Bluetooth Headsets That Offer Interesting Features in This Wireless Age

A Bluetooth is a single digital wireless protocol that utilizes the short-ranged communications technology. It facilitates both voice and data transmissions over a short distance, usually from a mobile device. In turn, it creates a personal area network (Pans). Bluetooth headsets are quickly becoming a fashion accessory and offers interesting features. Thus, it is capable of connecting multiple devices in the wireless age.

A Bluetooth is a single digital wireless protocol that utilizes the short-ranged communications technology. It facilitates both voice and data transmissions over a short distance, usually from a mobile device. In turn, it creates a personal area network (Pans). The intent behind the Bluetooth development is to provide a way in order to connect and exchange information between many devices. Examples would include mobile phones, telephones, computers and laptops, along with printers, digital cameras, videogame consoles and GPS receivers. This also comes with a secure and globally unlicensed Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) of 2.4 GHz of short ranged radio frequency bandwidth.

Hence, a 10th century Danish king, Harald Blatand, is where the "Bluetooth" got its name. Blatand I unified Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The king had an affinity for teeth-staining blueberries, according to legend.

This device was first developed by Ericsson and was actually formalized in 1999, Bluetooth has then provided its own way of differentiating a device that is capable of communicating with other similar devices. This is through the sending data via a low cost and secure radio frequency. Its specifications were later developed and licensed by the so-called Bluetooth Special Interest Group (areas of telecommunication, computing, networking, and consumer electronics).

Moreover, the Bluetooth SIG, is currently releasing newer versions, along with several upgrades and backward compatibility. Bluetooth 1.2 is the most recent release. It includes the addition of an anonymity mode, which then masks the hardware address of the device in order to protect it from identity snooping and tracking. It also cuts the interference by avoiding crowded frequencies of adaptive frequency hopping.

Bluetooth headsets offer a convenient and user-friendly wireless connection. This is with the use of a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone. With its 30 feet range (10 meters) capacity, cell phones can talk with other headsets using this technology. Aside from this, PCs can talk to keyboards or printers as well. Thus, talking with each other, without the need for wires can make up about seven connections at a single time. This is even with a speed of 1 Mbps.

Furthermore, Bluetooth headsets have an array of different styles to choose from. A model with a boom or without boom might be the best type that can fit your needs. A boom is a traditional headset equipped with a microphone. It arches towards your mouth. Headsets with boom are as follows:

• Bluetake BT400 GII Bluetooth Headset

Bluetake is lightweight and have a comfortable fit. The volume is loud enough but the audio isn't the best. It is somewhat static because of its tiny buttons. It somehow resembles the ones in the sci-fi movies of the late 1960s. With its changeable faceplates and foldaway boom, it definitely adds a plus factor to its design. Bluetake makes up about 4 hours of actual talk time and about 4.2 days of standby time.

• GN Netcom GN6110

GN Netcom can connect simultaneously with two phones, a landline and a cell phone. You only need to press the release button in order to get the headset out of the recharging cradle. Although it is lightweight, its audio quality is also good but it is a tight fit with an unattractive style. GN Netcom includes an adapter and it is compatible with Bluetooth 1.1. Thus, it provides a talk time of about four hours and about seven days of standby time.

• Jabra FreeSpeak BT250

This headset is a winner. Like a cyborg, Jabra FreeSpeak BT250 is comfortable, along with its high volume and clarity capability. It will make you think that you're not even using it. With its innovative design, it is more like a science fiction movie prop. You can also get this quality headset for the price of $99.95. Thus, the headset weighs only 0.8 ounce and it is compatible with Bluetooth 1.1. Jabra also gives a total of 8 hours talk time and up to 10 days of actual standby time. Lastly, it includes a travel charger. This is two pieces, making it a bit bulky.

• Jabra GN-6210 Office Wireless Headset

The headset itself is identical to the crescent shaped of Jabra BT250. It employs a wraparound design and a short boom mike which holds the battery and control buttons. The GN 6210 can be used simultaneously with a Bluetooth mobile or a landline phone. This is by simply plugging it into the charging cradle. The price for this baby would range from $115.62 up to $203. It has along battery life, but it has problems with call quality. Thus, the GN 6210 has a talk-time battery life of about 8 hours and a standby time of about 7 days.

