In the world of wireless communication, Bluetooth® technology stands at the forefront. Using short radio waves, Bluetooth is designed to maximize quality wireless communication over short distances. By using a single, secure, low-power and globally available radio frequency, Bluetooth has been able to combine multiple forms of wireless communication and make them affordable and available to all.
Bluetooth headsets are the most popular of all Bluetooth products, and with good reason; they let you take and make hands-free calls from your cell phone. That means you can talk while driving without taking your eyes off the road and your hands off the wheel, carry items while talking, and more. Bluetooth speakerphones are handy for going handsfree in your car, and stereo Bluetooth headphones are a great way to enjoy music and still be able to take calls.
Bluetooth Basics
Types of Bluetooth Handsfree Devices
Mono Headsets
These Bluetooth headsets are designed to ride on one of your ears, and they’re primarily used for communication by wirelessly connecting to your phone. You can make and receive calls, and some headsets can even act like an ear piece. As there’s only one of them you wouldn’t be enjoying music in stereo, which makes mono headsets ideal for podcasts or audiobooks.
Speakerphones
Bluetooth speakerphones are a useful tool for road warriors who need to stay in contact while on the road, or for people who don’t like having something in their ears while driving. Once you establish the initial wireless pairing with your phone, the speakerphone will automatically re-connect the next time you get into the car, so you don’t even have to take the phone out of your pocket. Most Bluetooth speakerphones use noise cancelling technology to help screen out the background noise of your car and the traffic around you, so the person on the other end will hear your voice clearly. You can receive and make calls using just your voice, and more advanced models will announce the name of incoming callers, as well as battery status and connection status.
Bluetooth speakerphones tend to have longer battery life than Bluetooth headsets, and they’re ideal for people who’d prefer not to have something in their ear all day long.
Some speakerphones also act like a separate audio speaker, allowing you to enjoy the music, podcasts, or audiobooks stored on your phone with big, bold audio quality. When a call comes in you can pause the audio and say hello, without having to hold a phone up to your ear.
Bluetooth Stereo Headphones
If you like listening to music from your phone, or if your MP3 player is Bluetooth-enabled, then Bluetooth stereo headphones might be just what you need. These wireless headphones allow you to listen to music from your phone with great stereo audio quality, as well as take and make calls without ever removing the mobile from your pocket. These headphones are a great way to enjoy the amazing selection of cool features that come with today’s phones.
In love with your current set of headphones and don’t want to give them up? Pick up a Bluetooth headset that’ll let you plug in your own headphones. This allows you to enjoy the sound quality and fit of your favourite ‘phones while adding the hands-free versatility of Bluetooth.
Standard Features
Battery Life
With current power storage capabilities some Bluetooth headsets and headphones can allow you to gab away for 5-10 hours straight before you’ll need to recharge, while Bluetooth speakerphones can go even longer, usually between 10-20 hours of talk time. Along with actual talk time, standby time will vary, as will the time that’s required to recharge your headset. If you spend a lot of time driving or travelling, a headset with a longer battery life will suit you well.
Comfort
No two ears are exactly the same, so a Bluetooth headset that’s comfortable for one person might be annoying or painful for another. A good headset will be light and barely feel like it’s on your ear at all. There are many different styles and designs to choose from, so you’ll be able to find the one that’s the right fit for you.
Functions
Various features offered with Bluetooth headsets, headphones, and speakerphones can increase the safety and convenience of your wireless experience. Volume control, answer/end, and play/pause buttons are within easy reach, allowing for easier control of the device, and some models allow you to do all that with voice commands.
What’s New in Bluetooth Technology
More than ever, people are on the move and Bluetooth wireless technology is keeping up with the pace by offering features that are perfectly suited to your active, on-the-go needs. Take a look at some of the new, cool features and technology available.
Noise Cancellation
Many headsets have features that are designed to increase the quality of sound. Noise cancellation decreases ambient noise so that conversations are clearer without having to increase the volume, while the echo reduction feature indicates that the headset uses digital sound processing (DPS) technology to reduce echoes during calls. Headsets with dual microphones use the two separate microphones to help isolate your voice from background noise, further enhancing the noise cancellation effect.
Voice Control
Making calls with your voice has been a standard feature of Bluetooth headsets for a while now. However, newer smartphones are developing the capability to control other features with your voice, like doing a search on the Internet, modifying your calendar, adding a reminder, or listening to and sending text messages. Bluetooth devices can make this even easier by letting you use these voice controlled-functions without even taking your smartphone out of your pocket.
Bluetooth 3.0 and 4.0
Most Bluetooth headsets are built for the current Bluetooth 2.1 standard, but the new 3.0 and 4.0 standards are emerging and starting to appear in many different devices. These new standards bring with them much faster transmission speeds and additional features, like easier syncing and the ability to join a Wi-Fi network.
Multiple Connections
Some Bluetooth headsets are capable of wirelessly pairing with more than one device at a time. This could be handy if you like to listen to music on your Bluetooth-enabled MP3 player or laptop, but you also want to be ready to receive calls through your phone. If you have two phones (one for work and one for personal use), these headsets will eliminate the hassle of having to re-pair every time you switch between phones.
What Else Bluetooth Can Do
It’s not just about being wireless anymore. Many of the Bluetooth headsets available have added extra features that can enhance your user experience.
Music Player Controls
This feature lets you manage your music directly from the headset, with controls for Play/Pause, On/Off, Forward/Back, volume, more. Look for Bluetooth headsets, headphones, and other devices compatible with A2DP in order to control your music wirelessly.
Call Waiting/Call Reject
Call Waiting is available with auto-reconnect, which allows you to switch between calls without fear of dropping a call. If it just isn’t a good time to answer, then call reject can easily send a call to voicemail so you can return it when it’s more convenient.
Battery Status Indicator
Some models will have a light to let you know how much charge is left. Green, yellow and red give you a clear indication of how much talk time is still available. More advanced models can even tell you the battery status verbally or show it on the screen of your smartphone.
The Future Shop Difference
With so many Bluetooth device options available it’s easier than ever to cut the cord and enjoy the freedom and versatility of Bluetooth. Explore Future Shop’s huge selection of Bluetooth headsets, speakerphones, and headphones, and if you still need some help deciding visit your local store so our Product Experts can help you find the perfect device for your needs.