London, UK – 17th January 2012 – A new study conducted by Plantronics (NYSE:PLT) and the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic reveals that office-based workers have seen significant reductions in back and shoulder pain by wearing a headset for calls.

In just 4 weeks, half of the participants who suffered neck ache and headaches at the start of the study (54% and 44% respectively) reported that they no longer experienced any pain. The study also showed a reduction in shoulder and upper back pain, with a decrease in the number of days during which they experienced the pain and their pain level.*

The demands of modern office working environments and practices can lead to increases in health problems at work, in particular back pain and musculoskeletal problems (including neck and shoulder pain) – which are commonly identified as being among the top three causes of long term sickness absence of European workers (1) – and costing approximately 2.5% of GDP (£13billion in the UK) each year in benefits, treatments and lost production (2).

Dr. Brian Hammond, CEO at National UK charity BackCare says “We see many office workers with acute neck and back problems which could have been prevented by taking simple measures at work - such as using a headset for calls and having ergonomic chairs and desk. This is a serious and preventable matter, by giving employee the right tools to support their daily task, everyone will benefit.”

“It’s clear from this study that small changes to the workplace, such as equipping all staff with a headset, creates a healthier working environment thereby reducing problems of sickness and absence.”  Norma Pearce EMEA HR Director at Plantronics comments “The call this New Year is to employers to embrace new technologies and products that will support their staff and business in the long-term.”

Plantronics has found that the amount of time spent on audio conference calls (3) is increasing, resulting in today’s office-based professional spending more hours on the phone than ever before. Coupled with increases in work intensity over the last two decades (4) across Europe, many businesses are facing problems of absenteeism as employees are taking time off work due to work-related stress and ill-health.

“Our study shows that workers wearing headsets reported a reduction in head, neck and shoulder symptoms - often caused by using a handset and cradling it between the neck and shoulder whilst multi-tasking on calls,” says Sharon Docherty, PhD, Researcher at the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic. “These observations support the use of headsets in an office environment where workers are routinely multi-tasking while speaking on the phone. For work routines that allow the user to get up and walk around in the office, this means increased health benefits from changing positions and being able to move the upper and lower body more freely– all whilst the user is still able to concentrate on the phone conversation.”

The health benefit of headsets are clear – there is a measureable risk for anyone using the phone for as little as two hours a day and by using a headset, phone-related problems can be reduced and even eradicated. Additionally, a wireless headset allows for fluid communications and actions and gives users a greater freedom of movement, meaning strenuous movement and unnatural postures, such as cradling the handset between neck and shoulder, and having to stretch to reach for things are eliminated. Participants are able to multi-task more effectively and in the study almost 60% admitted to finding the headset useful or very useful.

The health needs of the new over-50 work generation must also be considered in terms of ergonomic and acoustic requirements. The recent increase in the proportion of people over 55 planning to work beyond state pension age - from 40% to 71%(5) - means changes in the workplace need to be made to cope effectively with an ageing workforce. Learn how to get the best out of your working environment and work smarter here.

For more details please go to http://www.plantronics.com/uk/

(1) European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) 2007
(2) European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, 2010 - Eurofound, EWCO, Absence from Work Study, 21st July 2010
(3) 83% said they spent either all the time or frequently on audio conference calls – How We Work: Communications Trends of Business Professional, Plantronics, 2010
(4) Fifth European Working Conditions Survey (2010) from the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. Work intensity examples - high speed or to tight deadlines.
(5) Source: Equality and Human Rights Commission, UK Jan 2010

*Study Methodology
The Study entitled “The Effect of Using a Telephone Headset on Musculoskeletal Pain in the Upper Body” was carried out by the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic amongst office-based workers across Europe (UK, Germany, Italy). Plantronics equipped each office worker in different office workspaces with the Plantronics CS60, C65 or Voyager PRO UC wireless headsets. The study showed that for new headsets users, who use the phone for at least daily two hours per day, physical comfort can improve drastically by replacing the telephone handset with a headset. The majority of participants used the headset for 2 – 5 hours a day. For 50% of respondents, head, neck, shoulder and back pains “totally disappeared”. Of those respondents that continued to experience pain, most (66%) reported a decrease in head, neck, shoulder and back pains both in the number of days during which they had the pain and their pain level, after they started using a headset. 59% found the headset to be useful or very useful. The research was conducted from November 2010-January 2011.

London, UK - 11^th October 2011 - Plantronics (NYSE: PLT) today extended its family of Bluetooth® products with the launch of the Plantronics Voyager PRO HD Bluetooth® headset. Part of the award-winning Voyager PRO line[1], the Plantronics‘ Voyager PRO HD is designed to make work and life easier for professionals on the go and is the first consumer headset that knows when you’re wearing it. Simply place it on your ear and Plantronics’ Smart Sensor^TM technology automatically transfers calls to your headset. With world-class sensor and noise cancellation technology, combined with the ability to stream high-definition audio and superior comfort for an all day fit, the Voyager PRO HD is the smartest headset on the market.

Adding unparalleled convenience for the mobile professional, Plantronics InstantMeeting now connects you to conference calls from your iPhone, in addition to BlackBerry and Android phones, with just one touch. InstantMeeting scans your calendar, automatically inserts all phone numbers and passcodes, reminds you of your calls, and lets you notify participants if you are running late so you’ll never miss or be late to a meeting again.

“Together with the latest release of InstantMeeting, the Voyager PRO HD provides the ideal communication solution for busy business professionals on the move,” said Stuart Bradshaw, Plantronics EMEA Head of Consumer Marketing. “These intuitive products simplify communications and redefine mobile productivity so users can quickly and easily get connected and get on with their work and life.”

Smart Sensor Technology

Making and receiving calls is simpler with Smart Sensor technology in the Voyager PRO HD. The headset knows when you are wearing it so it cleverly routes calls to the headset when it’s on your ear and to the handset when it’s not. Voyager PRO HD also has a locking call mechanism when it is not worn to eliminate accidental calling, and you can answer incoming calls simply by putting the headset on your ear - no buttons to press, applications to open or voice commands required. Its enhanced voice alerts announce remaining talk time, connection status, battery-level and mute.

Myheadset^TM App Makes it Easier

The Voyager PRO HD app, currently available in the Android Market, provides one-touch pairing and a sound check before you make that important call and also helps users familiarize themselves with the added functionality of the headset, such as streaming music. All the information usually found hidden inside the box is now on screen thanks to the app, such as a set-up guide and FAQs, meaning all support and guidance is at the tips of your fingers any time.

Superior Sound Quality

Like its predecessors, Voyager PRO HD boasts award-winning sound quality, noise cancellation, and three layers of wind noise reduction technology to ensure that your voice is heard clearly regardless of the sort of environment you’re in. Plantronics HD audio is for more than just answering calls, you can listen to music, follow GPS directions, or check social media platforms and email.

Stay Connected with Your Voice

With Vocalyst Voice and Text Services you can send and listen to email or text messages, post to Facebook and Twitter, or check the weather-hands-free. A one-year subscription to the cloud-based Vocalyst service is included with purchase of the Voyager PRO HD.

Pricing & Availability

The Voyager PRO HD is available for £89.99 / €99.99 from selected electronic retailers from October onwards. The Plantronics InstantMeeting app is available today in the Apple App Store  - http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/plantronics-instantmeeting/id465992873

London, UK – 29th September 2011 – Plantronics (NYSE: PLT) today extended its family of Bluetooth® products with the launch of the Plantronics Marque M155 Bluetooth® headset. Designed as the ideal companion for the iPhone and Android smartphone, the Marque is sleek, lightweight and easy to use. It is enabled with voice recognition so users can answer or ignore calls completely hands-free and is enriched with audio streaming capabilities which allow users to listen to music, GPS directions or email, whilst providing the great stereo quality that Plantronics customers depend on. Marque users can access all this through a free iPhone or Android app.

Plantronics is dedicated to helping smartphone users stay connected in work, life and play and is confident the Marque will simplify this transition. Smartphones, such as the iPhone, have seen impressive growth over the last few years and consumers have quickly come to depend on the all-in-one devices. Whether used as a phone, a diary, an email device, or all of the above, having a smartphone is now seen as not just smart, but a necessity. In fact, IHS Research* reports that by 2015, more than half of handsets in use will be smartphones.

“We have designed a headset that takes advantage of many smartphone features, such as listening to music and using apps,” said Stuart Bradshaw, Plantronics EMEA Head of Consumer Marketing “The Marque is Plantronics’ smallest headset, offering excellent sound quality in an amazingly lightweight design, to complement and simplify our busy lives”

MYHEADSET™ APP MAKES IT EASIER
The Marque simplifies communicating for iPhone and Android smartphone users with an easy-to-use app, currently available in the Android Market and Apple App Store. The app provides one-touch pairing and a sound check before you make that important call and also helps users familiarize themselves with the added functionality of the headset, such as streaming music. The app also provides users with all information usually found hidden inside the box, such as a set-up guide and FAQs, meaning all support and guidance is at the tips of your fingers any time.  It even shows you the battery level of Marque on your iPhone screen.

YOUR SMARTPHONE’S NEW BEST FRIEND
The Marque is the ultimate companion to smartphones, with a sleek curved design that is available in either Jet Black or Arctic White for ultimate accessory co-ordination. Additionally the Marque comes with an innovative 2-in-1 USB charging cable, so users can conveniently charge their headset and smartphone together, with no need to carry around multiple charging adapters.

PRICING & AVAILABILITY
Marque M155 is available for £49.99/€59.99 at selected electronic retailers from late October. For more information, please visit: www.plantronics.com.

*Source: IHS iSuppli, August 2011, Mobile Handset Market Tracker Report, http://www.isuppli.com/Mobile-and-Wireless-Communications/Pages/Low-End-Smartphones-Boost-Market-Growth.aspx

ONE-TOUCH CONFERENCE CALL CONNECTIONS FOR BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS

InstantMeeting™ Enterprise Edition is a one-click conference call connect solution which supports Microsoft® Office Outlook®, leading conferencing service providers as well as top smartphone brands. This tool allows today’s busy professional the most convenient way to join a conference call from their PC or mobile device.

“Modern professionals spend an increasing amount of time in meetings, specifically conference calls. InstantMeeting enables quick, intuitive conference call access so business professionals can focus on the task at hand: communication and collaboration,” said Gunjan Bhow, vice president and general manager of New Ventures at Plantronics. “Our ultimate goal is to enable people to communicate with one another naturally and with minimal barriers, regardless of the devices, platforms and tools being used.”

Plantronics InstantMeeting™ eliminates the frustration and time lost when trying to dial-in to a conference call, a cumbersome process that requires entering a myriad of numbers, ID codes and passwords, and # and * signs. It automatically syncs conference dial-in numbers from leading providers, requiring no advanced setup of access codes and calendars, enabling you to join conference calls with one touch. Visit the Instant Meeting website to find out more. http://instantmeeting.plantronics.com

INDUSTRY-FIRST COMPLETE UC TOOLKIT: GLOBAL LAUNCH

Plantronics has enhanced its popular UC Toolkit to include support for over ten languages, including French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Brazilian Portuguese. This unique online resource for IT professionals delivers real-world best practices, tools, and guidelines for successful UC Audio endpoint roll-out and adoption. Leading consulting players like Futurecom Business Solutions will integrate Plantronics’ UC Toolkit as part of its portfolio, enabling businesses across EMEA to successfully implement UC solutions with this valuable tool.

“Extending the UC Toolkit to the global community reflects Plantronics’ ongoing efforts to develop and deliver products and services designed to help businesses maximize efficiencies through simply smarter communications,” says Philip Vanhoutte, SVP and EMEA Managing Director, Plantronics. “Globalization of the UC Toolkit puts information, insights, and valuable tools directly into the hands of IT departments, ensuring they’re able to easily choose the very best UC audio device to suit their employee’s needs, accelerate user adoption, and meet their overall business requirements. Together with our partnership with FutureCom businesses will be able to successfully implement UC and enjoy the benefits that go with it.”

Plantronics rounds off its comprehensive UC product portfolio with a UC version of its Calisto® 800 Series, a multi-device SmartSpeaker phone, which unifies the mobile phone, landline and PC-based softphones, as well as a SmartSwitch solution: the MDA200™ headset communications hub - the first and only solution that enables one USB headset to work across multiple devices.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

The Calisto 800 Series UC version is available now. For pricing please click here. The MDA200 is available now and has an RRP of £89/€99. Plantronics InstantMeeting Enterprise Edition will be available Autumn 2011.  Meanwhile, the mobile version of InstantMeeting, including a demo version is available now at http://instantmeeting.plantronics.com/downloads.php. The trial version provides 20 free initiations to conference calls. For a demo of how the application works, please visit http://www.plantronics.com/instantmeeting

IFA, Berlin, Germany – 2nd September 2011 – Plantronics (NYSE: PLT) today extended its family of Bluetooth® products with the launch of the Plantronics M1100™ Bluetooth® headset. Designed for the busy mobile professional and social networker, the M1100 enables users to lead a smarter lifestyle by letting them simply communicate on the move, regardless of their device or location. The M1100’s sophisticated voice recognition allows users to connect to the new cloud-based voice service Plantronics Vocalyst™. This is the first and only headset-integrated voice service on the market that is available in a range of languages, which offers an unbeatable hands-free user experience, letting users stay connected and be productive no matter where they are.

“In today’s online world, we want to be connected wherever we are. Whether it’s to reply to an email or post an update on Facebook, we require solutions that simplify this ability to multi-task, wherever we are and at anytime of the day” said Stuart Bradshaw, Plantronics EMEA Head of Consumer Marketing “By including multi-lingual voice recognition in the M1100 and then adding the Vocalyst voice-and-text service, users are able to switch between calls, music and productivity apps such as SMS and emails simply by using the power of their voice.”

SIMPLY SMARTER COMMUNICATIONS™
VOCALYST™ - ONLINE VOICE SERVICE
The M1100 is the first headset to integrate Plantronics Vocalyst. Simply by pressing the dedicated voice button to “Call Vocalyst”, users can:
- Send and listen to emails and text messages*
- Record and listen to reminders,
- Post audio messages to Twitter and Facebook and listen to their streams,
- Update Evernote® to easily capture moments and ideas with their voice,
- Listen to their calendar and add appointments**
- Listen to the latest local news, finance, sports and weather reports.

The Plantronics Vocalyst service is free for a full year (value - £24.99 / €24.99) for Plantronics’ M1100 customers and is available in UK English, French, German and Spanish. Compatible with any phone, users can choose their language, country and activate Vocalyst with a few simple steps at www.plantronics.com/myheadset.

Android™ and BlackBerry® smartphone users can also download the Plantronics Vocalyst application at their respective app stores. The apps provide hands-free listening to text messages and custom configurations for added convenience, such as an auto-responder for incoming text messages (“I’m currently driving and will return your message shortly.”)

SIMPLY SMARTER COMMUNICATIONS™
SMART VOICE COMMANDS & ALERTS
The Plantronics M1100 features convenient voice commands and extensive voice alerts, users can answer or ignore an incoming call by simply saying, “Answer” or “Ignore”, call out by using “Redial” and asking “Am I connected?” to see which devices are ready for use. The Plantronics M1100 also includes whispered voice alerts for low battery, lost connection, remaining talk time and more.  More product details here.

PRICING & AVAILABILITY
The Plantronics M1100 has a retail price of €79.99 / £69.99 and is available now from all Plantronics retailers.  For more information, please visit: www.plantronics.com.

