Wireless Phone Headsets - Zero to 100 Million

In a just a few years wireless phone headsets have exploded on the scene. As recently as 2000 they were unavailable to the average consumer, but by 2007 they were shipping at the rate of 60 million per annum. The projection for 2010 is 100 million units.

Bluetooth Earphones

Bluetooth is the technology that made it all possible. Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) was established in 1998, but it wasn't until 2000 that the first Bluetooth earphones and mobile phones were shipped. Initially the rate of adoption was slow because of concerns about Bluetooth's security and the impact on the cost of mobile phones. In 2004 the core specification for version 2.0 was released and Bluetooth took off.

By the tenth anniversary of Bluetooth SIG, over 2 billion Bluetooth enabled devices had shipped. No other wireless technology has achieved such rapid acceptance.

Bluetooth PAN's (Personal Area Networks) now connect devices as diverse as: cell phones, headsets, laptops, sunglasses, GPS, speakers, printers, keyboards, mice, digital cameras, gaming consoles, PDA's, smartphones ... Our mobile life style is increasingly dependent on Bluetooth technology.

Bluetooth Gadget Guide

Compliance with Hands Free Cell Phone Law

Bluetooth SIG began as a collaboration between companies in the computing, mobile phone and automotive industries. The bluetooth car phone was apparently a central motivation from the very beginning.

Millions of us spend hours every day in our cars. Cell phones enable us to make this otherwise dead time into productive time. The down side is that in most juridictions it's now illegal to speak on the phone when driving without using a hands free phone kit. The advent of bluetooth head phones made compliance affordable for people with vehicles not already fitted with a hands free car phone kit.

Electro Magnetic Radiation

Mobile phones have been inconclusively associated with conditions ranging from headaches to brain tumours and cancers. Until mobile phones are cleared of all suspicion, many of us will elect to use a Bluetooth wireless phone headsets as a precaution, even when we aren't driving a car.

Bluetooth earphones operate using far less power than mobile phones and consequently the radiation generated is insignificant when compared with a mobile phone.

Bluetooth Fashion Accessories

While considerations such as functionality, health, safety and the law may have been enough to get the early adopters on board; there are millions of other users who would never be seen wearing a wireless phone headset unless it was also cool, elegant and fashionable.

Bluetooth reviews commonly focus on the look of an earpiece with a brief note on its sound, comfort or battery life. When buyers compare Bluetooth headsets they are comparing fashion accessories no less visible or personal than sunglasses, shoes or clothing.

The Best Bluetooth Headset

Of course none of this is news to Aliph, Blueant, Plantronics, Samsung, Motorola or Nokia. They know that when consumers select the best Bluetooth head phone for their requirements, they fix onto a rational justification such as noise cancellation, solar battery charging, range ... , but in the end they are buying a fashion statement. If that sounds harsh check out this pitch from the French company ModeLabs, voila:

"Bluetrek, a brand of the ModeLabs Group, is pleased to announce the launch of the Metal, an extremely sleek, light Bluetooth headset, now available in 24 carat gold-plated limited edition. Bluetrek's Gold metal boasts a refined unisex design that oozes sophistication. Thanks to this limited edition colour, the Metal is set to take centre stage at the heart of this season's top fashion must-haves."

Even Motorola has not lost sight of the fact that it's wireless phone headsets are essentially fashion accessories.

"With style that speaks volumes the slim and discrete Motorola H680 Bluetooth Headset provides powerful talk times and elegant design to keep you in touch anywhere, anytime. The high gloss and metallic finished H680 offers sharp style with the freedom to talk on the move. A micro USB connector in the case instead of the headset allows for the H680 slim and discrete design."

Which are the best wireless phone headsets? Tell us!

From Wireless Phone Headsets to What is Bluetooth Technology

From Wireless Phone Headsets to Business Phone Tools