Wireless DECT headsets
Wireless DECT headsets are incredibly popular both in the workplace and home offering people the opportunity to move around their workplace or home, no longer restricted to one spot. They utilise DECT technology, the same technology you see in cordless phones and it is this technology that gives them their wireless capabilities. DECT technology boasts many advantages to analogue, such as less interference and less crackle which equals much clearer calls and security against eavesdropping.
Wireless DECT headset usually come in two parts, the headset itself and the base station or ‘radio fixed part’. The base station plugs into an existing corded phone and this then acts as the wireless transmitter to the headset allowing you to make and take calls through the paired wireless headset rather than the traditional handset. The base unit connects to the mains and also acts as a charger for the headset. As with most rechargeable devices it is recommended to let the headset run down and keep it off the charger until the end of the day and you will get better battery consumption.
Another variant of the wireless DECT headset is one that pairs to an existing DECT cordless phone system rather than attaching directly to a corded phone. DECT cordless phones usually allow anything up to 6 handsets to be paired to their base unit and this type of wireless DECT headset works by being paired to the phones base unit as an additional handset. Calls can then be answered and ended directly through the headset but outbound calls must still be made through the handset and then transferred to the headset which can sometimes prove to be quite tricky. You must check before hand whether the DECT wireless headset is for use on a corded phone or a DECT cordless phone as they are device specific.
There are many different styles of wireless DECT headset out there allowing for a more personal approach when choosing one. The main styles are headband (over the head) and over the ear. You can then narrow it down more by choosing between a single ear (monaural) or double ear (binaural) headset (headband style only). You can also choose the microphone type from the standard voice tube to the upgraded noise cancelling microphone which is particularly useful in noisy environments.
Features and functionality tend to differ between models with each offering a different set to suit use in a slightly different setting. The current generation of wireless DECT headsets offers a number of innovative and cutting edge features and functions, with the major manufacturers like Plantronics GN Netcom and Sennheiser at the forefront and often setting the standard, developing their own technologies. So although choosing a wireless DECT headset may initially be somewhat confusing you can guarantee you’ll
Although choosing a wireless DECT headset may initially seem somewhat confusing, once you’ve got the hang of the headset ‘lingo’ often used by the headset companies you’ll find a plethora of choice. As technology costs fall so do product prices and with wireless DECT headsets more affordable they are no longer thought of as a luxury but more as the essential business tool they are.