* Sends email and SMS as audio files. To send as text (voice to text service) need to upgrade to Vocalyst Pro version (currently only available in English, French and Spanish). Vocalyst Pro is €3.50 pcm.

** Only available with Vocalyst Pro version.

London - June 22nd, 2011 - Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) is the first headset company to be certified for TCO Certified Headsets 2. The new certification, launched today, is awarded to headsets that are designed for maximum performance, usability and have minimal environmental impact. It builds on the foundations of the existing TCO’07 certification programme with emphasis on sustainability, environmental compliance and corporate social responsibility. Headsets that are TCO Certified are third party tested for low emissions, superior sound quality and high durability.

The first headset to receive the new TCO certification is Plantronics Savi® 740, the lightest DECT^TM headset on the market, allowing the office professional to manage calls coming in from a PC, desk phone, or mobile phone; seamlessly switching between all three as required. It provides the user with up to 120 metres roaming range, and the three headset wearing styles: over the ear, over the head, and behind the neck give users a variety of options for maximum long-term comfort and flexibility.

Plantronics was the first headset company to achieve the initial TCO certification - TCO’07 - in March 2007 and currently over 100 Plantronics headsets carry the TCO ‘07 label - this is twice as many as any other headset manufacturer. Now all new Plantronics headsets, launched earlier this month, including those in the Savi 700 Series, Savi 400 Series, CS500^TM Series as well as the Blackwire® 435 are currently undergoing assessment for the new TCO Certified Headsets 2 and within the next year all of Plantronics products will undergo the necessary tests to comply with the latest requirements.

Philip Vanhoutte, SVP and EMEA Managing Director of Plantronics, comments “We are delighted and very proud to have been awarded the new latest TCO certification, this endorsement is a true independent testament to our drive to design and manufacturer products of the highest quality.”

Sören Enholm, CEO at TCO Development, says “To achieve the new TCO Certified Headsets 2 companies need to demonstrate a commitment to sustainable practices across the business as a whole alongside fulfilling our environmental and ergonomic requirements for the products themselves. Plantronics shows a dedicated commitment to maintaining environmentally responsible processes and succeeds in developing products that are both ergonomically, acoustically and environmentally sound.”

Availability

Plantronics Savi 700 series is priced from £261 to £289 ex VAT, depending on headset wearing style and is available from June 2011 through Plantronics authorised retailers. For more information about all the new headset systems, the various configurations available to customers, and pricing, please click here

# # #

PRESS CONTACT

Plantronics

Rowland Harding
Account Manager
Email: rharding@golinharris.com
Tel: +44 (0)20 7067 0476

TCO Development

Birgitta Halvarsson
Director Communications
Tel direct: +46 (0)8 782 9118
Mobile: +46 (0)70 377 56 03
Email: Birgitta.Halvarsson@tcodevelopment.com

For images, please go to http://connectedpr.com/plantronics/plantronics-media-library/

About Plantronics - Simply Smarter Communications™

Plantronics is a global leader in audio communications for businesses and consumers. We have pioneered new trends in audio technology for 50 years, creating innovative products that allow people to simply communicate. From unified communication solutions to Bluetooth® headsets, we deliver uncompromising quality, an ideal experience, and extraordinary service. Plantronics is used by every company in the Fortune 100, as well as emergency dispatch, air traffic control and the New York Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit www.plantronics.com.

About TCO Development

TCO Development is the company behind TCO Certified - the worldwide-recognized usability and eco label for ICT products.  TCO Certified is a third party certification for high performance ICT products that are also designed for minimal environmental impact. The TCO certification program covers computers, displays, projectors and phone headsets. Energy efficiency, reduction of hazardous substances, CSR and usability are key elements of all TCO Certified products. Since 1992, the TCO certification has made it easy to choose technology designed for both usability and the environment. TCO Development is owned by TCO (The Swedish Confederation for Professional Employees) and headquartered in Stockholm Sweden.
www.tcodevelopment.com. Blog: www.greenITedge.com

London, UK – 7th June 2011 – Plantronics (NYSE: PLT) today announced an expanded portfolio of simply smarter communications solutions designed to support today’s new ways of working and flexible working environments. The new offerings – the Savi® 700 series, Savi 440, Blackwire® 435, and CS500™ series – deliver intelligent technology with elegant design for office-based business professionals who interact with a mobile phone, softphone, and a desk phone, or need to switch between all three.

Delivering a host of benefits to the office professional by connecting to multiple devices and allowing workers to multi-task throughout the course of a phone call, this enables fluid communications, actions and increasing productivity. The intelligent wireless capabilities mean users can move away from their desks and around the office, without missing any calls. The new products create a more comfortable and healthy working environment as awkward and unnatural postures, often experienced whilst cradling a telephone handset between neck and shoulder, are eliminated.  The sleek and discreet wearing styles give a professional image to colleagues and clients, whether meetings are in-person or via webcam. Additionally, IT departments now have the ability to procure one device and achieve forward compatibility, ensuring increased efficiency and cost savings over time.

“In today’s business environment, work is not just a place; people are mobile both in and outside the office,” comments Richard Rogers, Plantronics’ Head of EMEA B2B Marketing. “The products we’re announcing today give mobile workers the same freedom, flexibility, and wearability that users of our leading Bluetooth® devices have enjoyed for years, with the added bonus that they integrate with the industry’s most popular Unified Communications platforms, enabling even stronger productivity gains.”

In addition, Plantronics announced the latest release of its popular UC Toolkit – a set of online assets that help IT departments plan, adopt, deploy, and advance Unified Communications in their enterprises. The UC Toolkit is available for Avaya®, Cisco®, Microsoft®, and IBM® Unified Communications platforms.

PLANTRONICS’ NEW PRODUCT OFFERINGS

SAVI 700 SERIES
The Savi 700 series is a headset system that allows the office professional to manage calls coming in from a PC, desk phone, or mobile phone; seamlessly switching between all three as required. It features the lightest wireless DECT™ headset on the market, provides the user with a generous 120 metres roaming range, and auto-answers when the headset is picked up from the cradle. A hot swappable battery allows unlimited talk time, the noise-cancelling microphone ensures crisp communication and three headset wearing styles: over the ear, over the head, and behind the neck give users have a variety of options.

SAVI 440
The Savi 440 is a USB wireless headset system that can manage PC calls up to 120 metres away. Mirroring the Savi 700 series, the Savi 440 also features the market’s lightest wireless DECT headset, and an included dongle allows for call connectivity through a PC anywhere there’s an Internet connection. Additionally, a hot swappable battery gives users unlimited talk time capability.

BLACKWIRE 435
The Blackwire 435 is a USB corded headset featuring a sleek and portable design that makes it extremely discreet and web-cam friendly. It also easily converts from a mono to stereo wearing-style for maximum flexibility and convenience and can be worn either over the ear or behind the neck.

CS500 SERIES
The CS500 is a wireless headset system for desktop telephones. Featuring an updated design and the lightest wireless DECT headset on the market, the CS500 system allows users to roam and talk up to 120 metres away from the base unit; convertible wearing styles ensure optimal comfort.

THE UC TOOLKIT
This online resource of best practices documentation houses FAQs, whitepapers, training materials, survey templates, wireless assessments, and more, making it easy for IT managers to test their UC assumptions. The UC Toolkit can be accessed at www.plantronics.com/UCToolkit.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

- Savi 700 series is priced from £261 to £289 ex VAT, depending on headset wearing style and is available in June 2011.
- Savi 440 is £199 ex VAT and available in May 2011.
- Blackwire 435 is £79 ex VAT and available in July 2011.
- CS500 series is available from September 2011. Pricing details will be announced closer to the general availability of the product.

Swindon, UK – 7th June 2011 – Plantronics (NYSE: PLT) today celebrates its 50th anniversary with the official opening of its new Simply Smarter offices in Swindon, UK. Plantronics’ CEO, Ken Kannappan and Philip Vanhoutte, SVP and EMEA Managing Director will host a live web event announcing Plantronics’ vision for successful flexible working, sharing how innovation can drive business efficiency. They will unveil a host of products designed to address new work styles and simplify workplace communications.

THE NEW VISION: SIMPLY SMARTER OFFICE

NEW WORK ZONES – FIND YOUR SPACE
Plantronics’ redesign of its current UK facilities was born out of an aspiration to create a more effective working environment, in which staff were more comfortable and more productive. Together with strategic guidance from independent workplace effectiveness strategists Leesman, Plantronics has developed an innovative office environment with a series of different working spaces designed to support a range of identified working styles and activities.

“The Leesman Index survey was the starting point and enabled Plantronics to get a detailed insight and analysis of its employees’ satisfaction and engagement with the workplace” says Tim Oldman, CEO of Leesman, “This was the foundation on which Plantronics has designed and created an effective and innovative workspace that responds to employees’ needs and supports their productivity.”

“Our new office design allows employees to work where and when they are most productive, cost-effective and environmentally respectful” says Philip Vanhoutte, SVP and EMEA Managing Director, Plantronics “We have divided our workspace into four zones: Concentrate for focused, individual work, Collaborate, for stimulating group sessions, Contemplate, for recharging batteries and reenergizing and Communicate, for collaborating with others either virtually or face-to-face.”

SIMPLY SMARTER COMMUNICATIONS™

SMARTER WORKING TOOLS
The new products include the Savi® 740, Plantronics’ first headset that connects to a deskphone, mobile phone and computer to streamline communications.  Also new with the Savi 740 is a more versatile streamlined style – office-based business professionals can wear this headset over the head with a headband, using the ear loop, or behind the head with a neckband which provides webcam friendly options for video conference calls.

“The traditional office environment is evolving,” says Philip Vanhoutte, SVP and EMEA Managing Director, Plantronics “Office-based business professionals need the right tools to suit their needs and increase productivity, foster innovation and improve collaboration. We believe that the products we are announcing today give people the freedom to work more effectively and efficiently, letting them simply communicate regardless of their location or device.”

Plantronics products deliver intelligent integration with the leading unified communications platforms from Avaya®, Cisco®, IBM® and Microsoft®, and simplifying deployments for both IT departments and end users alike.

SIMPLY SMARTER COMMUNICATIONS™

NEW SKILLS FOR A NEW WAY OF WORKING
Plantronics has supported these workplace changes, with its own internal interactive e-Learning programme, created in conjunction with leading virtual workplace consultancy and training provider E-Work.com. The training which will ensure that all employees are equipped with the right knowledge, tools, resources and confidence to work and collaborate successfully from wherever may be.

The live web event will take place at 11:00 a.m. BST* on Tuesday 7th June. Ken Kannappan and Philip Vanhoutte will also be joined by Tim Oldman and Gita Katbamna, Director of Workplace Change at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), who will share insight into the benefits of workplace change and the effectiveness of it in creating a more agile, dynamic and responsive workforce with improved performance.

The Gadget Show Live, UK – 12th April 2011 – Plantronics Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today expanded its award-winning family of wireless and corded GameCom® headsets for the Xbox 360® and PlayStation® 3. Designed to enhance gaming experiences through rich, vibrant audio, the new line-up is headlined by the GameCom X95 Wireless Stereo headset and GameCom X40 Stereo headset for Xbox 360 users and the GameCom P90 Bluetooth headset for the PlayStation 3.

WIRELESS FREEDOM FOR XBOX 360 GAMING
The Plantronics GameCom X95 is a wireless gaming headset that delivers full stereo sound from 40mm speakers. With a closed-ear design and intuitive on-ear controls for changing volume and audio levels, users can immerse themselves in games, music and movies without disturbing others. The GameCom X95 has a sleek and modern design with a mic that easily tucks into the headband when not in use. Perfect for long gaming sessions, the GameCom X95 can be used for more than 20 hours before replacing the included AAA batteries.

The new Plantronics GameCom X40 is a corded headset that features the same 40mm speakers as the GameCom X95 for exceptional stereo sound. The GameCom X40 eliminates cumbersome in-line controls by placing separate volume and audio control buttons on the earpods. The headset is extremely lightweight and features specially designed cushioned earpods and headband that redistribute pressure for a great fit.

Plantronics also introduced the GameCom X30 and GameCom X10 corded headsets for chat on the Xbox 360.

EASY, WIRELESS CHAT FOR THE PLAYSTATION 3
The perfect PlayStation 3 companion, the new GameCom P90 Bluetooth headset enables users to talk to friends wirelessly during gaming sessions. The GameCom P90 can also connect to a mobile phone, so it can be used for game chats as well as mobile calls while enjoying the same, crystal-clear audio. The GameCom P90 features QuickPair technology for easy pairing to the PlayStation 3, and includes dedicated mute volume and on/off buttons for convenience.

The Plantronics GameCom has a slim earloop and contoured eartip for a comfortable, secure fit. It includes a USB charging cable that connects to the PlayStation 3 system.
“We engineered the new GameCom products to give console gamers what value most in a great headset: outstanding audio performance, plug-and-play simplicity and comfortable designs,” said Stuart Bradshaw, Plantronics EMEA Head of Consumer Marketing  “The mix of wireless stereo, Bluetooth and corded products also gives consumers more choices, so they can find a solution that meets their individual preference and style.”

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
The new Plantronics Xbox and PS3 GameCom products are available for pre-order today from amazon.co.uk and play.com and will be available in major nationwide retail stores across EMEA from early May onwards.

MSRP is as follows:
• GameCom X95 £79.99/€99.99
• GameCom X40 £49.99/€59.99
• GameCom X30 £19.99/€24.99
• GameCom X10 £14.99/€19.99
• GameCom P90 £24.99/€29.99

Visitors to The Gadget Show Live 2011 (12th – 17th April) can also benefit from a special show-only discount on the new GameCom headset range. For more details, please visit Plantronics at Stand GZ263 in the Game Zone (Hall 8 ) at The Gadget Show Live. Visitors can also purchase headsets from Plantronics GameCom PC range at discounted prices on Nuance’s Stand P21 in the Comms Zone.

For more information about the new GameCom products, please visit
http://www.plantronics.com/uk/category/gamer/.
Visit us at  http://facebook.com/plantronicsgamecom and follow us at http://www.twitter.com/pltgamecom

“The business world has evolved. Teams are more dispersed - working anywhere and at all times of the day. This evolution demands a new set of communication tools, platforms and devices to simplify communication” said Stuart Bradshaw, Plantronics EMEA Head of User Segment Marketing “Mobile professionals need to be able to deliver the same level of service and high quality of work as those in an office, no matter the time or location. Plantronics offers a complete solution including the right products, software, skills and support to enable professionals to simply communicate.”

SIMPLY SMARTER COMMUNICATIONS™
SMART PRESENCE
Plantronics’ intelligent Voyager PRO UC SmartSet makes it easier for mobile professionals to unify voice communications across softphone clients such as Skype® and Microsoft® Lync™ with their smartphones. Currently, online voice presence can be confusing and ambiguous with inconsistent and complex status setting choices. The Voyager PRO UC SmartSet simplifies this by automatically updating the user’s presence – depending on whether the headset is being worn or not - across all soft and mobile phones. Displaying an accurate status and knowing exactly when your colleagues or customers are available and willing to engage, makes for an easier and smarter way of working.

SIMPLY SMARTER COMMUNICATIONS™
SMART SENSOR
Making and receiving calls is made simpler with the new Smart Sensor technology in the headset. Users can answer incoming calls simply by putting the headset on their ear  – no buttons to press, applications to open or voice commands required. It will also cleverly route calls to the headset if you’re wearing it and to the handset if you’re not and has a locking call button when it is not worn to eliminate accidental calling.  It also has enhanced voice alerts announce remaining talk time, connection status, battery-level and mute.

