Headsets

Headsets are portable and they provide a superior experience to a traditional handset in nearly every way. However, they take a little bit of getting used to. There is a wide variety of headsets available from several manufacturers. In fact, there are too many individual headset models to discuss all of them here, so we highlight a handful of devices—at least one from each category: wired and wireless.

A good example of a USB-wired headset is the Plantronics Blackwire 420 (see Figure 24.1). This is an affordable solution for desktop users or even mobile users because it folds flat to be stored in a laptop bag. It provides binaural audio with an adjustable boom microphone.

Figure 24.1 Plantronics Blackwire 420

Other solutions include monaural audio, which might be better for some environments where workers still need to hear the environment around them.

Wireless headsets have a dongle plugged into the user’s PC but require no other connections. The headset enables the user to roam freely up to 300 feet from the PC. Many headsets also have controls for redial, answer, hang up, and volume control. An great example is the Plantronics Voyager Pro UC shown in Figure 24.2.

Figure 24.2 Plantronics Voyager Pro UC