- iPhone to Meeting Maker GoBetween
- T-Punkt'ed in Germany
- Supermicro Water cooled blades
- Once upon a time there was an arp entry
- I object to RFID payment schemes without positive acknowledgment!
- Wiring and Cabling: How To Lace Cable Harnesses
- SonicWall TZ180W
- Camera Phone barcode readers: Part II
- Mobile Phone Barcode system
- Avocent - SwitchView 100 4-port PS/2 KVM Switch
January 25, 2007 | Comments: (0)
Plantronics Voyager 510 BlueTooth Headset
Voyager 510 BlueTooth Headset and optional desk phone adapter.
So I've been frustrated by wanting a headset that fullfilled the promise that I saw at some of the early BlueTooth(BT) conferences. I had in mind that I should be able to have a single headset that would work with both my laptop and my mobile phone. I first heard about such a device from Paul Humfries of Avaya and then made contact with Dan Race of Plantronics while at CES 2007. The Voyager 510 comes with a very lightweight utility (Windows only dang it) that will utilize the API for several softphones (Skype, Avaya, etc) and a large list of mobile phones. A nice touch is an interactive compatibility guide that compares your equipment with their ever growing list of tested devices.
I first tried to pair it with my Lenovo X41's internal bluetooth, but was convinced by Dan that I really ought to use the dongle so that I could get their "advanced" feature set. Thanks Dan, now I get a soft beep whenever I go in/out of range and when I first fired up my Skype client I got a prompt asking me if I wanted to give the Plantronics software access to the Skype API. Little features like Skype autodetecting my headset, being able to answer and hang up using the Call Control Button have made my move a pleasure.
Another enterprise feature I just have to point out is called Adaptive Frequency Hopping (AFH) to allow the BT headset to hop out of the way of existing WiFi resources. I have to say that this is a piece of my kit that will travel with me at all times.
So as convergence rears its head in your organization, take a good hard look at the Voyager instead of the simple BT headsets that your mobile vendor is pushing on you. Just being able to choose the soft foam ear piece to better match the variety of human ears has made wearing this headset all day possible.
My only regret is that I should avoid bragging about this headset to my friends running Mac OSx...considering just how many Mac users do Skype and BT headsets, it seems like someone is ignoring a very fast growing market.
So now my only wish is that I could have multiple headsets able to use the same phone at the same time. A demo at a very early BlueTooth meeting had three headsets paired to a phone and we all got to use the same phone as part of the same conversation. So even in a noisy exhibit hall, the folks wearing the headsets were able to participate in the same call...might not be a bad feature for enterprise users or very definately the construction industry.
/brian chee
Addendum from Dan Race of Plantronics:
The Voyager 510-USB integrates with enterprise softphone software from companies including, Avaya, Cisco, Nortel and Skype, among others, to offer call notification and remote call answering via the headset.
The Voyager 510-USB is also compatible with consumer Internet telephony services, including AOL, MSN and Yahoo!, but remote answer/end and call notification are not yet offered.
Just FYI...here's what I'm using now, the Bluetooth USB dongle gives me connectitity into my Lenovo X41 PenTablet for Skype and I'm now using it with a T-Mobile Dash (aka HTC S620) EDGE+WiFi phone.
Posted by Brian Chee on January 25, 2007 03:41 PM
RATE THIS ARTICLE:
-
- COMMENTS
there is now a Plantronics 910-USB:
http://headsetplus.com/product497/product_info.html
This headset does in fact work great with Mac OS X. You just pair it as a Headset using the normal Bluetooth Assistant, and then it shows up as a normal audio input and output device. Set skype or iChat's preferences to use the PL 510 and it will automatically connect to the headset when you make or receive a call. I noticed that when I received a call on my cell phone, it rang in my headset, though I still haven't figured out how to switch between them at that point!
Posted by: Dan Bowen at March 3, 2007 07:45 AMcheck out this web site WWW.CELLXPO.COM for low low low prices on all the bluetooth headset motorola H700 only $39.99. jabra BT250V only $39.99 WWW.CELLXPO.COM
Posted by: Joel at March 27, 2007 05:32 PMFYI - these wireless USB headsets are not compatible with Microsoft Vista (yet)...
Yet, the Plantronics 510 is listed as an approved VoIP device by Microsoft on the Office Communication Server web site... now I'm confused with the mixed signals???? Well the two statements aren't exactly opposed to each other, but if OCS approved, one would think that Vista would have been there too...
/brian chee
Please don't ever buy anything from cellxpo.com. WHY? Most of their products are used/defected, that's why they have the low low prices. I purchased 12 web-200 bluetooths, all of them are used (no plastic on and scratched) in t-mobile boxes NOT in EOM boxes, and three didn't work. (NO RETURN or REFUND POLICY?) When I called, they didn't even want to talk to me and rude. Buy from amazon.com with a buck or two more but you get the new one.
Posted by: Jamie at September 18, 2007 10:13 AMI agree with the last review. Do not buy anything from Cellxpo. They rip you off. I purchased what I thought was a Plantronics Bluetooth, only to get a device - and packaging - that had absolutely NO markings or identification on it whatsoever. And, conveniently, they do not allow for returns of ANY Bluetooth products. Even if they did, their return policy is laughable: you have to get their authorization AND you have to return it within 7 days of having received it. Right.
Bottom line: the low prices are hardly worth the risk of getting a knock off or a defective product that they will not stand behind (see other web blogs that talk about frustrated consumers who had to deal with the manufacturer because Cellxpo would not help them).
************************************************
Comment from Brian Chee
These comments are those of the above listed person...
TOP STORIES
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Remote Access: Maintain Security and Decrease the Burden on IT
- Beyond AntiVirus: Symantec Endpoint Protection
- What Every Enterprise Needs to Know About VDI
- Solution for Open Virtualization Provides Server Consolidation
- Help Simplify Virtualization
- A Guide to Rich Internet Application (RIA) Security