SIMPLY SMARTER COMMUNICATIONS™
SMART SPEECH
Without face-to-face interaction, it is even more important for mobile professionals to make an impact with their voice. When conducting business over the phone, body language is replaced by tone of voice, which accounts for 87% of communication, with the actual words and content used only accounting for a mere 13% of total effectiveness. Therefore tone of voice, together with pace, pause, power and pitch can affect end results and by tuning these, professionals can be more influential and effective during phone conversations. Plantronics’ ‘Speech Impact Academy’ ensures that users maximise the potential of their voices to clearly get their message across.

INDUSTRY LEADING AUDIO QUALITY
The Plantronics Voyager PRO UC headset delivers world-class noise-cancellation with AudioIQ2, its award-winning digital signal processing technology, and is enhanced by a unique adjustable dual-microphone boom. The SmartSet has three layers of WindSmart® technology to minimize wind distortion and delivers unmatched inbound audio quality to ensure every word is heard on both sides of a conversation.

BROAD COMPATIBILITY
Plantronics Voyager PRO UC offers compatibility with leading communication clients from Avaya®, Cisco®, IBM® and Skype® and is available in a version Optimized for Microsoft Lync and Office Communicator.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
The Plantronics Voyager PRO UC, including the new mini-USB Bluetooth adapter for maximum portability and software that enables interaction between the PC and mobile phone has an MSRP of £119 / €149 ex. VAT and is available across EMEA starting today. Please visit http://www.plantronics.com/uk/product/voyager-pro-uc to learn more.

Statistics show that home working is increasing and currently more than a quarter of employees across Europe spend time working away from the office, including at home*. This trend is set to increase, and reinforced by IDC’s estimate that almost 35% of the working population will be mobile workers, including working from home, within the next two years*. Home workers need tools that are straightforward to install, easy-to-use and offer top-quality phone and networking capabilities. They need to simplify call management across multiple devices and keep their colleagues informed of their availability so they can be reached easily. Most of all they need ergonomically designed devices that work with them.

“Today’s office has moved beyond the traditional cubicle environment” said Stuart Bradshaw, Plantronics EMEA Head of User Segment Marketing “Teams are more dispersed and there is a need for tools that simplify collaboration and unite professionals’ most critical communication platforms – the mobile phone, the PC and landline.”

SIMPLY SMARTER COMMUNICATIONS™
SMART SPEAKER
Home-based professionals need to be able to communicate quickly, simply and clearly with customers and colleagues. Plantronics’ Calisto SmartSpeaker simplifies communications by connecting and seamlessly switching between calls from the PC, mobile and home phone. Because their office is also their home, home-based professionals don’t want bulky equipment or cabling that clutter their personal space. They also want to take advantage of the fact that they are telephone-based and can have both hands free to engage in other tasks while on the phone. Long hours on the phone mean that comfort and posture are also critical essentials.

SIMPLY SMARTER COMMUNICATIONS™
SMART CONFERENCING CALLING
With teams becoming more dispersed, audio conference calls are taking the place of face-to-face meetings. The Calisto SmartSpeaker facilitates long hours spent on the phone with the wireless lapel microphone which gives users the comfort and flexibility to move around freely whilst on a conference call, with no need to be sat fixed next to the speaker. Projecting a professional image on a call is essential to business success and superior audio quality and clarity is essential to this. The Calisto SmartSpeaker offers uncompromising audio quality with its full duplex wideband audio support together with advanced noise cancellation technology, to guarantee in-meeting intelligibility. It also has an easy mute button to avoid potentially embarrassing unprofessional background noise or interruptions, which can be inevitable when the office is also the home.

SIMPLY SMARTER COMMUNICATIONS™
SMART PRESENCE
Without an in-person presence in the office, it is even more important for professionals working from home to be permanently visible to their business and colleagues. The Calisto SmartSpeaker coordinates the user’s status across landline, mobile phone and PC softphone, automatically updating Skype or Microsoft Lync presence so colleagues have an accurate indication of their availability.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

The PA50™ wireless Bluetooth lapel microphone and can be purchased for either the Calisto 820 or 830 as an accessory.  The Calisto 800 Series is Optimised for Microsoft Office Communicator and Lync and is available in EMEA in March through authorised Plantronics resellers. UC standard versions of the Calisto 825, 820 and 830 that will support a variety of leading softphones including those from Avaya®, Cisco®, IBM® and Skype® will be available Summer 2011.

Please visit http://www.plantronics.com/uk/product/calisto-800 to learn more.

WorkSnug connects mobile workers to the nearest and best places to work by showing users the closest WiFi hotspots and cafe workspaces. WorkSnug currently has tens of thousands of workspace locations for mobile workers to choose from and is today doubling this figure through the partnership with Skype. In addition to enjoying a wider choice of places to connect to the internet, WorkSnug users will also be able to find Skype Access locations using WorkSnug’s innovative Augmented Reality tool or by logging onto www.worksnug.com. Skype Access is a product that lets Skype users quickly and easily connect to the internet and pay-as-you-go by using their Skype Credit as payment.

Since February 2010, WorkSnug has more than doubled its coverage and now offers an excellent service in more than twenty of the world’s largest cities, including London, Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin, Brussels, Paris, New York, San Francisco and Amsterdam and is present in almost every world city*.

“Skype prides itself on being easy, affordable and accessible to those who wish to get connected, wherever they may be,” says Shadi Mahassel, product manager for Skype Access. “Worksnug’s new mobile app makes it simple for Skype users to find the closest Skype Access hotspot to quickly get online for voice and video calls, instant messaging or sending important emails and documents.”

WorkSnug founder Richard Leyland added, “It’s the whole package. Now mobile workers will have more choice than ever before to find the right WiFi enabled workspace, be able to easily connect to the internet, and have an enjoyable communication experience.”

WorkSnug user feedback since launch has revealed that ambient noise is the largest single barrier to productive and relaxing work in public spaces such as cafes and public transport hubs, with the
Plantronics Decibel Meter app showing the average decibel reading to be 67dB - considerably higher than the recommended maximum noise level in a workplace* for optimum concentration.

“As audio specialists and leading experts in the headset market, we at Plantronics understand the acoustic challenges faced by mobile workers and the importance of a quality sound environment,” said Stuart Bradshaw, Plantronics EMEA Head of User Segment Marketing “Plantronics’ portable and Skype-certified headsets are ideal for mobile workers who need to concentrate in a noisy environment. The .Audio 646 and .Audio 655 both feature noise-cancelling microphones and advanced DSP technology that work together to ensure background noise is eliminated and you can be heard clearly”.

Skype is offering customers 20% off the standard price of Plantronics’ Skype-certified .Audio 655 when purchased through the Skype Shop. For more information go to http://www.skype.com/go/plx

WorkSnug features the addition of the Plantronics VoIP Checker, which assesses public WiFi networks against a series of measures, including jitter, latency and download speed which predict VoIP call performance. Now users can make an informed decision on whether to use their softphone to make a call or whether to use their mobile.

Check out WorkSnug whilst you’re in Barcelona to uncover several hundred places to connect, including many around the congress venue, making this the perfect app for MWC delegates and nomadic workers alike. WorkSnug features ratings of WiFi, noise levels, power provision and even the quality of the coffee. Reviews can be accessed at worksnug.com or by downloading WorkSnug from the iTunes store.

WorkSnug is now also available for users of the Blackberry in addition to the iPhone and iPod Touch.

“Unified communications is bringing together different communications modalities and devices. We will move between our PCs, mobile phones, and deskphones seamlessly,” said Bob Hafner, managing vice president of Mobile and Client Computing, Gartner. “Just as the introduction of email revolutionised enterprise communication 40 years ago, unified communications is revolutionising communications and collaboration today and unifying the PC, mobile phone, and deskphone. Today, no one would be expected to work for a company without email and seven to ten years from now business professionals won’t want to work for a company without unified communications.”

SIMPLY SMARTER COMMUNICATIONS™
SENSORS
Plantronics’ smart sensor technology in the Voyager PRO UC headset transforms the end-user experience for mobile phone and PC communications.
• Auto Answer: Easily answer mobile phone and PC calls simply by placing the headset on your ear – no buttons to press, applications to open or voice commands required.
• Smart Call Transfer: With the smart sensor technology, the headset now knows when it is being worn and routes the call appropriately: when a call comes in and the headset is not easy to access, the audio is automatically routed to the phone so there is no fumbling with the phone and missing calls. Calls are automatically transferred to the headset when it is put on.
• Auto Call Button Lock: The Voyager PRO UC eliminates accidental dialling by locking the call button when the headset is not being worn.
• Auto Pause for Streaming Media: The Voyager PRO UC supports listening to streaming media, including music, podcasts and turn-by-turn navigation, as well as recorded webinars via A2DP technology. The smart sensor technology automatically pauses streamed media from mobile phones and PCs when the headset is taken off and automatically resumes the stream when the headset is put back on.

SIMPLY SMARTER COMMUNICATIONS™
SOFTWARE
Plantronics has developed intelligent software that further integrates the mobile and PC communications experience through the new Voyager PRO UC. The software is customisable, so users can easily set personal preferences for their PC-based communications.
• Smart Presence: Voyager PRO UC brings a new level of intelligence across PC and mobile phone communications by integrating with PC softphone clients. For example, when you’re on a mobile phone conversation, Voyager PRO UC automatically informs applications such as Skype® or Microsoft® Lync™, you are busy and changes your presence status to busy, so contacts know to not interrupt you. Similarly, if you are on a Skype call, Voyager PRO UC updates your status on Microsoft Lync.
• Escalate IM to Voice: Voyager PRO UC enables you to effortlessly switch from an instant message chat to a voice conversation by simply placing the headset on your ear.

“For years, mobile calling and computer-based communication services like Skype or Microsoft Lync have existed in silos,” said Renee Niemi, senior vice president of Communications Solutions at Plantronics.  “The Plantronics Voyager Pro UC unifies and simplifies communications for today’s connected and increasingly distributed workforce by enabling accurate availability information and delivering intuitive features like smart call transfer.  For 50 years, Plantronics has revolutionised the way we communicate and today’s announcement represents our longstanding commitment to innovation and making smarter communications a reality.”

The Plantronics Voyager PRO UC includes a new ultra-portable mini-USB Bluetooth® adaptor which provides wideband audio for PC conversations and software that enables interaction between the PC and the mobile phone.

INDUSTRY LEADING AUDIO QUALITY
The Plantronics Voyager PRO UC headset delivers world-class noise-cancellation with AudioIQ2 technology, its award-winning digital signal processing technology is enhanced by a unique adjustable dual-microphone boom. Plantronics Voyager PRO features three layers of WindSmart® technology to minimise wind distortion.

Voyager PRO also delivers unmatched inbound audio quality to ensure every word is heard on both sides of a conversation. It features a custom speaker that delivers full-spectrum audio so conversations are richer and more vibrant. The adaptive 20-band equaliser delivers distortion-free audio and works with AudioIQ2 technology to automatically adjust sound to comfortable levels based on the noise level around you to ensure maximum audibility.

Voyager PRO UC delivers wideband audio during PC-based conversations for heightened speech clarity for fuller, richer conversations.

BROAD COMPATIBILITY
Plantronics Voyager PRO UC offers compatibility with leading communication clients from Avaya®, Cisco®, IBM® and Skype® and is available in a version Optimised for Microsoft Lync and Office Communicator.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
The Plantronics Voyager PRO UC, including the new mini-USB Bluetooth adapter for maximum portability and software that enables interaction between the PC and mobile phone has an MSRP of £119 / €149 ex. VAT and is available across EMEA starting today.

Please visit www.plantronics.com/voyagerprouc to learn more.

SAFE HARBOR
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements relating to Unified Communications (“UC”) and our Voyager Pro UC products, including timing of product availability. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such statements.  Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated are: (i) UC solutions may not be adopted with the breadth and speed in the marketplace that we currently anticipate; (ii) manufacturing or other production delays and (iii) our plans are dependent upon adoption of our UC solution by major platform providers such as Microsoft, Cisco, Avaya, Alcatel, and IBM, and we have a limited ability to influence such providers with respect to the functionality of their platforms, their rate of deployment, and their willingness to integrate their platforms with our solutions.  For more information concerning these and other possible risks, please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 1, 2010, quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q, particularly the sections entitled “Risk Factors,” “Certain Forward-Looking Information” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as recent press releases.   Plantronics undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date they were made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

ABOUT PLANTRONICS – SIMPLY SMARTER COMMUNICATIONS™
Plantronics is a global leader in audio communications for businesses and consumers. We have pioneered new trends in audio technology for 50 years, creating innovative products that allow people to simply communicate. From unified communication solutions to Bluetooth headsets, we deliver uncompromising quality, an ideal experience, and extraordinary service. Plantronics is used by every company in the Fortune 100, as well as 911 dispatch, air traffic control and the New York Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit www.plantronics.com or call (800) 544-4660.

London, UK – 26th January 2011 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today announced the Calisto® 800 Series, the first speakerphones in its unified communications product portfolio that combine multi-device hands-free connectivity with intuitive visual call management. Optimised for use with Microsoft® Office Communicator and Lync™, these products were designed for private and home office workers who depend on multiple communication devices to collaborate effectively. The Calisto 800 Series includes the Calisto 825, which manages calls between a PC and a mobile phone.  The Calisto 825 also features a unique wireless microphone that provides unparalleled speakerphone audio quality and freedom of movement.

The Calisto 825 simplifies PC and mobile phone call management through its intuitive visual display.  Device setup is effortless and fast – in less than five minutes users are up and running and able to switch between mobile and PC calls, dial, and mute across devices at the touch of a button.  Professionals are afforded the choice to move around freely while on a conference call using the wireless lapel microphone or connect a Bluetooth® or corded headset to the speakerphone when privacy is desired.  Additionally, the unit features unmatched audio quality and premium sound through echo and advanced noise cancellation technology.

“Extensive research exploring the collaboration habits of today’s dispersed workforce went into the development of the Calisto 800 series,” said Bill Loewenthal, vice president of unified communications at Plantronics. “Today’s office has moved beyond the cubicle environment. Whether work is conducted from a private or a home office, people want devices that simplify hands-free communication. The Calisto 800 Series simply unites modern professionals’ most critical communication platforms.”

SIMPLY SMARTER COMMUNICATIONS™
CALISTO 800 SERIES
The Calisto 800 series of unified communications products provide premium sound and unparalleled audio quality thanks to full duplex wideband audio and advanced noise cancellation.  In addition to the Calisto 825, the portfolio includes the Calisto 820 and the Calisto 830. The Calisto 800 series also offers a range of hands-free options including wireless connectivity with Bluetooth headsets or corded connectivity with 3.5mm headsets/headphones when privacy is desired.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
• The Calisto 825 is a two-way speakerphone for the PC and mobile phone. It includes the PA50™ wireless lapel microphone, and charging base.  It has an MSRP of £219 / €249 ex. VAT.
• The Calisto 820 is a two-way speakerphone for the PC and mobile phone. It has an MSRP of £159 / €179 ex. VAT.
• The Calisto 830 is a three-way speakerphone for PC, mobile phone and analogue landlines. It includes a USB cable, analogue/landline port, RJ11 cable and AC adapter and has an MSRP of £179 / €199 ex. VAT.
• The PA50 is a wireless Bluetooth lapel microphone and can be purchased for either the Calisto 820 or 830 as an accessory.  It comes with a charging base and has an MSRP of £69 / €79 ex. VAT.

