has a 4-hour talk time and 150 standby time, according to LG, and a range of up to 33 feet.
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GN Netcom's Jabra PRO 9400 headset (retails for about $250) was designed to meet the communication needs of office personnel. The Bluetooth headset provides up to 10 hours of talk-time, and its DSP noise-reduction technology is designed to minimize the sounds associated with a noisy office environment. Users can wear the Jabra PRO 9400 headset with a headband, earhook or neckband accessory and can manage up to three different phones. The unified communications-ready headset's multiuse technology lets users respond to all calls, whether they're made via desk, soft or cell phones, from up to 150 meters away from their workspace.
Looking to improve productivity and enhance the business environment, organizations continue to invest in Bluetooth headsets for their call center, office and mobile workers. In fact, sales of Bluetooth headsets and speakerphones are expected to grow 12% in 2011, according to an August 2010 report by Strategy Analytics. Businesses are investing in Bluetooth headsets to boost employee productivity and reduce workplace injuries such as the neck and back strains often associated with long-term, ongoing desk-phone use. Other organizations -- especially those with mobile workers, such as truck drivers or off-site sales representatives -- are using Bluetooth headsets to promote safe driving and meet the hands-free laws many states have enacted.
FURTHER READING: Bluetooth Headsets Get Better How To Manage Mobile Devices
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