Plantronics Launches Next-Generation Bluetooth Headset with Extended Talk Time

July 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Plantronics today announced availability of its M3000 Bluetooth wireless headset. The all-new design features industry-leading talk time of up to eight hours, with up to 200 hours of standby time, so the M3000 can last as long, or longer, than most mobile phones before recharging.

Designed for today's mobile professional, the lightweight M3000 is compact and stylish, with excellent sound quality. Intuitive controls on the M3000 make it easy to answer and end a call by simply pressing a button on the headset for truly wireless convenience.

The M3000 supports both the Bluetooth headset profile and the more recent hands-free profile. The hands-free profile lets users take advantage of more features in their Bluetooth phones, such as call transfer, call reject and last number redial, all via the headset. The M3000 is compatible with devices equipped with either or both profiles, including mobile phones, Smartphones, PDAs and emerging applications such as automotive telematics.

"With the M3000, we are providing mobile professionals with a feature-rich, reliable wireless headset that works as long as they do," said Beth Johnson, senior director of product marketing. "Not only does the M3000 include leading-edge performance and technology, but we're offering it at a price point that delivers great value."

According to Strategy Analytics, 6.6M Bluetooth mobile phones will be sold in the North American market in 2003, climbing to 14.1M units in 2004, an increase of 113%. Worldwide, Bluetooth mobile phones sales for 2003 are projected to be 42.5M, increasing to 90M in 2004. "With our experience in delivering headsets with superior comfort and sound quality, we should be well positioned to take advantage of this growing trend," added Johnson.

Superior sound quality is particularly critical for mobile professionals whose business day may take them from the car to the airport to a busy street. For the M3000, sound quality is enhanced by a snug-fitting speaker and a noise-canceling microphone that reduces background noise, so users can hear and be heard clearly.

Comfort is also important for a headset that features extended talk time, so the M3000 includes two sizes of the patented earloop to provide a comfortable fit for longer conversations. The earloop is reversible and can be worn on either ear.

"We've conducted research into the needs of mobile professionals, and we know that extended talk time was on the top of the list," said Peter Zan, senior product marketing manager for the M3000. "But we've also added additional features that make the M3000 more convenient, such as an in-use indicator light, which lets others know when the headset is in use, and a mute capability, because in many mobile situations, it's helpful to be able to mute the conversation if you have to speak with someone else."

The Plantronics M3000 is now available worldwide through select retail outlets, and at www.plantronics.com. The M3000 will have an estimated U.S. retail price from $99 - $119, and a one-year warranty with Plantronics' world-class service and support. Information about the company and its products can be found at www.plantronics.com or by calling 800-544-4660.

Source: Plantronics