The Calisto 800 Series is Optimised for Microsoft Office Communicator and Lync and is available in EMEA in March through authorised Plantronics resellers. UC standard versions of the Calisto 825, 820 and 830 that will support a variety of leading softphones including those from Avaya®, Cisco®, IBM® and Skype® will be available in Summer 2011.

Please visit www.plantronics.com/calisto to learn more.

SAFE HARBOR
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements relating to Unified Communications (“UC”) and our Calisto 800 series products, including timing of product availability. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such statements.  Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated are: (i) UC solutions may not be adopted with the breadth and speed in the marketplace that we currently anticipate; (ii) manufacturing or other production delays (iii) our plans are dependent upon adoption of our UC solution by major platform providers such as Microsoft, Cisco, Avaya, Alcatel, and IBM, and we have a limited ability to influence such providers with respect to the functionality of their platforms, their rate of deployment, and their willingness to integrate their platforms with our solutions.  For more information concerning these and other possible risks, please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 1, 2010, quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q, particularly the sections entitled “Risk Factors,” “Certain Forward-Looking Information” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as recent press releases.   Plantronics undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date they were made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

ABOUT PLANTRONICS – SIMPLY SMARTER COMMUNICATIONS™
Plantronics is a global leader in audio communications for businesses and consumers. We have pioneered new trends in audio technology for 50 years, creating innovative products that allow people to simply communicate. From unified communication solutions to Bluetooth headsets, we deliver uncompromising quality, an ideal experience, and extraordinary service. Plantronics is used by every company in the Fortune 100, as well as 911 dispatch, air traffic control and the New York Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit www.plantronics.com or call (800) 544-4660.

Calisto, PA50, Plantronics, Simply Smarter Communications are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

London, UK – 26th January 2011 – Plantronics (NYSE: PLT) today announced new additions to its Unified Communications portfolio that span communication devices, software, and services. Plantronics is delivering a vision of smarter, more intuitive communications and pioneering the next generation of mobile communications devices and technologies to help people stay connected regardless of location or device. Plantronics celebrates its 50 year milestone with a look to the future by offering the new Plantronics UC Toolkitthe industry’s first complete set of tools, training and documentation for expanding the growth of unified communications solutions and two new flagship products for the UC market, Voyager™ PRO UC and Calisto® 825, also announced today.

The company’s celebration will be held at an event filled with customers, partners, industry influencers and employees at company headquarters in Santa Cruz, Calif. The guest of honour is world famous astronaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin who was wearing a Plantronics headset when he managed the Apollo mission that heralded the first moonwalk nearly 42 years ago. Aldrin will be joined on stage with Plantronics CEO Ken Kannappan to honour the heritage of the industry pioneer and celebrate continued innovation. The event will be streamed live online and replays can be seen here: http://www.plantronics.com/launch/

“This is a pivotal time in Plantronics history as we celebrate the half century mark and embark upon an exciting time of innovation and industry leadership. It’s an ideal time to introduce the world to our vision of Simply Smarter Communications™,” said Ken Kannappan, president and chief executive officer at Plantronics.  “We want to end the pain-points that people experience when trying to stay connected at work or home. We think everyone – from consumers to mobile professionals to the business world– should be able to simply communicate regardless of device or location. We want to deliver innovative products with uncompromising quality, an ideal experience and extraordinary service so everyone can simply communicate.”

Simply smarter communications™

Behind the vision

The “office” has transformed from four walls, a desk and a computer, to something much more fluid, mobile and familiar. No matter the location – home, airport, coffee shop or café – today’s distributed workforce requires instant access to information and people. People want solutions that save time, so they can conduct their business with more productivity and efficiency. Plantronics is uniquely positioned to understand the needs of this new world and create the “hub” for communications, whether users want to communicate via PC or mobile phones, deskphones or softphones.

Industry supports the vision

Today’s event will be filled with Plantronics executives, customers, partners, industry influencers and employees. Industry leaders Avaya®, Cisco® and Microsoft® will be speaking on the importance of unified communications in the enterprise and how Plantronics and they are working together to offer customers solution to simply communicate.

Plantronics uc toolkit

Available today, the new Plantronics UC Toolkit is a portfolio of IT best practices, guidelines, recommendations, and training tools that encompass the entire lifecycle of a unified communications implementation. The Plantronics UC Toolkit empowers IT organisations so they can have the best UC audio device experience and adoption rates – and ultimately optimise their companies UC investment.

“Now, more than ever, enterprises are embracing the move to unified communications, said Bill Loewenthal, vice president of unified communications at Plantronics. “We created the Plantronics UC Toolkit by leveraging best practices learned through helping our customers deploy UC solutions. The only resource of its kind, the UC Toolkit is designed to arm and empower IT professionals with the best information to meet the demands of today’s business world. With the introduction of the Plantronics UC Toolkit, we are extending our legacy of 50 years of innovation to help our customers embrace our vision of Simply Smarter Communications.”

Plantronics Expands Product Portfolio for Unified Communications

The next generation award-winning Voyager PRO UC Bluetooth headset, announced today, revolutionises mobile phone and PC communications through smart sensor technology.  It uses advanced hardware and software that seamlessly eliminate communication complexity by detecting presence, integrating with your PC applications, and dramatically enhancing the headset experience.

Please visit http://www.plantronics.com/voyagerprouc to learn more.

The Calisto 800 Series, also announced today, are the first speakerphones in Plantronics’ unified communications product portfolio that combine multi-device hands-free connectivity with intuitive visual call management. Optimised for use with Microsoft® Office Communicator and Lync™, these products were designed for private and home office workers who depend on multiple communication devices to collaborate effectively. The Calisto 800 Series also includes the Calisto 825, which manages calls between a PC and a mobile phone.  The Calisto 825 features a unique wireless microphone that provides unparalleled speakerphone audio quality and freedom of movement.

Please visit www.plantronics.com to learn more.

Safe Harbor

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements relating to Unified Communications (“UC”) and our Voyager Pro UC and Calisto 800 series. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such statements.  Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated are: (i) UC solutions may not be adopted with the breadth and speed in the marketplace that we currently anticipate and (ii) our plans are dependent upon adoption of our UC solution by major platform providers such as Microsoft, Cisco, Avaya, Alcatel, and IBM, and we have a limited ability to influence such providers with respect to the functionality of their platforms, their rate of deployment, and their willingness to integrate their platforms with our solutions.  For more information concerning these and other possible risks, please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 1, 2010, quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q, particularly the sections entitled “Risk Factors,” “Certain Forward-Looking Information” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as recent press releases.   Plantronics undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date they were made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

About Plantronics – Simply Smarter Communications™

Plantronics is a global leader in audio communications for businesses and consumers. We have pioneered new trends in audio technology for 50 years, creating innovative products that allow people to simply communicate. From unified communication solutions to Bluetooth® headsets, we deliver uncompromising quality, an ideal experience, and extraordinary service. Plantronics is used by every company in the Fortune 100, as well as 911 dispatch, air traffic control and the New York Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit www.plantronics.com or call (800) 544-4660.

Plantronics, Calisto, Simply Smarter Communications and Voyager are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Swindon, UK – 5th January, 2011 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today announced that it is launching two new Savi upgrade campaigns where both existing and new customers can save up to £35 per headset from the latest Savi™ range . Now both business and contact centre users can take advantage of the Savi range which offers customers dual connection to seamlessly integrate desk phone and PC communications for improved business collaboration and increased cost savings.

All customers need to do is trade-in their old models when they purchase at least three Savi headsets. The offer, which will run until 31st March 2011, will enable users to take advantage of the Savi range’s voice clarity and comfortable fit, while at the same time saving 15 per cent on the original price.

Savi for Business

Business users will be able to take advantage of the ‘Upgrade to Savi Campaign’
which allows customers to save up to £35 on Savi Office W0100, W0200, W0300 and W0350 models and up to £25 on the Savi W430.

Trading up to the Plantronics Savi system will allow customers to mix and match calls between their desk phone and PC, without compromising business critical sound quality. The website for business users wishing to find out more information is http://myofficeheadset.com.

Savi for the Contact Centre

Contact centre customers will be able to take advantage of the  ‘Contact Centre Upgrade Campaign’ which allows them to save £35 on Savi Office W0300 and W0350 models.

The increased contact centre demand for first call resolution and the growing use of subject matter experts has led to operators requiring increased freedom to work away from their desks and greater visibility to communicate with colleagues. The Savi’s Unified Communications (UC) wireless headset facilitates the changing working environment of the contact centre.

Richard Kenny, European Manager of Contact Centre products at Plantronics said, “There are no complicated processes or coupons involved in claiming the upgrade. All contact centre and business customers have to do is complete the online form at www.plantronicsbuyback.com, provide proof of purchase and save up to £35. It doesn’t matter what make or model the old headset is – any headset is eligible. The Savi range is the ideal product to help improve customer interaction through its unique acoustic intelligence and increased staff collaboration.”

1 Terms and conditions apply, please see https://plantronicsbuyback.com/Portal/Company.aspx/TermsAndConditions

Swindon, UK – 5th January, 2011 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today announced that contact centre customers can save £35 per headset from the latest Savi™  range . The Savi range offers contact centre customers dual connection to seamlessly integrate desk phone and PC communications for improved business collaboration and increased cost savings.

All customers need to do is trade-in their old models when they purchase at least three Savi WO300 or Savi WO350 headsets. The offer, which will run until 31st March 2011, will enable contact centre users to take advantage of the Savi range’s voice clarity and comfortable fit, while at the same time saving 15 per cent on the original price.

The increased contact centre demand for First Call Resolution and the growing use of subject matter experts has led to operators requiring increased freedom to work away from their desks and greater visibility to communicate with colleagues. The Savi’s Unified Communications (UC) wireless headset facilitates the changing working environment of the contact centre.

“There are no complicated processes or coupons involved in claiming the upgrade. All customers have to do is simply complete the online form www.plantronicsbuyback.com, provide proof of purchase and save £35. And it doesn’t matter what make or model the old headset is – any headset is eligible.”

“The Savi range is the ideal product to help call centres improve customer interaction through its unique acoustic intelligence and increased staff collaboration,” said Richard Kenny, European Manager of Contact Centre products at Plantronics.

“We wanted to make absolutely sure our employees are happy in the spaces we give them. Property and people are our two biggest costs so it is imperative they work to act collectively as our biggest asset and engage productively in their workspace environment we give them” said Philip Vanhoutte, EMEA Managing Director for Plantronics. “The Leesman Index survey has given us a detailed X-ray inside our entire organisation. This is the first time we have had this kind of insight and perspective and we are now embracing the new design challenges it has highlighted.”

Taking three years to conceptually cultivate and six months to build, the Leesman Index represents a direct response to business leaders growing desire to provide an immediate snapshot of their employees satisfaction and engagement with the work settings provided for them. The analysis provides detailed satisfaction data across multiple areas, including concentration, contemplation and interactive collaboration, as well as the physical aspects such as seating, desk facilities, meeting rooms, computer equipment and informal work areas. The analysis looks at the combined effectiveness of all attributes provided to support employee’s sense of satisfaction and productivity.

Plantronics is one of the first companies to undertake the Leesman Index survey. The findings confirm that Plantronics has already put its smarter working philosophy into good practice. A pioneer in flexible working, Plantronics’ employees benefit from this work style choosing to work in a location and at a time in which they are most productive. Over 85% of employees agreed that “the design of my workplace is important to me” and 62% agreed that it enabled them to work productively. But just 51% said their office was a place they were proud to bring visitors to.

“Dispersing teams with remote or flexible working strategies brings new challenges in terms of infrastructure and workspace design” says Tim Oldman, Managing Director at Leesman “Whilst most employees embrace mobile working, they expect a range of other spaces to compensate, that they can seek out to support their varying work. By listening to its employees and implementing more effective workspace environments based on this feedback, Plantronics will improve employee satisfaction.”

A flexible workplace model means the physical workspace becomes even more important. It can often mean a fluctuating workforce presence and challenging acoustic levels. The audit highlighted an employee need for quiet areas for creative thinking, as well as informal areas for collaborative work. From these results, Plantronics is now proactively redesigning its offices to create a new and unique working environment. In a forward-thinking initiative all teams and personnel will be integrated into the same open area, irrespective of rank, department or responsibility, with dedicated private areas for individual needs.

“Plantronics product portfolio is anchored around devices that help our customers work with more agility and more productively, so we simply have to work with our design teams internationally to make our physical settings perform intelligently and effectively at the same level.” said Philip Vanhoutte.

The results will be presented and discussed at the WorkTech10 Amsterdam conference on Wednesday 24th November. For more information, please go to www.plantronics.com and www.leesman.co.uk

London, UK – 17th November 2010 – Plantronics (NYSE: PLT) announced that its award winning portfolio of unified communications products are now optimised for Microsoft® Lync™ 2010 at the Microsoft Lync 2010 launch event in New York.  Plantronics UC audio solutions deliver plug-and-play simplicity, proven compatibility and high-quality audio for Lync voice and video communications, enabling end users to collaborate, anytime and anywhere.

A Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, Plantronics previewed three new products, Calisto® 825, Savi® 730 and Voyager™ PRO UC, that are optimised for Microsoft Lync 2010. The Plantronics product preview conveys a new connected experience that transforms business communications with Lync 2010, a single client experience for IM, voice, and video.  With increases in the use of communication and collaboration tools, Plantronics is delivering smarter solutions for communicating. The Plantronics enterprise product portfolio has a comprehensive range of solutions that accommodate the various work styles, environments and audio needs of today’s professional and helps IT departments rapidly deploy UC solutions and increase end-user adoption.

Connected Anytime, Anywhere
Business and personal lives are merging. People are working from the office, at home, in airports, cafes, and anywhere else work takes them. Microsoft Lync delivers on the vision of a truly integrated communications experience for the distributed workforce by unifying a suite of communication tools that foster open information sharing, increased productivity and better collaboration.

“With Lync, Microsoft Corp. has created a tool for an increasingly distributed workforce that helps users collaborate in new ways and in many environments,” said Bill Loewenthal, vice president of Unified Communications Solutions at Plantronics. “We worked with Microsoft to deliver a portfolio of audio devices designed to increase UC adoption by addressing the unique needs of a variety of end users.”

“Plantronics understands the Microsoft vision of a distributed, yet constantly connected, workforce,” said Kirk Gregerson, senior director of product management, Microsoft Lync.  “Plantronics’ suite of devices optimised for Lync 2010 provides great audio and simplicity, ensuring end-users maximize the benefits of voice and video communications through Lync.”

Simply Smarter Communications – Portfolio Preview
The Plantronics UC portfolio optimised for Lync 2010 gives IT departments a single trusted vendor for a wide variety of audio solutions that work across mobile phones, desk phones and PCs. The new devices previewed today for Microsoft Lync 2010 combine next-generation technology, high audio quality and elegant designs to let users communicate in a way that is simpler and more intuitive, regardless of what device they are using. The Plantronics UC product families and new preview products include:

Plantronics Calisto: Wideband USB Phones
The Calisto family includes the new Plantronics Calisto 825, a multi-device speakerphone that connects to a PC and a mobile phone and seamlessly manages calls between them.  It also features a unique wireless microphone that provides unparalleled speakerphone audio quality and freedom of movement. The Calisto 825 is ideal for professionals who work at home or in an office and who primarily use the PC and their mobile phone for calls.