• Logitech Mobile Bluetooth headset

Logitech can make quality and practical headsets but not completely stylish ones that are also compatible with Bluetooth 1.1. This headset has an easy-press button and a great foldable boom microphone. It was also tested on the Nokia 6820, Motorola V600 and the Sony Ericsson T616. During the testing, clear conversations were encountered on both ends. Logitech can give up to 7 hours of talk time and up to 30 days of standby time.

• Logitech Mobile Freedom Bluetooth Headset

Mobile Freedom got its big points in its comfort ability and solid sound quality. Black in color, Logitech design is actually a little smaller and a bit stylish. Sound quality is excellent and conversations are clearer in this headset. Thus, the headset has user-friendly controls and it is light as well. It promises a talk time of up to 7 hours and a standby time of up to 10 days.

• Motorola HS8910 Bluetooth Wireless Headset

Motorola HS8910 is easy to use and stylishly equipped with an attractive, blue LED component. It uses the same charger as other Motorola phones, but a bit patchy with regards to its audio static. The folding microphone acts as the on/off switch. You can also get this oval shape headset for only $59.00. Motorola guarantees up to 5 hours of talk time and up to 4.2 days of standby time.

• Solteras Halo BTH headset

Solteras Halo provides great performance. This is since it has a battery that keeps going and going. It is huge and it features an inflexible ear loop and unappealing design. Audio is deemed clear. Plus, it can give out a 15 hour talk time and up to 15 days of standby time.

• VXI BlueParrott B100 wireless headset

BlueParrott can work with a landline phone and a Bluetooth-enabled mobile. It comes with a stylish charging base, but the over-head design may not be appealing. The controls are simple and sound quality was good. At $199, it is somewhat pricey, but with its versatile and reliability features, it will give a great functionality transition from a home to an office mobile. It has a rated talk-time of six hours and up to 4.16 days of standby time.

Headsets without booms are the ones that its microphone is located on the earpiece. Some models are as follows:

• Bluespoon Digital Bluetooth headset

Bluespoon takes a few tries to fit. Aside from this, the earpiece digs comfortably against your ear canal. It also has an eye-catching and small design that stands out because of its style. Thus, it provides good volume and clarity.

• Epox BT-HS01 Bluetooth headset

The Epox is smaller than most headsets. It comfortably fits, especially with its sleek design. Thus, it has a good overall audio quality.

• Motorola® H605 Bluetooth Headset

Motorola H605 is a perfect fit for those who are always on-the-go. With its lightweight and comfortable design, it gives up to 10 hours of talk time and up to 200 hours of standby time. It price is currently set at $39.95.

• Parrot DRIVER Bluetooth® Headset

Parrot driver is specially designed for all drivers. This is due to its combined cradle that can plug into a 12v cigar lighter. The 90 mA battery should also constantly charged so as to promote a long life. The price is set at $89.95.

• Plantronics® BT Headset Discovery 645

Discovery 645 lets you stay connected and it enables devices that support the Bluetooth 1.2. With up to 3 hours talk time and up to 120 hours of standby time; this device also comes in a sleek in-ear design and an innovative pocket charger. Thus, it comes with four adapters with a price that starts at $49.95.

• Nokia BH-200 Bluetooth Headset

Great design combined with simplicity and a great performance is what this headset is all about. It has convenient control buttons and an ear hook that's easy to use. Its price is set at $39.95.

• Nokia® Bluetooth Headset BH-302

BH-302 works with all Bluetooth enabled devices, and it is compatible with Bluetooth 2.0, along with its handsfree profile. Its price is sets at $56.95. It has easy to use buttons with built in LED. This enables this device to show its headset status and acts as a power on/off trigger.

• Nokia Clip-On HS-3W

This Nokia headset has a bizarre design and it uses a wire in order to connect to a normal ear bud, along with a radio pod. It is easy to use because of its good outgoing sound. Aside from this, it also uses the same charger as the Nokia cell phones.

