Do You Have a Headset for Your Cell Phone?

Are you ready for BC's ban on talking on your cell phone while driving? Actually, it isn't a ban on talking it's a ban on holding your cell phone when you're talking. Regardless, starting January 1st the police will start giving out warnings about the ban with enforcement starting February 1st (oh goody just in time for scads of tourists to descend on the city). While there are additional penalties for texting or emailing, we're just going to talk about talking right now. Essentially the rules allow for you to keep talking on your phone, as long as you're using a hands-free device. So if you have a headset (wired or wireless) or other in-car hands-free systems (our Nissan has a hands-free system built in) you're fine. I'm going to skip wired solutions because those are soo 20th century, we're going to talk about wireless, specifically Bluetooth.

Bluetooth is a wireless system, not unlike cordless phones or computer WiFi, that allows for data to be sent from one device to another. So, you might have a Bluetooth mouse (as I do) that exchanges data with your computer or a printer that connects via Bluetooth or even connect to the Internet via Bluetooth. All of these are great, but lesser known, users for Bluetooth the most common by far is for audio connections: phones to wireless headsets.

We've all seen these headsets around town. They aren't too new and the technology (from the users standpoint) is pretty simple. You turn on Bluetooth on your phone, you turn on the headset and put it into "pairing mode", then have your phone "find" the headset and pair with it. Usually you enter a code like 0000 to make the connection "official". Simple as that, now your phone might ring through the speaker, but when you talk you'll hear the person through the headset and the headset's microphone will pick up the sound.

I've been using Bluetooth headsets for years. I've had mixed luck with them in terms of how long they last. Since they have an internal rechargeable battery you have to keep and eye on that and early headsets dropped calls and sometimes the overall audio quality could be hit and miss (a lot of miss). That's changed now, the newer headsets look better and sound great. The one I've been using for the past couple years is a Jabra brand headset and has served me very well.

As it should happen, I was asked a little while ago if I'd like to check out the new devices from Motorola. Their PR agency contacted me and I thought it would be a good idea to see what is coming down the pike, especially since a lot of people are going to be needing headsets shortly. Will also tell you now that I was given two of the headsets and a car hands free device as a gift from Motorola. I didn't know this before I arrived at the briefing.

Now the headsets. As you can see (note the Twoonie for scale) these headsets are tiny. The one in the middle is their new H17 ($119.95) which has the flip-out boom which also serves to turn the device on. The Moto rep told me that the headset can go from off to connected (assuming it's already been paired with your phone) in 1.5 rings. I didn't see this in action, but even if it's a couple rings that's impressive. Most headsets have to be on and connected before you make or receive calls to work. They just can't connect to the phones fast enough to go from off to usable. The device on the left is the HX1 ($159) has a sliding on-off switch (which I like a lot) and can use bone conduction for being able to hear in noisy environments (called Stealth Mode). Bone conduction means that the sounds are transmitted through your jaw and skull into your ear. It works pretty well, though in my tests I can hear the person just fine, but my voice sounded odd. The device on the far right is the H790 ($89.95) it is a basic headset with good sound and a good mic. All of these headsets have some very cool noise cancelation features to help you hear (and be heard) in noisy environments. The cancelation is done by having a mic on the outside of the device to pick up sound around you and subtract it from what you what to come through. Noise cancelation is key for drivers to help filter out road noise, etc. All of these devices all have two features that I find really awesome. The first is the voice prompts. You turn the device on and a voice tells you that it's ready to pair with a phone, when you're connected (and to which device since you can connect to more than one phone), and what your battery level is. It's the "turn on ready to pair" that I think is just awesome. Too often getting a headset into pairing mode meant holding done a button or buttons until lights flashed or stayed on in a certain way. Then the headset was only in pairing mode a short bit before it timed out. If you didn't get it paired in time, you had to start over. I tested pairing with the HX1 and H790 with a BlackBerry and an iPhone and had zero problems. I even paired the HX1 to this MacBook Pro with no problem. Answering calls is just pressing an easy to find button. The volume controls are nicely on the top of the device. All my other devices had one on the top and one on the bottom. Frankly this made volume adjustments a little tricky (especially if you have big fingers like I do). I've been able to adjust the volume on the HX1 with no problem.

All of these headsets come with several different pieces for your ear to get a good fit. I found the one that came already on the HX1 to be just right for me. As you can gather I think these are good, solid devices. I decided to keep the HX1, but the H790 … well that is going to go to one of you lucky readers! More on that later.

The next devices I was shown were hands-free devices for cars intended to clip onto your car's visor. The T215 ($69.95) and T325 ($89) work just like headsets, except they are bigger. You pair the same, they also run on rechargeable batteries, and you press to connect. What I think is cool about these visor devices is that they can download your phone's addressbook. Yeah, hit the start call button and say a name and the device will try to find the name and call. Even the Moto rep said it wasn't perfect, but it was pretty darn impressive. The T215 has a basic on-off switch, and you do have to remember to turn it off. The T325, get this, turns itself on when you open and close the car door. Then when you stop, open the door, close it, and walk a few feet away, it turns itself off! That's pretty amazing I think.

While I can say that all these devices look great and would be a great value, what's important is getting the headset that's right for you. The Moto rep just flat-out said when friends ask him about headsets, while he'd love for them to buy a Motorola, the important thing is getting a headset that fits, is comfortable to wear, easy to use, and has the features you want and need. Would I have gone out and bought an HX1. Probably not. It's really awesome and sounds good, but I'd probably opt for the lower end H790. It's good-enough for me. If you're a person who is going to be wearing your headset all day, you might want to look at smaller, lighter headsets like the HX1 and H17. My advice is to shop around. Look at what's out there. Does it need a special charger? (all these Motos do which isn't always a good thing.) Does it come with different sized ear pieces to try? Where are the buttons?

Now, if you'd rather win than buy a device, I'm with you there. I have one H790 headset and one T215 car-visor device (above) up for grabs. To win you have to leave a comment here with why you need a headset or car device. I'll announce the winner next week. From all the comments, I'll draw two names. The first person chosen will get their choice (unless they gave a specific preference in their comment) and the second person will get the other device.

And certainly if you have more questions about these and other wireless headsets, those comments count as entries as well. One entry per person.

Disclosure: CMP.ly/2