Plantronics Savi: Wireless DECT™ USB Wideband Headsets
The Savi family includes the new Savi 730, a wireless headset system that connects to multiple devices but allows you to manage all calls from a single headset. This system unifies communication between your PC, desk phone and now mobile phone calls.  Users can also listen to any PC-based audio including music players, streaming audio and video, webinars and podcasts with Savi 730.  The headset system features a noise-canceling microphone, wideband audio support, and DECT wireless technology, providing lifelike voice fidelity and the ability to roam up to 100 metres from the base.

Plantronics Voyager UC: Bluetooth® USB Wideband Headset
For mobile professionals, the new Voyager PRO UC is the mobile office realized. This headset system connects to a PC and mobile phone and features smart sensor technology that allows you to answer calls simply by placing it on your ear while simultaneously updating softphone presence so colleagues know you are on a call. It also includes a mini Bluetooth USB adapter for increased portability.  Voyager PRO UC provides superior noise and wind cancellation on both mobile phones and softphones.  The Bluetooth headset also supports multipoint technology enabling users to switch between their mobile phone calls and PC calls with the touch of a button.

Plantronics Blackwire™: Corded USB Wideband Headsets
Designed for in-office and mobile PC-based conversations, the Blackwire family includes the Blackwire 420, a foldable headset designed for a mobile worker, which can lay flat next to a laptop for portability.  It has in-line controls for volume, answer/end and mute. Installation is easy via USB plug-and-play connectivity.

Pricing and Availability
Plantronics’ existing UC product portfolio optimised for both Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 and Microsoft Lync 2010 are available today through authorized Plantronics resellers. The new audio devices previewed will be available in 2011.

For information on becoming an authorized Plantronics reseller, visit www.plantronics.com/partners

Importance of Voice
As the workspace is evolving beyond the traditional boundaries of the corporate office and the daily routine of 9-5, employees find themselves spending more time working in different locations – such as with customers, at home, hotel lobbies, in the car and at the airport. In the study 90% of workers admitted to spending time working away from the office in other locations. In this new context the power of voice is becoming one of the most vital business assets. Working in acoustically challenging environments and conducting more meetings over the phone means that what we say, how we it say it and being clearly understood is more critical than ever, and the headset is a vital component in this.

Power of Voice
When conducting business over the phone, body language is replaced by tone of voice, which accounts for 87% of communication, with the actual words used only accounting for a mere 13% of total effectiveness. Therefore the tone of voice, together with pace, pause, power and pitch can affect end results and by tuning these, professionals can be more influential and effective during phone conversations. Plantronics’ ‘Speech Impact Masterclass’ maximises a company’s business performance by grooming the power of the voice over the phone.

“Plantronics has played a central role in telephony conversations for nearly 50 years and recognises that the projection of one’s ‘voice signature’ during business conversations and presentations is vital,” says Philip Vanhoutte, Managing Director for EMEA at Plantronics.  “Plantronics’ approach to design, acoustic intelligence and multi-phone integration makes it easier than ever to take advantage of the benefits of high impact voice communications in our smarter working lifestyle.”

Global Knowledge, the world’s largest private ICT training provider, understands the power of voice and has recently included Plantronics’ ‘Speech Impact Masterclass’ in its portfolio. The programme features proven audio techniques and methodologies from Tony Crawford, Europe’s leading communication and presentation expert.

“As professionals spend more time working remotely, they have to learn to communicate without the power of face-to-face interaction and body language.” says Tony Crawford, founder of Crawford Communications. “The importance of ‘voice presence’ is not only on the rise, it is proving crucial to the way that today’s most successful companies do business.”

“We are very pleased to be able to offer Plantronics’ Speech Impact Masterclass” says Peter Howell, EMEA Operations Director at Global Knowledge, “We reach on average over 75,000 students a year. The programme will be rolled out across EMEA and with this, we are able to give businesses the tools that will deliver payback to their company in the shape of improved productivity, efficiency and cost savings.”

Global Knowledge and Plantronics will be collaborating to promote the Speech Impact Masterclass programme and will be working together on developing future initiatives.

Philip Vanhoutte, Plantronics’ Managing Director for EMEA will be hosting and moderating a panel discussion on “Voice 2.0 – Harnessing the Power of Voice for Business Today” sharing Unified Communications & Collaboration Best Practice focusing on the new voice capabilities. The panel will feature representatives from BT, Telenor and Crawford Communications. It will take place at the Gartner Symposium ITxpo on Wednesday 10th November 17.15 – 18.00 in the Palais des Festivals, Auditorium A.

*Source: The “How We Work: Communication Trends of Business Professionals” study surveyed more than 1,800 employees in six countries (US, UK, Germany, China, India and Australia) about their communication habits and preferences. All work in medium or large size companies (100+ employees) and identified themselves as knowledge workers (people whose work centers on developing/working primarily with ideas and information) who use a variety of communications technologies to stay in touch with colleagues, partners and clients. The research was conducted in May and June of 2010. The findings reveal that professionals are communicating more today than ever before and are very smart about which tools to use for given situations. The full study can be downloaded today at www.plantronics.com/howwework.

Flexible, mobile and dispersed working practices are now becoming the norm and workers need technology that is reliable and supports their lifestyle. Over half of respondents (55.2%) spend almost 20% of their week working in transitional spaces, including in the car, at the airport, in hotels, restaurants, and on public transport. These locations often can cause difficulties in terms of noise levels, which impacts on concentration, productivity and ultimately business success with 82.1% of respondents admitting they find it difficult to talk on the phone with background noise and (90%) agreeing that sound quality on a call and good communication tools are essential to the success and productivity of their work.

The Power of Voice
In voice-only conversations 87% of the message’s importance is attributed to tone of voice. Therefore it is essential that confusion and misunderstanding that can arise from poor audio be overcome by using the right tools. Not surprisingly in the survey almost 90% of respondents agree that the sound quality of a call is essential to the work that they are doing and 92.1% admitted they work more productively when they have good communication tools.

More people are using a range of tools to communicate, including laptops, broadband Internet, wifi and multiple hard and softphones (VoiP). The headset is part of this and a foundation to a seamless, connected and flexible ‘smarter living’ way, where in their increasingly hectic lifestyles, mobile workers can make the most of the technology and devices they buy and create more out of the time they value.

Delivering Smarter Sound
Through a combination of advanced ergonomic design and built in ‘audio intelligence’, the latest Plantronics headsets produce ‘HD’ quality sound whether talking on a smartphone, or VoIP calling from an iPad. Noise-cancelling technology eliminates unwanted background noise on the move and detailed design features – such as a perfected balance between battery and boom – make for better sound, with greater comfort. Today Plantronics headsets work across phones, Tablet or PC – thus offering the ability to carry on talking while using applications.

The new Plantronics Voyager PRO+ improves on an award-winning design and defines a new vision from hands-free convenience, made to complement life on the go. The Voyager PRO+ is part of a range of smart headsets that are geared for the growing smartphone userbase and is encased in environmentally sound packaging featuring a new brand identity.

“The headset is a powerful tool to support our demanding lifestyles and the Voyager PRO+ offers busy people on-the-go exactly what they need by pairing advanced audio performance with a comfortable design “ said Stuart Bradshaw, EMEA consumer product manager. “The Voyager PRO+ sounds natural, feels natural and is intuitive to use, making it the ideal companion to the latest generation of smartphones and devices.”

London, UK – 12th Oct 2010 - Plantronics (NYSE:PLT) today expanded its family of Bluetooth® products with the new Plantronics Voyager® PRO+ Bluetooth® headset, the next version of the award-winning Voyager PRO and a favourite among enthusiasts. This is part of a range of smart headsets that are geared for the growing smartphone user base and is encased in environmentally sound packaging featuring a new brand identity.

Performance with a Plus
With flexible, mobile and dispersed working practices now becoming the norm, workers need technology that is reliable and supports their lifestyle. The Voyager PRO+ is designed for the growing smartphone generation with new features including A2DP technology for streaming music, podcasts and GPS navigation; convenient enhanced voice alerts for remaining talk time, volume, phone connection, low battery warnings, mute status and out-of-range and also an iPhone headset meter that allows users to monitor battery levels.

Engineered for the Mobile Professional
The Plantronics Voyager PRO+ was designed for the mobile professional user who demands superior noise cancellation in noisy environments. It includes easily accessible power, volume and mute buttons, can seamlessly connect to two different mobile phones with multipoint technology, and it folds up easily for storage. The lithium polymer battery provides up to six hours of continuous talk time and five days of stand-by time, exceeding the talk and standby times of most mobile phones.

Engineered for Sound Quality
The Plantronics Voyager PRO+ delivers this with AudioIQ2, Plantronics’ digital signal processing (DSP) technology, and a unique adjustable dual-microphone boom. While other headsets deliver noise cancellation at the expense of overall audio quality, the boom provides the advantage of capturing your voice close to your mouth so the AudioIQ2 technology can more effectively remove ambient noise, while still maintaining the natural sound of your voice.

The headset also effectively minimizes wind noise – a major cause of disruption during calls. Plantronics Voyager PRO+ features three layers of WindSmart® technology. Dual external stainless steel microphone screens and acoustic fabrics that surround the microphones together provide substantial physical barriers to wind noise. At the same time, the AudioIQ2 DSP algorithms intelligently decipher your voice from the wind to deliver clear sound to your listener.

Finally, the Voyager PRO+ delivers unmatched inbound audio quality to ensure every word is heard on both sides of a conversation. It features a custom speaker that delivers full-spectrum audio so conversations are richer and more vibrant. The adaptive 20-band equalizer delivers distortion-free audio and works with AudioIQ2 to automatically adjust sound levels based on the noise level around you to ensure maximum audibility.

“Today’s smartphone generation want a headset that complements a smarter lifestyle and audio quality they can rely on” said Stuart Bradshaw, EMEA Consumer Marketing Manager. “The Voyager PRO+ defines a new vision from hands-free convenience and is made to complement life on the go. With the combination of the Plantronics signature audio performance, and optimum comfort and usability, it makes it the ideal companion to the latest generation of smartphones and devices.”

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The Plantronics Voyager PRO+ is available for £79.99 RRP and will be available from 1st November at Apple, Orange and Maplin.

London, UK – 26th Oct 2010 - Plantronics (NYSE:PLT) today expanded its family of Bluetooth® products with the new K100™ in-car speakerphone.  The Plantronics K100 offers a robust combination of advanced audio technology, ease-of-use and enhanced features for convenient, hands-free conversations in the car. This is part of a range of smart communications devices that are geared for the growing mobile worker and is encased in environmentally sound packaging featuring a new brand identity.

Audio Performance
The Plantronics K100 includes dual microphones and digital signal processing (DSP) technology that keeps the user’s voice sharp and clear, while limiting surrounding noise. Echo-cancellation improves listening on both sides of the call, while a high-quality speaker ensures every call is heard clearly.  The Plantronics K100 also includes an integrated FM transmitter so users can hear conversations, stream music, podcasts, GPS navigation from their smartphones, straight to their car stereo system.

User Convenience
The Plantronics K100 is very easy to setup and use, and features convenient voice alerts for pairing, low-battery, mute, and connection status.  A dedicated one-touch mute button with voice confirmation provides confidence that the feature is engaged.  Large buttons let you control the K100 while keeping your eyes on the road, and a handy micro USB charger means the speakerphone never has to leave the car.

“The K100 is the perfect in-car solution for users to take calls, listen to music and be productive, while keeping both hands on the wheel,” said Stuart Bradshaw, EMEA Consumer Marketing Manager at Plantronics. “We think consumers will be delighted by the K100 speakerphone’s great audio performance, simplicity and affordability.”

Design and Additional Features
The Plantronics K100 features a slim design with a sturdy clip that stays securely in place on the visor. The Plantronics K100 delivers up to 17 hours of talk time and 15 days of standby time.

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The Plantronics K100 has a price of £59.99 RRP and will be available from 1st November at Carphone Warehouse and other leading retailers.

London, UK – 19th Oct, 2010 - Plantronics (NYSE:PLT) today announced the three newest members of its BackBeat® family of stereo headphones optimised for smartphones with multimedia capabilities. Ideal for iPhone® and Android® users, the new BackBeat 903+, BackBeat 216 and BackBeat 116 headphones deliver high-quality audio performance and easy switching between music and calls. This is part of a new range of smart headsets that are geared for the growing smartphone user base and are encased in environmentally sound packaging featuring a new brand identity.

Work Out with Wireless Music and Calls
The Plantronics BackBeat 903+, an update to the popular BackBeat 903, is a stereo Bluetooth® headset designed for users with active lifestyles. It provides rich wireless stereo music and the ability to answer/end a call with a single touch of a button. The BackBeat 903+ features new ruggedized and sweat resistant-materials and a flexible design, with three levels of earpiece adjustment for a secure and comfortable fit during long workouts. There is also a convenient storage pouch to put them in your gym bag.

For iPhone users, the Plantronics BackBeat 903+ displays an on-screen battery meter on the iPhone for easily monitoring the headset’s battery level. It also includes convenient voice alerts for remaining talk-time, track-control, low-battery, mute and connection status.

The BackBeat 903+ features dual mics and Plantronics’ proprietary AudioIQ2 digital signal processing (DSP) for clear calls, even in noisy environments. Like its predecessor, the BackBeat 903+ includes OpenMic™ technology that allows users to instantly hear their surroundings without removing the headphones, providing greater convenience and safety while exercising.

Upgraded Audio Experiences
The Plantronics BackBeat 216 is a certified headphone for the iPod, iPhone and iPad.  It enables users to get the most from their compatible devices by offering bold, rich audio for music, calls and multimedia applications. These corded stereo headphones provide plug-and-play simplicity and feature noise-isolating ear buds with neodymium micro-speakers that boost bass levels and deliver well-balanced high and mid ranges for an overall great audio experience. The BackBeat 216 also features a discreet inline controller with built-in mic for convenient calling plus volume and music track control.

The new BackBeat 116 features the popular earphone form factor with a simpler in-line controller and built-in mic.  The standard 3.5mm stereo connector and interface makes it compatible not only with the iPhone, iPod and iPad, but also most Android-based phones, Blackberry® smartphones and other music phones.  The BackBeat 116 will be offered in stylish Electric Blue.  For extra user convenience, both the 216 and 116 products come with tangle-free cloth cords.

“Today, most consumers use their smartphones to listen to music, play games and watch videos, and they are looking for audio solutions that will optimise these applications for truly immersive experiences,” said Stuart Bradshaw, EMEA Consumer Marketing Manager, Plantronics. “These new BackBeat headphones with mic deliver just that in tandem with outstanding audio quality at great prices.”

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The BackBeat 903+ will be available at the end of October, retailing for £69.99 RRP from Apple. The BackBeat 116 and 216 will be available at the end of October, retailing for £24.99 and £39.99 respectively.

“As a pioneer in the headset industry for nearly 50 years, we recognized a gap in the market for organisations that have made the initial investment in headset equipment but need help streamlining their processes to control spending,” said Richard Kenny, European Manager of Contact Centre products at Plantronics.  “With Plantrocare, we’re providing call centres and organisations the opportunity to pick and choose from a range of innovative and valuable services – based on their individual unique business needs – to help them organise their spending on headsets at a fixed level, and in return, implement a more controlled budget and free up their capital for business growth activities.”