• Motorola® H700 Bluetooth Headset

With this Motorola headset, the fifth generation technology just got better. Motorola H700 enhances the folding microphone design, along with its superior audio quality and echo cancellation technology. Its price is set at $69.95.

• Nextlink Bluespoon AX Bluetooth headset

Nextlink is easy to repair and use. With its soft-tip earpiece, it isn't as stable as other designs. Pairing the headset is also a breeze. It also has a good and clear call quality that is very much appreciated.

• Samsung™ Bluetooth WEP180 Black

This Samsung headset features a full control with call/end, call hold/wait buttons. It supports the Bluetooth 1.2 specification and provides up to 8 hours of talk time and up to 20 hours of standby time. With a price set at $42.95, you can get this handsfree headset.

• Step 1150 Bluetooth Wireless headset

Step 1150 is easy to use because of its rotating speaker. It resembles a silver shrimp which is designed to fit behind the ears. It is compatible with the Bluetooth 1.1 and 1.2. Thus, this headset's performance is below par and likewise cut out for only a few feet away from the phone. This is along with its fuzzy reception.

• Sony Ericsson Bluetooth headset HBH-65

This rectangular Sony Ericsson comes with a blue and silver coloration. It is actually light and the ear loop snaps off easily. Callers can hear the person on the other line easily but the signal gets cuts out few times. The sound quality has mixed variations. Thus, it uses the same charger as other Ericsson phones.

With the oddball name of "Bluetooth", IDC now estimates that there will be more than 100 million Bluetooth devices by the end of 2008.

Although Bluetooth has some security problems, such as bluebugging, where in a hacker can secretly accesses a phone's commands and bluesnarfing, where in a hacker can access a phone's data such as its contacts, Bluetooth devices can be locked with the input of a code. You can also turn it off when it is not in use. These are indicated as a few security measures for your device.

Hence, you can now find Bluetooth devices in a different array of products, even in cars. By the end of the year, there is a projected new set of Bluetooth version 2.0's which will be released. These versions will have the enhancements of the narrowband channels. These versions will also enable messages, even without the pairing process, to be broadcasted to a high number of devices that have a high connection speed of up to 12 Mbps. Thus, with the constant evolution of technology, surely, more improved and enhanced versions of the Bluetooth will be produced.

Headphones on the go, with no strings attached.

Wireless Headphones and Wireless Technology

For most people the biggest reason to use wireless headphones is that they eliminate all the wires between you and the audio source. Wireless headphones allow you to listen to your favorite audio source - whether you're listening to your stereo, a DVD player, your computer, radio or TV - without the nuisance of all those wires.Wireless headphones also give you privacy. You can turn up the volume of your ipod, radio, TV or other audio source as loud as you want and others around you will not even notice. This allows you to experience amazingly full theater-like sound without bothering anyone else.

Wireless Technologies

The two main technologies used in wireless headphones are Radio Frequency (RF) wireless and Infrared wireless (IR) wireless. They both use a transmitter/receiver system. You connect the transmitter to your audio source and the receiver is built into the wireless headphones. Each of these systems has its advantages, so it is best to know your specific requirements before purchasing one or the other.

Radio Frequency or RF technology uses radio frequencies within the 800-900 MHz band to send audio signals up to 150 feet from the transmitter. RF has the ability to penetrate through walls and obstacles which gives the added benefit of actually being able to receive wireless audio in several rooms of a house from a single source in one room. The range of RF signals is reduced when they pass through walls.

One drawback of RF wireless devices is that they are susceptible to interference and static. This may be caused by other RF wireless devices such as cordless phones, wireless computer networks or wireless video transmitters operating within range of your receiver. These audio sources may occasionally cause "static" in your headphones. With RF you may also get static from a weak or degraded transmission signal, normally caused by being too far away from the transmitter.

RF signals can also be blocked by water or metal objects standing between the transmitter and the headphones. That includes such things as metal firewalls, ductwork or shelving, or even people (who are mostly water). You can avoid many of these interference issues by keeping the transmitter above head level.

