We’re sure that by now many of you have heard of Unified Communication (UC) and wondered: What’s this all about? You go online to get more information and you’re greeted with this: “An evolving communications technology architecture which automates and unifies all forms of human and device communications in context, and with a common experience. Its purpose is to optimize business processes and enhance human communications by reducing latency, managing flows, and eliminating device and media dependencies.” Right…so how can we non-geeks get a handle on this new way of communication designed to make our life more productive?

I guess the key word is “Unified.” (UC) brings together various ways to talk and listen to one another. It takes your phone and your computer (two different ways of communication) introduces them to each other and gets them to work together (sort of like a marriage counselor). And to make your experience truly rewarding, you’ll need a headset. That’s where Plantronics comes into the picture. Be they corded or wireless headsets, at home or in the office, Plantronics has just the right model to bring communication together.

Take, for instance, the new Savi WO100 from Plantronics, their new wireless multi-function headset. With the included cables you can connect the Savi WO100 to both devices and, with the touch of a button, seamlessly travel between your phone and computer. You can make traditional calls, computer calls using Skype*, conference the two together, do dictation using Dragon* naturally speaking, stream music from your Virgin online radio station, etc., etc., etc. Well, you get the picture. And Savi is just one of a complete line of Plantronics wireless and corded headsets designed especially for Unified Communications. And Headsets Direct is the place for fast, friendly and courteous service. Give one of our knowledgeable sales personnel a call and find out what’s new from Plantronics in Unified Communications.

*Headsets Direct does not endorse any particular brand over another. These are used as examples only.

When it comes to a corded telephone headset, we have a few different options and models to choose from.  A corded telephone headset will also require either an amplifier or bottom cable to connect to the actual telephone, the phone make and model will determine which amplifier or cable is needed.  All of the Plantronics regular corded telephone headsets are called the “H-series” and are considered to be commercial grade which can be used in the office, however they can also be used at home as well.  These commercial grade corded telephone headsets are just better quality than the inexpensive models that are typically found at some of the retail stores, and they will also usually have a longer manufacturer’s warranty.  The H-series corded telephone headset will have the Plantronics proprietary “Quick Disconnect” plug on the end of the cable, which is a flat rectangular connection that looks similar to a USB and will not directly plug into any device, that is why it is important to also get the proper compatible amplifier or cable for your particular application.

Although a  Plantronics corded telephone headset and amplifier are pretty universal and will work great with most single and multi-line corded telephones and systems, it’s still always a good idea to check compatibility.  To check the compatibility of your individual phone model, we have a link on our website called “Compatibility Guide Product Finder”, this is the Plantronics Compatibility Guide which will allow you to choose your phone make and model and it will determine if your phone requires an amplifier or a bottom cable to connect a corded telephone headset.  Another thing to consider is the environment that you will be working in, is it quiet or is there a lot of background noise going on around you?  The Plantronics corded telephone headsets have a couple of different versions, voice tube models for quiet areas and models with noise canceling microphones for noisy areas.  A noise canceling microphone on a corded telephone headset blocks out background noise going on around you so that your caller doesn’t hear everything so vividly.  Please keep in mind that they won’t block out everything, but they usually take care of most of the distractions, and some of the corded telephone headset microphones do block out more than others.  So please consider your corded telephone headset microphone type, and choose accordingly.

Now that you have determined what it takes to connect your corded telephone headset to your phone and you know what type of environment it will be used in, just choose one that looks comfortable for you.  We have various styles such as over the head, over the ear, and some models called “convertible” that give you both wearing styles.  Hopefully this helps to get you well on your way to finding a corded telephone headset for you to use in the office and at home.  No matter where your work takes you, we’ve got the perfect corded telephone headset just for you.

Replacing the Plantronics CT12 with the Plantronics CT14 cordless telephone headset

Problem: Several years ago I purchased a Plantronics CT12 cordless headset phone that I use in my home office and I love it. However, my CT 12 is getting old, and I am considering getting a two line phone for my office. Is there a unit similar to mine that will work with a two line phone?

Solution: Well, I have both good news and bad news for you. The good news is that Plantronics developed an updated cordless headset phone called the CT14. The Plantronics CT14 cordless telephone provides the user with about 300 feet of roaming distance (the size of a football field), compared to the older units with only 150 feet of roaming distance. Plus, it has been upgraded from a 2.4 GHz frequency to the 1.9 GHz voice dedicated 6.0 DECT technology, which means less chance of interference. In addition, our new improved cordless headset phone provides twice the talk time as the older CT12 model! The Plantronics CT14 cordless telephone offers the ability to place your caller on hold and use Call Waiting, Caller ID and Telephone Messaging, providing you subscribe to those services through your phone company. If you have these features, you may not need that second phone line. Plantronics also improved the design of the mobile phone pad that you clip to your waistband or belt. You will find the display is easier to read, the buttons on the dial pad are a little larger and the clip on the back of the phone pad is sturdy, but smooth, offering a more comfortable and secure fit.

The bad news for some of our customers is that the CT14 is designed specifically for single line phone systems. There is only one multi-line phone system that the CT14 cordless headset phone is compatible with, and that is the Avaya Partner phones. If you happen to have an Avaya Partner multi line phone system, this unit works just great with it, and the price is very reasonable for the convenience of being totally mobile. There are two features that the CT14 does not have that the CT12 did: (1) the CT12 came with a “Firefly Headset” so the tip of the microphone would light up to let people know you were on the phone and (2) it also offered a speed dial feature. Although the CT14 does not have speed dial, you can put approximately 70 contacts in the CT14 dial pad phone book. Consequently, if you have been happy with the CT12 you should be quite impressed with the CT14, because you are doubling your roaming distance and talk time, plus the new design makes it even easier to use! For more information on this, or other options for home office use, call Headsets Direct at 800-914-7996 and one of our customer service specialists will be happy to help you.