Leasing Option
The Plantrocare portfolio of services introduces a budget-friendly leasing program that helps customers maximise the performance of all their assets and use their capital in the most effective way. Ideal for organisations looking to spend their capital on growth activities, the new leasing program is a flexible solution that covers hardware, software, training, maintenance and more, in one simple, regular payment – including an upgrade option for newly released headset models or migrations to new technology, such as Unified Communications. When the lease term ends, customers simply return the old equipment and renew their contract to receive brand new replacements across all centres.

Warranty Program
Due to the company’s supreme confidence in their products, Plantronics offers a comprehensive warranty across  their professional range of headsets and audio devices. For organisations looking to maintain their investment in Plantronics products for a longer period, Plantrocare also includes the option to extend the warranty for another year for a minimal additional cost. In the unlikely event of a defect or malfunction, Plantrocare offers two options for quick and easy return: 1) via the Plantronics self-service internet portal, which is available 24/7 and ideal for smaller call centres; 2) or Plantrocare’s premium replacement service, which enables businesses to bypass the self service portal and make a single call to cover all their needs, including pick-up, diagnostics, replacement for warranty products and proper disposal for out of warranty products in accordance with WEEE regulations.

Portfolio Management - Maintenance Contract Service
Plantrocare’s innovative new maintenance contract service enables organisations to protect their headsets investment, establish and implement a clear health and safety policy and help streamline the management process across multiple sites – ultimately freeing up the business to focus on improving customer service. Ideal for call centres with multiple sites to manage a large installed base, this new service ensures that all faulty headsets are collected and checked by the leading experts at Plantronics’ service centre – regardless of the headsets’ age, make or model – all from just a single phone call.  Applicable to products both in and out of warranty, Plantrocare’s maintenance contract service is available for a fixed fee per year that is based on the number of headsets owned by the organisation.

Expert On-Site Service
The first of its kind, Plantrocare’s new Expert On-Site Service was designed to transfer Plantronics’ fifty years of headset expertise directly through a highly experienced team that will focus on areas which directly impact an organisation’s business, enabling employees to improve their first call resolution through improved audio. With the new Best Practice Clinic, organisations learn directly from the experts at Plantronics how to ensure to that their employees are getting the most from their headsets, including how to wear and care for the equipment properly. In addition, Plantrocare also features an advanced Technical Assistance Centre that provides superior native language support delivered by highly trained professionals for all main European languages via toll free phone or email service.

In order to help call centres improve their overall agent and customer service experience, Plantrocare also offers a Background Noise Test to map background noise levels at different times of the day, as well as an Advanced Noise at Work Testing, which details the exact exposure levels across multiple individual agents within a contact centre and presents the results in a full report along with a recommended course of action. Finally, an important concern for work environments where germs can spread quickly and easily, Plantrocare also offers a Hygiene Program that replaces the consumable items for high contact areas, such as ear cushions and voice tubes, which are included in all of Plantronics’ professional headsets.

For more information, please contact Plantronics on 0800 410014

IFA, Berlin, Germany – 3rd Sept, 2010 - Plantronics? (NYSE:PLT) today announced the M100 Bluetooth? Headset, an ultra-slim, lightweight headset that features advanced technology to deliver clear and natural audio. The M100 combines dual-microphones, wind-noise reduction and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for an enhanced communication experience on both sides of the conversation. This is the first of a range of smart headsets that are geared for the growing smartphone userbase and is encased in environmentally-sound packaging featuring a new brand identity.

The Plantronics M100 is very easy to set up and use. It includes convenient status voice alerts for remaining talk-time, low-battery, mute and connection status. iPhone users can monitor headset battery levels on their screen. Additionally, the M100 automatically adjusts sound levels when moving in and out of noisy environments, allowing users to always be hands-free and able to focus on the task in front of them.

“The headset is a powerful tool to support the fast moving, multi-tasking generation and the M100 excels in every category that is important to busy people on the go, including audio performance, comfort and usability, “ said Stuart Bradshaw, EMEA consumer products manager. “ Designed for today’s high speed world, and combining Plantronics signature audio performance, the M100 sounds natural, feels natural and is intuitive to use, making it the ideal companion to the latest generation of smartphones and devices.”

The Plantronics M100 is available in Classic Charcoal and features the following:

• Multipoint technology – pairs one headset to two Bluetooth devices.
• Battery power giving up to six hours of talk- time and 10 days of stand-by time
• Weighs only 9 grams – the Plantronics M100 is both light and comfortable for extended wearing
•Convenient micro USB neck cord allows users to carry headset within easy reach when they’re waiting for that important call
• Soft gel ear tips, in three different sizes, together with an optional ear loop to provide multiple wearing options for a perfect fit

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

The M100 has a price of £49.99 (inc VAT) (Euro 59.99) and will be available in Sept from consumer electronics retailers.

London – August 27, 2010 – The Contact Centre Association (CCA) has formally recognised Plantronics BV as having achieved certification to CCA Global Standard© for best practice in their European contact centre, housed in Hoofddorp, near Amsterdam.

Plantronics were assessed against eight key business principles of the CCA Global Standard©:

- Customer Focus
- Contact Centre Performance and Operational Effectiveness
- Employee Focus: recruitment, selection and retention strategies
- Learning, development and employee performance management
- Legislation, regulation and policies affecting your operation
- Third party and managed relationships
- Security and fraud prevention
- Implementing and managing contact centre technology

“Providing great service to our customers while constantly seeking for further ways to improve is embedded in our DNA. Receiving this prestigious certification is a confirmation reflecting the ongoing commitment of our team.” says Paul van den Berg, EMEA Director of Operations.

Rob Pike, Chair of CCA Standards Council said, “The Global Standard© is awarded to companies that demonstrate the highest level of customer service within their contact centres and Plantronics have been awarded this based on their drive, commitment and exceptional high standards.”

Philip Vanhoutte, EMEA Managing Director at Plantronics comments, “We are delighted to be awarded the defacto industry standard that puts our contact centre on a par with the best contact centres globally. Being designers and manufacturers of leading headset equipment that help contact centres to perform to the highest standards, we are very proud to be recognised for our leading customer services.”

Plantronics operate a fully wireless contact centre in Hoofddorp, from which support is provided to most countries across the EMEA region.

London – 26th August, 2010 – Plantronics® (NYSE: PLT) today announced a new version of the GameCom® 777 Gaming Headset with virtual 7.1 surround sound enabled by Dolby® Headphone and Dolby® ProLogic® IIx technologies. The GameCom 777 combines immersive surround sound and Plantronics’ design excellence to deliver an unmatched sound and voice experience for PC gamers.

The Plantronics GameCom 777 features 7.1 Dolby Headphone technology in a plug-and-play USB sound card for the PC and Mac. Dolby technology delivers a virtual eight-channel audio experience and positional microphone accuracy essential for competitive gaming.

In addition to its surround sound capabilities, the GameCom 777 headset was engineered with numerous functional and ergonomic wearing benefits including an open-ear design that keeps users connected to the game and their surroundings. Other GameCom 777 features include:

•    A lightweight frame and specially designed earpods that redistribute pressure for maximum comfort during long gaming sessions.
•    A unique ‘hide-away’ boom that turns the headset into a pair of high-quality headphones for music and multimedia use.
•    A telescoping, noise-canceling microphone that provides accurate positioning for voice clarity.
•    An in-line volume and microphone mute controls to provide gamers fingertip audio and voice direction.

“When it comes to headsets, the gaming community demands extreme audio precision and comfort for continuous wearing,” explained Stuart Bradshaw, EMEA Marketing Manager for Consumer products at Plantronics. “We’ve reunited with Dolby to bring players virtual 7.1 surround sound for a more convincing gaming experience and leveraged our heritage in ergonomic headset design to alleviate discomfort that comes with extended headphone use.”

“We are delighted to be partnering with Plantronics again,” comments Dominic Preston, EMEA PC and Games Marketing Manager at Dolby. “Dolby aims to provide consumers with the richest and highest quality audio experience possible and with this headset we are pleased to offer one of the most immersive gaming experiences available today.”

The GameCom 777 headset is compatible with VoIP internet programs such as Skype and Google Voice.

Pricing and Availability
The Plantronics GameCom® 777 Gaming Headset with virtual 7.1 surround sound will be available from the end of August at selected electrical retailers. RRP £79.99.

For more information about the Plantronics GameCom® 777 visit:
www.plantronics.com

MICROSOFT WORLDWIDE PARTNER CONFERENCE, WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 12, 2010 – Today Plantronics (NYSE: PLT) announced it has been selected as a finalist for the Microsoft Partner Awards in the OEM Hardware Solutions, Device Manufacturing Partner of the Year category for the second year running. Plantronics was recognized for delivering superior customer value by designing and developing hardware peripheral and device solutions that use Microsoft technologies.

Plantronics’ recognition showcases the importance of unified communications solutions that deliver clear, reliable audio to people working in varied environments – from a corporate campus to a busy airport. The Plantronics Unified Communications product portfolio optimized for Microsoft® Office Communicator 2007 provides an array of audio solutions designed to match diverse working styles and personal preferences.

“This is the second year in a row Microsoft has honored us with a Partner Award for our Optimized for Microsoft Office Communicator devices,” said Amy Huson, director of Unified Communications at Plantronics.  “Working closely with Microsoft ensures our mutual customers can deliver enhanced user experiences to employees through rich audio and plug-and-play simplicity.”

The Microsoft Partner Awards recognize Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered exceptional Microsoft-based solutions over the past year. The awards are presented in 67 categories, with winners and finalists chosen from a pool of almost 3,000 entrants worldwide. The program honors Microsoft partner companies that demonstrate great customer impact, solution innovation and optimization of Microsoft technologies.

“Congratulations to the 2010 Partner Award finalists for delivering such creative and superior Microsoft solutions and services,” said Allison Watson, corporate vice president, Worldwide Partner Group, Microsoft Corp. “It’s incredible to see the level of expertise our partners continue to exhibit as they create and deliver innovative solutions and services to grow their businesses, meet customer needs, and drive down costs.”

Plantronics – The Voice of Unified Communications™
Plantronics offers the industry’s most complete portfolio of corded and wireless Unified Communications audio endpoints. Widely recognized for their sound quality, reliability and simplicity, Plantronics’ audio solutions help companies broaden the benefits of IP communications throughout the extended enterprise, fostering better business communications and efficiency regardless of where professionals are working.

Visit Plantronics Unified Communications for more information about UC-ready products.

UC news and perspectives can be found at the Plantronics Unified Communications Blog

About Plantronics
Plantronics is a world leader in personal audio communications for professionals and consumers. From unified communication solutions to Bluetooth® headsets, Plantronics delivers unparalleled audio experiences and quality that reflect nearly 50 years of innovation and customer commitment. Plantronics is used by every company in the Fortune 100 and is the headset of choice for air traffic control, 911 dispatch and the New York Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit www.plantronics.com or call (800) 544-4660.

Plantronics and The Voice of Unified Communications are trademarks or registered trademark of Plantronics, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owner

2001 - Plantronics embarks on new journey with Bluetooth®
In March 2001, Plantronics joins forces with world leader in Bluetooth™ software and networking solutions, WIDCOMM Inc, to create the world’s first all-new lightweight headset featuring Bluetooth wireless technology – the Plantronics M1000 Wireless Headset.

2002 - M1500 and M1000 Headsets go nationwide
Plantronics changes the lives of mobile professionals with the launch of the lightweight M1500 – comprising of an M1000 Bluetooth headset and innovative Bluetooth mobile phone adapter that plugs directly into the headset jack, giving all mobile users Bluetooth headset freedom

2003 - World’s first Bluetooth Headset that lasts all day
Plantronics introduces their Next Generation Bluetooth™ M3000 Headset. Compact and stylish, this new headset features a noise-cancelling microphone           that provides superior sound quality as well as intuitive controls that make answering and ending calls effortless whether in the office or on the go.

2004 – Breakthrough sound quality for both outbound & inbound audio
Plantronics unveils their M3500 Bluetooth® headset featuring Audio IQ™ technology and digital signal processing (DSP) that delivers breakthrough sound quality on both inbound and outbound audio. The same year, Plantronics also introduces the feature-rich and stylish M2500 Bluetooth™ headset, which increases talk time up to 5 hours with up to 120 hours of standby time and features new ergonomic SoundGuide earpieces. In addition, the company partners with TDK Systems and Skype in order to launch an industry-leading initiative to enhance the end-user experience for VoIP communications.

2005 – Industry’s broadest ever portfolio of Bluetooth productsPlantronics introduces three innovative new lines of Bluetooth® headsets, including the Explorer, Discovery and Pulsar 590, in addition to the Voyager™ 510S Bluetooth® headset system. Crowned “Best of Innovations” at CES that year, the Voyager 510S enables users to seamlessly switch between two Bluetooth-enabled devices – such as a mobile phone, office phone, laptop, etc – and is practically weightless when worn. The Pulsar 590 was Plantronics first
BT “Stereo” product supporting A2DP/AVRCP profiles a product well before it’s time launched Sept 2005, it is shame iPhones were not around then!

2006 – World’s first VoIP-Optimised Bluetooth headset
Plantronics launches the Voyager 510, the first Bluetooth headset on the market to include both a noise-cancelling microphone and WindSmart® technology, and the Discovery 645, featuring a digital signal processing (DSP) chip to actively reduce background noise when talking. In addition, the company unveils the Plantronics Voyager™ 510-USB, the worlds first Bluetooth® headset solution optimised for VoIP, which provides seamless switching between PC-based softphones and mobile phone calls. The same     year, the Plantronics Discovery™ 640 Bluetooth® headset goes head to head against 2,000 products from 37 countries and wins the prestigious Industry Forum (iF) Product Design Award.

2007 – First technology to improve audio for both the caller and listener
Plantronics introduces the new Discovery™ 665 Bluetooth® Headset with AudioIQ®, the industry’s first DSP sound technology to automatically optimise audio levels on both sides of every call — significantly increasing clarity for mobile phone callers, as well as for the listener on the other end of conversations. The company also augments the Voyager Bluetooth headset family with the Voyager 520 and Voyager 855. In addition, Plantronics enters the PC sector with two new wireless headsets for PC     users, including the .Audio 990 Bluetooth® Stereo Headset and the.Audio 910 USB, which is the industry’s first PC headset to interact with and control popular internet telephony applications wirelessly from the headset.

2008 – Plantronics headsets hit the runway…and the great outdoors
Plantronics unveils the Voyager™ 855, the industry’s first mono-to-stereo convertible Bluetooth® Headset with AudioIQ® DSP noise reduction technology for MP3 mobile phones, and the lightest stereo headset available to date. The company also takes a fashionable step forward with the Discovery® 925 Bluetooth® Earpiece Collection, a signature line of designer headsets for both men and women, receiving high praise from media, celebrities and consumers, including being named one of Consumer Reports’ coveted “Top     100 Products of 2008” and the overall leader in the “Voice of the Consumer”     report conducted by 7B Labs. In addition, Plantronics introduces their first     ruggedized Explorer 370 Bluetooth® Headset, which is durability tested to     meet IP54 military-grade specifications and the industry’s     first headset to combine water, dust and shock resistance     with windscreen technology. For PC     users, the     company launches the new .Audio™ 920     Bluetooth® Headset – which enables users to make     and take calls from their PC and mobile phone and     switch between the two seamlessly – and the super     small     and portable .Audio™ 480 headset for laptop     multimedia and Internet conversations on the go.

