Plantronics boosts Bluetooth offerings

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: KEITH SHAW ON WIRELESS COMPUTING
DEVICES
07/26/05
Today's focus: Plantronics boosts Bluetooth offerings

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Plantronics launches Bluetooth-enabled headsets
* Links related to Wireless Computing Devices
* Featured reader resource
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This newsletter is sponsored by Fluke Networks
Download the Special Report: VoIP: Challenges, Drivers, Hurdles,
and Recommendation

VoIP, poses many questions, among them; vendors vs. carriers,
end-user adoption, management complexity, etc. Once these
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realized. Through research the following special report VoIP:
Challenges, Drivers, Hurdles, and Recommendation analyzes the
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Today's focus: Plantronics boosts Bluetooth offerings

By Keith Shaw

In our continuing quest to find additional value out of
Bluetooth, we ran across a Plantronics product launch last week
in New York. The company unveiled a set of Bluetooth headsets
for mobile phone usage and has added Bluetooth capabilities to
other products - a move that may get users more excited about
the short-range wireless technology.

In the mobile headset-only category, Plantronics launched three
headsets: the entry-level "easy-to-use" Explorer 320 (selling
between $49 and $69); the Voyager 510, which lets users switch
between two voice-enabled Bluetooth devices at the touch of a
button (between $79 and $99); and the Discovery 640 (between
$129 and $149), a high-end, lightweight Bluetooth headset that
includes premium materials and up to 15 hours of talk time
battery life (with the addition of an AAA-battery powered
charger).

Moving beyond cell phone headsets, Plantronics launched the
impressive-looking Pulsar 590, a stereo headset with a
microphone. The Pulsar 590 uses Bluetooth to connect to an
adapter, which gets plugged into the 3.5-mm headphone jack on a
portable audio player (such as an iPod) or a laptop to provide
stereo sound wirelessly.

In addition, the system can pair itself to a Bluetooth-enabled
cell phone. When a phone call is received, the user can push a
button on the earpiece and switch from listening to music to
answering the phone call. After the call is done, another button
push lets them go back to the music. The microphone "telescopes"
out in a boom mike fashion, letting users hide the microphone
when not in use. The foldable headphones are designed for
portability for users who want to bring it along on their next
flight. The Pulsar 590 will cost about $200 with the Bluetooth
headphone jack adapter, or $150 without.

The second device that uses Bluetooth is the Voyager 510S Office
Headset System, which lets business users switch between their
Bluetooth-enabled cell phone and their regular office phone
system. The system costs $299.95 and uses the new Voyager 510
headset, Plantronics says. Most of the devices will be available
in the fall, with the exception of the Voyager 510 headset,
which is available now, the company added.

In addition to the product launches, which included other
non-Bluetooth headphones, the company also introduced a new
logo, advertising campaign and contest that promises one lucky
winner a ride into space. The "Plantronics to Space and Beyond"
promotion will offers consumers a chance to win a seat on board
one of the first commercial flights to space. Head to the
Plantronics Web site <http://www.plantronics.com/> for more
details.

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Verizon joins managed security game
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile3788>

2. Future-proof your network
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile3789>

3. VoIP security threats: Fact or fiction?
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile3790>

4. The ROI of VoIP <http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile3791>

5. Appliances replace DNS, DHCP software
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile3792>

Today's most forwarded story:

Verizon joins managed security game
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlmobile3794>
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Keith Shaw

Keith Shaw is Senior Editor, Product Testing, at Network World.
In addition, he writes the " Cool Tools
<http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/cooltools.html> "
column, which looks at gizmos, gadgets and other mobile
computing devices.

You can reach Keith at <mailto:kshaw@nww.com>.
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Fluke Networks
Download the Special Report: VoIP: Challenges, Drivers, Hurdles,
and Recommendation

VoIP, poses many questions, among them; vendors vs. carriers,
end-user adoption, management complexity, etc. Once these
questions are answered then the benefits of convergence can be
realized. Through research the following special report VoIP:
Challenges, Drivers, Hurdles, and Recommendation analyzes the
questions and the best practices behind implementing a converged
network.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=108871
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Archive of the Wireless Computing Devices newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/mobile/index.html

Keith Shaw's Cool Tools:
http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/cooltools.html
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The dynamic world of application acceleration technologies

Companies are undergoing a shift in the way they structure their
internal IT departments and external service components. Find
out about the changing market for application acceleration
technologies.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=108784
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FEATURED READER RESOURCE
THE NEW DATA CENTER: SPOTLIGHT ON STORAGE

This Network World report takes a look at storage trends such as
virtualization, encryption and archiving. Here you will also
find seven tips for managing storage in the new data center, how
storage encryption can help ease the threat of identity theft,
why one exec believes its all about the information and more.
Click here:
<http://www.networkworld.com/supp/2005/ndc4/>
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