Choosing the Right Wireless Headset System for your Office Phone
Introduction
Over the last few years wireless headset technology has taken a huge leap forward and the number of options available to the business consumer can be bewildering. This guide sets out to help those who are considering a wireless headset navigate those options successfully.
Why Wireless?
First we should consider: Why go wireless at all? After all, most people work at their desks within a few feet of their phones. Corded headset solutions have been around for a long time, from many vendors. Corded headset technology is more advanced, and much simpler.
Wireless headsets and wireless headset systems are certainly more expensive than their corded counterparts, so what do you get for the extra money? The answer to this question for most people is what you don’t get, and what you don’t get is, well, a cord. A cord has several drawbacks, even for a stationary user. It is relatively heavy, compared to the headset, so ‘on-the-ear’ headset models often have stability problems unless you clip the cord to your shirt. A cord can get in the way if you swap ears without moving your amplifier across your desk, a cord can snag as you work at your desk, pulling the microphone away from your mouth causing inconsistent volume for your listener. A cord can drag your amplifier across the desk, as you move your head, often requiring Velcro™ strips to keep it in place. Finally a cord can slow down the process of putting on the headset.
So the upside looks good - what’s the downside? Well, I’ve already mentioned cost and that’s an important factor for most people. Other considerations are weight – the wireless headset has a battery that its corded counterpart doesn’t need, and this can add to the weight of the headset. But improvements in battery technology have reduced this effect greatly - indeed early wireless headsets such as the now discontinued Cordless XLT had a battery that weighed in at several times more than the weight of the entire GN Netcom GN 9120 headset which including battery weighs just 1 ounce.
Another factor is battery life – corded headsets can’t go dead on you in the middle of the day while a wireless headset has that potential. Again headset battery technology advancements in the last few years have significantly reduced the likelihood of this happening. The battery of the Plantronics CS55 headset for instance, holds an 10 hour talk time charge, and recharges to 80% capacity in just over an hour. It’s almost impossible to run a Plantronics CS55 down in a normal work day. As long as the headset is consistently replaced on its stand between calls, and over lunch, this wireless headset system will be taking calls well into the night before the issue of battery life rears its head.
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