2009 – A new level of high performance audio, style and comfort
Plantronics introduces the highly successful Voyager® PRO Bluetooth® Headset – a high-performance headset featuring AudioIQ2, a unique adjustable dual-microphone boom, minimized wind noise, improved comfort and longer-lasting battery power – and wins the coveted Editors’ Choice Awards from T3 Magazine, Best Bluetooth Headset at the Mobile Choice Awards and the iF Product Design Award. In addition, the company also launches the lightweight Discovery 975 – blending innovative design with noise-cancelling AudioIQ2 technology, wind protection and easy connectivity for premium performance – and receives high praise from the media, including 5 out of 5 stars from What Mobile magazine.

For music lovers, Plantronics and Altec Lansing launch the light and flexible Backbeat 903 wireless headset for stereo Bluetooth mobile phones and the Backbeat 906 headphones to stream music from an iPod® or other digital music player.

2010 and Beyond…
With a rich history that includes providing the headset through which the first words were spoken on the moon, Plantronics has played an important role as a pioneer in development and progression of the Bluetooth Headset industry. Ten years later, the company is still working hard to deliver an unparalleled audio experience that reflects the company’s 50 years of innovation. As the way we live and work continues to evolve along with the increasingly remote workforce, Plantronics remains dedicated to helping people work smarter by developing products that empower them to work effectively across all     workspaces – regardless of their location.

Santa Cruz, Calif. – June 15, 2010 – Plantronics® (NYSE: PLT) today announced a new version of the GameCom(R) 777 Gaming Headset with virtual 7.1 surround sound enabled by Dolby® Headphone and Dolby® ProLogic® IIx technologies. The GameCom 777 combines immersive surround sound and Plantronics’ design excellence to deliver an unmatched sound and voice experience for PC gamers.

The Plantronics GameCom 777 features 7.1 Dolby Headphone technology in a plug-and-play USB sound card for the PC and Mac. Dolby technology delivers a virtual eight-channel audio experience and positional microphone accuracy essential for competitive gaming.

In addition to its surround sound capabilities, the GameCom 777 headset was engineered with numerous functional and ergonomic wearing benefits including an open-ear design that keeps users connected to the game and their surroundings. Other GameCom 777 features include:

•    A lightweight frame and specially designed earpods that redistribute pressure for maximum comfort during long gaming sessions.
•    A unique ‘hide-away’ boom that turns the headset into a pair of high-quality headphones for music and multimedia use.
•    A telescoping, noise-canceling microphone that provides accurate positioning for voice clarity.
•    An in-line volume and microphone mute controls to provide gamers fingertip audio and voice direction.

“When it comes to headsets, the gaming community demands extreme audio precision and comfort for continuous wearing,” explained Matt Miller, Senior Director, Entertainment Products. “We’ve reunited with Dolby to bring players virtual 7.1 surround sound for a more convincing gaming experience and leveraged our heritage in ergonomic headset design to alleviate discomfort that comes with extended headphone use.”

The GameCom 777 headset is compatible with VoIP internet programs such as Skype and Google Voice. It will be available this month at www.plantronics.com and at select retailers.

London – April 22nd, 2010 – WorkSnug and Plantronics today launched WorkSnug Pro, the newest version of WorkSnug’s hugely successful Augmented Reality iPhone app to help the mobile workforce locate the best places to work in major cities across the globe. Originally available in five of the world’s largest cities, WorkSnug Pro now covers more than a dozen cities and crucially, the community of mobile workers can write and submit their own reviews for any mobile workspace across the globe.

WorkSnug’s team of reviewers has been busy pounding the streets, working nomadically, accessing mobile workspaces and uncovering the best. WorkSnug Pro now covers the following cities: London, Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin, Brussels, Paris, New York, San Francisco, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Leiden and Brighton.
WorkSnug Pro is now open to the community of global nomadic workers. WorkSnug are inviting them to support their fellow workers by reviewing their favourite (or not so favourite) cafés, coffee shops, libraries, co-working centres and other working spots in their local area. Users can simply sign up at WorkSnug.com and begin reviewing, with new reviews appearing on the web and in the app within one day.

WorkSnug focus group research and user feedback since launch has revealed that noise is the biggest single barrier to productive mobile work in cities. WorkSnug Pro features the addition of the Plantronics Decibel Meter. Users can now take accurate noise readings in any WorkSnug workspace and send it into the central database. By doing this, WorkSnug are building up a noise-level history to guide workspace decision-making, enabling other WorkSnug users to pick an ideal location that best meets their noise preference.

WorkSnug Pro employs augmented reality, enabling users to hold up their iPhone and view their surroundings, as well as pop-up information that points to the nearest and best potential workspaces. Along with workspace reviews, WorkSnug Pro provides details on WiFi connectivity, power provisions, community feel, noise level, and even the quality of the coffee.

The Growing Mobile Workforce Population
According to research firm IDC, the world’s mobile worker population will pass the one billion mark this year and grow to nearly 1.2 billion people – more than one-third of the world’s total workforce – by 2013. From road warriors on a business trip, to creative professionals who look to their work environment for inspiration, or individuals who work from home needing a change of scenery, WorkSnug Pro will help them identify an array of potential workspaces for consideration.

“As the mobile workforce grows, work is no longer a place we go, but a thing we do. WorkSnug Pro is perfect for anyone who works remotely and is looking to remain productive in a public workspace,” said Richard Leyland, founder of WorkSnug. “The way we work is changing, and we are excited to be an instrumental part of this remote worker revolution.”

“For the past 50 years, Plantronics has helped people work smarter through audio innovations that enable more efficient communications,” said Stuart Bradshaw, EMEA Consumer Marketing Manager at Plantronics. “As workforces become more distributed and remote working more commonplace, Plantronics is committed to developing products, such as the Voyager Pro UC, that empower them to work effectively across all workspaces from the office to the airport. Teaming with WorkSnug is a natural extension of this commitment.”

A Community of Mobile Workers
WorkSnug has reviewed thousands of workspaces around the world for WorkSnug Pro, but the mobile worker community will be the catalyst for enriching the tool with their own reviews. If your city isn’t yet covered, WorkSnug Pro users are encouraged to post their reviews either via the application or at www.worksnug.com, while WorkSnug will continue to conduct its own reviews in the world’s largest cities.

WorkSnug Pro is available now for users of the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch. The augmented reality function is for only available for the iPhone 3GS. For more information about WorkSnug, please visit www.worksnug.com.

About WorkSnug
WorkSnug is a tool that connects mobile workers to the nearest and best places to work in the major cities of the world. WorkSnug’s teams have visited and reviewed thousands of viable workspaces around the world, specifically evaluating WiFi, noise levels, power provision, community feel and other relevant factors in workspaces across the world. WorkSnug is now building the world’s first global community for mobile workers.
WorkSnug was founded in London by Richard Leyland, a futurist and entrepreneur. Leyland is an expert commentator on the future of work and has provided insight into the future for many of the world’s largest technology firms, broadcasters, professional services organizations and others.

CeBIT 2010 – HANNOVER, Germany – March 2, 2010 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today simplified its growing Unified Communications (UC) portfolio and introduced new audio solutions that help IT departments deploy UC quickly and keep costs down .  The new solutions, including a USB desk phone, premium corded headsets and wireless DECT (TM) headsets, deliver brilliant audio, unmatched quality and ease of use across all work environments. 

The Plantronics Unified Communications product portfolio is now organized into the following product families: Blackwire (TM), Calisto (R), Savi (TM) and Plantronics Voyager (R) UC. The simplified product families are designed for easy IT decision making. Many products provide full call control functions for UC applications from partners including Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya, Cisco, IBM, Microsoft and Skype.

“Voice is paramount in Unified Communications because it enables us to be more expressive and engaged. Workers won’t adopt UC solutions if they can’t trust the audio to be clear and reliable, so it’s imperative that both IT and end users be able to quickly match an audio solution to their work style and audio needs,” said Elizabeth Bastiaanse Hamren, vice president of Product Marketing at Plantronics. “We developed our new solutions to enhance the UC experience with audio that gives the feeling of true ‘face-to-face’ conversations and the reliability that people have come to expect of Plantronics for nearly 50 years.”

Simplifying UC Deployments
The new Plantronics Unified Communications product families give IT departments a single trusted vendor for a wide variety of audio solutions. From executives in the corner office to mobile sales teams to knowledge workers around campus or in the office, Plantronics’ breadth of product options enable clear, reliable conversations across an array of environments. Equally important, the audio solutions are easy to use and install, so IT departments aren’t burdened with support requests.

Plantronics Blackwire: Corded USB Wideband Headsets
Designed for in-office and mobile PC-based conversations, the Blackwire family includes the new Blackwire 420, a foldable headset designed for a mobile worker which can lay flat next to a laptop for portability.  It has in-line controls for volume, answer/end and mute. Installation is easy via USB plug-and-play connectivity.  The Blackwire line includes five headsets with wideband audio, call control and noise canceling microphones in both mono and stereo. 

Plantronics Calisto: Wideband USB Phones
The Calisto family includes the new Plantronics Calisto 540, an Optimized for Microsoft Office Communicator deskphone.  The Calisto 540 is ideal for stationary workers who primarily use the PC for voice conversations and want the familiarity of a desk phone. The Calisto family of products also includes a USB speakerphone and a handset.

Plantronics Savi: Wireless DECT USB Wideband Headsets
The Savi family includes new binaural and monaural headband versions of the award-winning Savi Office.  The Savi family of products is designed for knowledge workers who use both a deskphone and the PC for making calls and want the freedom of mobility with the clear audio quality.  Savi Office enables in-office professionals to listen to any PC-based audio such as music players, streaming audio and video, webinars and podcasts, and make calls via the desk phone or PC with a simple press of a button.  With Savi Office, IT departments looking to standardize on one headset system can offer users a choice in wearing styles.

Plantronics Voyager UC: Bluetooth (R) USB Wideband Headset
For mobile professionals, Voyager PRO UC, introduced in November 2009, combines Plantronics’ award-winning Voyager PRO Bluetooth headset with a plug-and-play Bluetooth USB adapter to deliver richer wideband audio on softphones along with Voyager PRO’s superior noise and wind cancellation on both mobile phones and softphones.  The Plantronics Voyager PRO UC headset supports multipoint technology that allows users to switch between their mobile phone calls and PC calls with the touch of a button.

Pricing and Availability
The full portfolio of UC products is available through authorized Plantronics resellers and will be available in Spring 2010.
- Plantronics Blackwire corded USB wideband headsets range in price from $44.95 to $129 MSRP.  The ultra portable Blackwire 420 has an MSRP of $89.95.
- Plantronics Calisto wideband USB phones range in price from $79 to $179 MSRP.  The new Calisto 540 USB Deskphone has an MSRP of $169.95
- Plantronics Savi Office, including the new monaural and binaural versions, range in price from $379.95 - $399.95 MSRP and will be available this spring.  Over-the-ear and convertible models of Savi Office are currently available.
- Plantronics Voyager PRO UC has an MSRP of $199.95 and is currently available.

For information on becoming an authorized Plantronics reseller, visit www.plantronics.com/partners

March 02, 2010 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today announced the new Speech Impact Academy, a program designed to maximize and dramatically improve a company’s business performance by harnessing the power of the voice over the phone. The Speech Impact Academy features proven audio techniques and methodologies from Tony Crawford, Europe’s leading communication and presentation expert.

With the significant reduction in business travel worldwide  – due to budget cuts, environmental impact, etc – business is increasingly being conducted via telephone, and therefore speech quality, intelligibility and the content delivered over the phone has become more critical than ever. When conducting business over the phone, body language is completely replaced by tone of voice, which accounts for 87%  of the communication model, with the actual words used only accounting for a mere 13%  of total effectiveness.

“Plantronics has played a central role in telephony conversations for nearly 50 years and recognizes that the projection of one’s ‘voice signature’ during business conversations and presentations is vital,” said Philip Vanhoutte, Managing Director,  Europe, Middle East and Africa, at Plantronics.  “By tuning one’s voice with pace, pause, power and pitch, professionals can be more influential and effective during phone conversations, which gives companies a competitive edge.” 

“The importance of ‘voice presence’ is not only on the rise, it is proving crucial to the way that today’s most successful companies do business,” said Tony Crawford, founder of Crawford Communications. “Our aims are simple when talking business on the phone: Can we be heard clearly? Are we engaging? Are we understood? These crucial factors are heightened with language barriers and a prevalence of jargon in business. Finally, are we stimulating our audience to take some action as a result of what we’ve had to say? This is exactly what Speech Impact will be helping Plantronics to construct and deliver for its clients.”

Business results to be addressed by the Speech Impact programme include the following:
- Shorter more productive meetings
- Less misunderstanding within teams
- Increased sales
- More customer loyalty
- Enhanced reputation
- More motivated team members
- Improved return on investment 

Speech Impact was created to engage, train and motivate all levels of management and staff with a high-value education programme to improve business results. The course has been trialed with demonstrable results and the programme will now be available for all Plantronics clients in from March onwards. Pricing for clients will be from €385 plus VAT per person for groups of ten.

About Plantronics’ Acoustic Intelligence Initiative
Speech impact forms part of the acoustic intelligence initiative from Plantronics. Audio ergonomics provides a strong foundation with headsets that are designed to fit comfortably and look stylish. Plantronics headsets also feature award-winning technology that ensures the highest quality of voice intelligibility, enabling users to find their workspace. Finally, the speech impact academy ensures that users maximise the potential of their voices and clearly get their message across. For more info, please visit www.smarterworkingevolution.com

ABOUT CRAWFORD COMMUNICATIONS
 
London based Crawford Communications Ltd. are Presentation Training specialists helping business people communicate more effectively “face to face”. To Customers. To Analysts. To the Press. To Staff. To Channel Partners. To Stakeholders. Our aim: to ensure messages are received by audiences in the way they were intended - with authenticity, clarity and creativity. Formed in 2000 by Tony Crawford, Crawford works with leading companies across Europe and internationally - providing unique, tried and tested, and practical Presentation Training and Coaching programmes for business leaders and their teams determined to get their message across every time.  The success of “The Crawford Presentation Course”, and Crawford’s 1-2-1 Presenter Coaching, has helped build Crawford’s solid reputation as a leader in this specialist field.
In the digital age, Crawford believes the human factor - communicating effectively “face to face” and by phone - is increasingly the most potent competitive weapon and differentiator for businesses today. Building relationships. Building reputation. Winning business. Crawford clients include some of the world’s leading multinational companies - including Hewlett Packard, RSA, Merck Serono, Plantronics, Orange, Cisco, Bacardi, Swiss Re, Pfizer, and American Express.
 
For more information please contact Tony Crawford on +44 7811 369 589, email: tc@crawfordcoms.com or visit www.crawfordcoms.com

Barcelona –14th February, 2010 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today expanded its award-winning family of .Audio(TM) PC headsets with four new wideband models that feature high-performance digital signal processing (DSP) technology for unparalleled audio quality when listening to music, gaming and for PC-based conversations.

The new lineup includes the Plantronics .Audio(TM) 476 DSP, the Plantronics .Audio 646 DSP, the Plantronics .Audio 626 DSP and the upgraded .Audio 655 DSP. Ideal for podcasts and PC-based conversations on services including Skype 4.0 Super Wideband, each headset combines a noise-cancelling microphone with advanced DSP technology that work together to effectively remove ambient noise, while still maintaining the natural sound of your voice. Each headset also supports wideband audio to deliver clearer, richer sound that gives the feeling of true ‘face-to-face’ conversations.

The new .Audio headsets also provide outstanding full-range, stereo sound when listening to music and gaming by combining the DSP technology with premium speakers and a precise fit.