Infrared wireless technology transmits the audio signal in the form of a beam of light similar to a tv remote. This makes them a "line of sight" device, which means you must be able to visually see from the transmitter to the receiver to successfully receive your signal. Most infrared systems are limited to about a 30 foot range with clear open line of sight.

One advantage of Infrared wireless headphones is that you get true stereo (left and right channel) separation, and therefore better stereo quality. Infrared transmission is also less prone to interference because it is a line of sight technology. Other similar signals are less likely to cross the line of site of your device.

Bluetooth is an alternative wireless technology used to send digital data from a transmitter to your wireless headphones. In order for two bluetooth devices to talk to each other they must first make a connection, or 'pair up'. Once two devices are paired up, they are able to transmit data back and forth using special bluetooth digital transmission technology.

Bluetooth technology is ideal for headphones because you can transmit perfect quality digital audio seamlessly from a base unit to your bluetooth headset. Bluetooth devices require very little power to operate and have the advantage of being able to transmit other forms of data as well as audio, such as text, images or video.

The most widespread application of bluetooth technology is for transmission between cell phones and special bluetooth receivers. The cell phone acts as the transmitter and transmits the telephone signal to the earpiece. Bluetooth is ideal for this because you can restrict reception to only specific devices.

Mobile Wireless is becoming more and more popular and can use any of the three technologies mentioned above. You can add mobile wireless headphones to any car or truck or even to motorcycles. With wireless headphones in your vehicle you can enjoy a quiet drive while you children watch their favorite movie on the tv in back. Just turn on your wireless headphones, adjust the volume to suit, and enjoy your own audio program.

Featured Products

Mobile Wireless - The Unwired R1S2111 Infrared Wireless Headphone system has two headphones and includes a transmitter. The transmitter can be easily mounted on the ceiling with two screws or a bit of velcro. The wireless headphones have an adjustable headphone band for comfort and twin receivers on each set, along with personal volume controls.

Bluetooth - The Argard M10 is the world's smallest bluetooth headset. Unique in-ear design makes the ear hook a thing of the past. Weighing only 5 grams, you have to see it to believe how small it is. But don’t be fooled by its size. The ARGARD M10 uses energy saving and battery technology to squeeze out talk time for even your busiest day. Just one charge, lets you talk for over 3 hours. You get more than 100 hours on standby.

Wireless Office - PLANTRONICS CS55 Wireless Office Headset System. Employees can move around the office to wherever business takes them — without interrupting or missing a call. The Plantronics CS55 is the first headset in the United States to implement 1.9GHz UPCS voice-dedicated wireless technology. With the included Plantronics HL10 handset lifter, remotely taking or ending a call is as simple as pressing a button. Hands-free talk time up to 10 full hours. Roam hands-free up to 300 feet.

The Latest Bluetooth Car Stereos

Bluetooth hands free calling is considered to be one of the most used technologies in cars because of the new Bluetooth law passed in California, New York, and Washington. The new law ban drivers from talking on their cell phones while driving. Well known car stereo manufacturers such as Kenwood, Pioneer, Dual, and Alpine began to integrate Bluetooth technology to allow making and receiving phone calls using the head unit.

 With these Bluetooth head units, external modules for Bluetooth connectivity aren’t needed anymore. You can also stream music from your cell phone or connect a Bluetooth adapter to your iPod and stream music from it through your head unit. You can do all that without connecting any wires or using transmitters.

 The AVIC F90BT is a newly introduced head unit with a built-in Bluetooth by Pioneer. This unit allows users to make hands-free calls with caller ID and call status displayed on the screen. What makes the AVIC F90BT unique is the built-in unique voice control technology which allows you to control what music you want to play and do hands-free dialing without pushing any buttons. Another great Bluetooth stereo to look at is the JVC KD-ABT22. This unit features built-in Bluetooth connectivity that permits you to stream audio into the system and accept phone calls wirelessly.

Car stereo systems are getting more complicated and offer more functions than simply play music. Since the Bluetooth law comes to effect, having Bluetooth in your car is considered to be one of the most valuable things.