“We know consumers want great PC audio experiences so we’ve packed each of the new .Audio headsets with cutting-edge DSP technology, advanced noise-cancelling microphones and wideband support,” said Stuart Bradshaw, EMEA Consumer Category Manager at Plantronics. “We also know that consumers want choice and the new .Audio lineup delivers just that with various wearing styles, features and prices.”

Plantronics .Audio 476 DSP – Voice on the Go
The Plantronics .Audio(TM) 476 DSP is perfect for frequent travelers. In addition to providing great audio so you can hear and be heard clearly, it features an over-the-head wearing style that folds almost completely flat for traveling. The headset uses a plug-and-play USB connection and includes a three-button inline control for volume up/down and microphone mute. The .Audio 476 comes with a carrying case for added on-the-go convenience and is priced in the region of €49.99 (£39.99), inc VAT.

Plantronics .Audio 655 DSP – Performance and Comfort
The Plantronics .Audio (TM) 655 DSP headset delivers deep bass and full-range digital audio through 40 mm speakers and features Fast Mic Mute™ technology that lets users quickly mute the microphone by raising the boom. The .Audio 655’s soft, swivel-mounted ear cushions and lightweight design provide all-day wearing comfort. For ease of use, the headset features one-touch volume controls on the earpiece and is priced in the region of €49.99 (£39.99), inc VAT.

Plantronics .Audio 626 DSP – Enhanced Sound
The Plantronics .Audio™ 655 headset features Digital signal processing technology which provides enhanced sound quality in this comfortable stereo USB headset.  A noise-cancelling microphone and wideband echo cancellation deliver clear voice calls, while an acoustically tuned equaliser supplies rich stereo sound. Easy-to-use inline controls make this headset perfect for PC audio needs and is priced in the region of €39.99 (£29.99) inc VAT.

Plantronics .Audio 646 – Behind the head wearing style
The Plantronics .Audio™ 646 features a discreet behind the head wearing style, DSP technology and USB connectivity. The noise-cancelling microphone and wideband acoustic echo cancellation capture a broader range of voice signals for calls that are clearer and more natural sounding.  The acoustically tuned equaliser supplies rich, resonant stereo sound and optimises voice response to clearly hear vocal tracks when listening to music, watching a movie or playing a video game and is priced in the region of €39.99 (£29.99) inc VAT.

Availability
The new Plantronics .Audio DSP headsets will be available during the Spring and will be available from and select retailers. For more information about the products, please visit www.plantronics.com.

Images and Samples
Please download images from http://connectedpr.eu/plantronics/
For review samples, please contact paris@connectedpr.eu

Santa Cruz, Calif. – December 21, 2009 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today announced an expansion of its 40-year business and technology relationship with Avaya to deliver Unified Communications (UC) and Contact Center (CC) solutions that help companies improve business collaboration and reduce operating costs. Plantronics has been named the Avaya preferred headset provider to bring unparalleled audio quality, reliability and ease-of-use to enterprise business users.

“Together, Avaya and Plantronics offer customers end-to-end Unified Communications solutions that are seamless, minimise risk and spur adoption for IT decision makers, and deliver great audio and simplicity for end users,” said Linda Dotts, vice president of Product Marketing, Unified Communications, Avaya. “Expanding our relationship will help customers realise the collaboration and cost savings associated with Unified Communications.”

Plantronics’ broad portfolio of headsets are Avaya-certified and provide  immediate connectivity and advanced call control functionality with Avaya’s solutions. Additionally, Plantronics and Avaya will jointly introduce future voice solutions that take advantage of Avaya’s suite of collaboration applications and tools to provide a new level of communication intelligence to customers.

The relationship will focus on the following areas:

• Technology – Tight integration of Avaya product APIs into Plantronics audio solutions. Several new products from Plantronics for Avaya Unified Communications and Avaya Contact Centers will be announced in 2010.
• Marketing – Avaya and Plantronics will collaborate on integrated UC and CC marketing campaigns in 2010 to channel partners and end users.

Avaya will transition from delivering Avaya-branded headsets manufactured by Plantronics in February 2010. Customers will then purchase Plantronics-branded headsets designed for Avaya telephony solutions directly from Plantronics’ extensive channel of distributors and business partners. This is a global action; however, Avaya Germany will continue to purchase headsets directly from Plantronics. The transition will simplify purchase processes for customers while maintaining world-class service and support.

“Above all else, Plantronics seeks to deliver exceptional audio experiences that enable end users and their organisations to realise the true, real-time collaboration benefits of Unified Communications,” said Michael Gjerstad, vice president of Strategic Partnerships at Plantronics. “This relationship delivers on that promise in ways that are consistent with the foundation of our four-decade relationship with Avaya: technology innovation, cost-efficient solutions for business, and intuitive experiences for end users.”

Only Headset Manufacturer to Attain Platinum DevConnect Membership
Plantronics is now a Platinum member of the Avaya DevConnect program, an initiative to develop, market and sell third-party products that interoperate with Avaya technology. Plantronics is the only Platinum-level headset manufacturer in the Avaya DevConnect program.

The Avaya DevConnect program promotes the development, compliance-testing and co-marketing of innovative third-party products that are compatible with standards-based Avaya solutions. Member organisations have expertise in a broad range of technologies – including IP telephony, contact centers and mobility applications – helping companies extend the value of multivendor networks and transform voice into an intelligent business application that delivers true value to the bottom line.

About Avaya
Avaya is a global leader in enterprise communications systems. The company provides unified communications, contact centers, and related services directly and through its channel partners to leading businesses and organisations around the world. Enterprises of all sizes depend on Avaya for state-of-the-art communications that improve efficiency, collaboration, customer service and competitiveness. For more information please visit www.avaya.com.

Santa Cruz, Calif. – January 7, 2010 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today announced that the Plantronics Voyager(R) PRO Bluetooth(R) headset won the prestigious international Forum (iF) product design award 2010 in the Telecommunications category.

For 56 years, the iF product design award has served as an internationally recognized trademark for outstanding design. Across the globe, the iF brand, with offices in Hanover, Munich, Taipei, Seoul and Curitiba/Paraná, is an established symbol for exceptional design achievement.

There were nearly 2,500 entries from 39 different nations for this year’s award.

“Plantronics designed Voyager PRO for today’s mobile professionals who value performance and comfort above all else,” said Darrin Caddes, vice president of Corporate Design at Plantronics. “We designed the Voyager PRO to be perfectly balanced so that it is seemingly weightless yet very stable when worn and also extremely discreet as most of the physical volume of the product is concealed behind the ear. Combined with the industry’s best audio technology and extended battery life, Voyager PRO breaks new ground in what users should expect from a headset.”

The iF award is the latest accolade bestowed on the Plantronics Voyager PRO headset since it was introduced last year. Voyager PRO won coveted Editors’ Choice awards from CNET and PC Magazine, and was named a CES Innovations Design and Engineering Award Honoree in the Wireless Handsets Accessories category.
 
Engineered for Sound Quality(TM)
The Plantronics Voyager PRO provides the industry’s most advanced noise-canceling and wind noise reduction technology. The headset features a unique dual-microphone boom and AudioIQ2, next generation digital signal processing (DSP) technology, to precisely capture the user’s voice and simultaneously cancel background noise. It features three layers of WindSmart(R) technology to minimize wind noise and delivers rich, natural inbound audio so you can hear and be heard clearly.

The Plantronics Voyager PRO endured an extraordinary 24 rounds of human factors testing to perfect the design for all-day wearing comfort and stability. The Voyager PRO ear tip is made of soft silicone for an optimal fit and features a “sound channel” that helps distribute audio evenly to the ear. Ideal for mobile professionals, the Plantronics Voyager PRO is extremely comfortable and the battery provides up to six hours of talk time before having to recharge.

About the iF Design Awards
Since the introduction of the iF product design award in 1953, iF design awards have developed into prestigious trademarks for outstanding achievements in the field of design.   Enterprises and design studios use the award to make their customers and additional target groups aware of the potentially decisive difference in product and service quality expressed by this distinction.

Cannes, France – November 2, 2009 – Plantronics (NYSE: PLT) today expanded its growing portfolio of wireless headsets for Unified Communications (UC) with the new Plantronics Voyager® PRO UC headset. Voyager PRO UC combines Plantronics’ award-winning Voyager PRO Bluetooth® headset with a plug-and-play Bluetooth USB adapter to deliver richer wideband audio on softphones along with Voyager PRO’s superior noise and wind cancellation on both mobile phones and softphones.

“The Voyager PRO UC headset was designed for the growing number of mobile professionals who rely on unified communications to stay connected,” said Gunjan Bhow, vice president and general manager of Unified Communications at Plantronics “Because the headset works with both UC applications and mobile phones, mobile professionals no longer need to juggle multiple headsets. They can get superior audio quality with one device.”

Plug-and-Play Simplicity, Reduced Help Desk Costs
The Plantronics Voyager PRO UC headset features a plug-and-play Bluetooth USB adapter that reduces Help Desk support costs by eliminating cumbersome software setup processes. Users insert the adapter into their PC and can start talking immediately. The headset delivers high-end audio with wideband calling through softphone applications from leading providers, including Avaya, Cisco, IBM, and Microsoft, and other popular services, such as Google Talk and Skype. Plantronics Voyager PRO UC headset supports multipoint technology that allows users to switch between their mobile phone calls and PC calls with the touch of a button.

Plantronics Voyager PRO UC includes the PerSono® Suite software providing call answer/end, volume and mute with supported softphones and manages PC audio, such as music, unified messaging and webinars,  Call alert provides notification of incoming softphone calls while listening to streaming audio and a single button on the headset lets users answer/end calls. PerSono Suite software also includes feature setting capabilities so users can personalize the system with choice of ring tones, volume levels, and media management, such as pausing music when taking a call.

“We predict that the adoption of Unified Communications is set to significantly change the traditional communication landscape and infrastructure within businesses across the globe. Desk telephones for many knowledge workers will become redundant, as laptops with smartphones become the communication tools of choice” comments Steve Blood, Research vice president at Gartner, “Headsets will become essential communication tools for collaborators and could become mandatory, because of health and safety policies”.

The Award-Winning Voyager PRO wireless headset: Engineered for Sound Quality
CNET and PC Magazine have bestowed coveted Editors’ Choice Awards on the Plantronics Voyager PRO for delivering unparalleled audio quality, comfort and usability. Voyager PRO features AudioIQ2 technology, the next generation of Plantronics’ AudioIQ® digital signal processing (DSP) technology that is enhanced by a unique adjustable dual-microphone boom. The boom provides the advantage of capturing your voice close to your mouth so the AudioIQ2 technology can more effectively remove ambient noise, while still maintaining the natural sound of your voice. The Voyager PRO UC headset also uses wideband audio technology to provide richer sound quality for PC audio including softphone applications.

Plantronics Voyager PRO features three layers of WindSmart® technology to minimize wind distortion. Dual external stainless steel microphone screens and acoustic fabrics that surround the microphones provide substantial physical barriers to wind noise. At the same time, AudioIQ2 technology intelligently deciphers your voice from the wind to deliver clear sound to your listener.

The Plantronics Voyager PRO UC headset also delivers unmatched inbound audio quality to ensure every word is heard on both sides of a conversation. It features a custom speaker that delivers full-spectrum audio so conversations are richer and more vibrant. The adaptive 20-band equalizer delivers distortion-free audio and works with AudioIQ2 technology to automatically adjust sound to comfortable levels based on the noise level around you to ensure maximum audibility. 

Availability
The Plantronics Voyager PRO UC is available in November through authorized resellers and office supply retailers. For a complete list of supported softphone applications, please visit: www.plantronics.com/personosuite. To learn more about Plantronics Voyager PRO UC please visit: www.plantronics.com/voyagerprouc

Plantronics — The Voice of Unified Communications™
Plantronics offers one of the industry’s most complete families of corded and wireless products for unified communications. Widely recognized for their sound quality, reliability and comfort, Plantronics’ audio solutions help companies extend the benefits of IP communications throughout the extended enterprise, fostering better business communication and efficiency regardless of where professionals are working.

London – 4th September 2009 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT), the leading manufacturer of premium headsets, today announced the new Plantronics Discovery® 975 Bluetooth® earpiece. The Plantronics Discovery 975 is the next generation of the Discovery 925, which was lauded for its superior audio quality and innovative lightweight design. Customers will enjoy an improved audio experience with advanced AudioIQ2 and WindSmart® technologies, which deliver natural sounding voice in harsh noise environments, coupled with Plantronics’ legendary inbound audio quality, comfort, and durability.

“Consumers expect great outbound noise cancellation in a premium headset, but they are tired of sacrificing usability, comfort, and quality,” said Stuart Bradshaw, EMEA Marketing Manager for the Plantronics Mobile Division “At Plantronics we have spent nearly five decades perfecting all aspects of headset design from inbound audio quality to fit. For customers seeking the perfect blend of innovative design and advanced audio technologies, the Discovery 975 is the ingeniously simple solution.”

Industry-Leading Performance
The Discovery 975 features AudioIQ2, the next generation of Plantronics’ AudioIQ digital signal processing (DSP) technology, and two microphones to precisely capture the user’s voice and simultaneously cancel background noise. Users don’t have to worry about pressing special buttons or having sensors touch their face to activate the noise-canceling capabilities — AudioIQ2 works automatically wherever the user is having a conversation.

Plantronics Discovery 975 addresses wind noise with three layers of WindSmart® technology. It features grooved vents on the boom and acoustic fabrics that surround the microphones to block wind. In addition, electronic filters within AudioIQ2 remove wind noise during conversations and help deliver your clear, natural voice to the listener.

The Plantronics Discovery 975 also provides the great inbound audio quality for which Plantronics is known. The earpiece includes an adaptive 20-band equalizer that delivers rich, full voice and works with AudioIQ2 to automatically adjust incoming calls to comfortable listening levels based on the noise level around you.

One-Of-A-Kind Charging Case
The Discovery 975 comes with an improved rechargeable carrying case the can triple talk time from 5 hours to up to 15 hours while protecting and storing the earpiece. The new case includes an LCD screen that displays the battery and earpiece charge levels, as well as Bluetooth connectivity. With the rechargeable case, users don’t have to worry about constantly finding a wall outlet and can finally see the charge level in their headset, so they won’t run out of battery life in the middle of a call.

Intuitive User Experience & Simple Design
At only 8 grams, the Plantronics Discovery 975 is a lightweight headset featuring Plantronics’ signature boom, which captures speech close to the mouth to ensure your voice sounds natural. Perfect for quick on/off wearing, the earpiece uses the same patented soft gel ear tips customers loved on the Discovery 925 for a stable, comfortable fit that doesn’t invade the ear canal. The Discovery 975 includes two buttons for ease of use: one button for powering on/off and call answer/end and another button for volume control and mute. The Discovery 975 features voice prompts for low battery warnings, mute status and Bluetooth connectivity.

Pricing and Availability
The Plantronics Discovery 975 has a retail price of £79.99 and is available at www.plantronics.com. For more information about the Plantronics Discovery 975, please visit: www.plantronics.com/discovery975.

“We are delighted to have secured this agreement with The Carphone Warehouse,” said Paul Hartridge, Head of UK Consumer Sales at Plantronics. Inc. “This means that more and more people will be able to purchase and enjoy Plantronics Bluetooth headsets that give outstanding audio quality at competitive prices”.

The Explorer® 390 is a lightweight headset designed for in-car use, delivering noise, wind and echo reduction for quality sound at an affordable price. The easy one-touch features enable users to listen and talk easily, whilst focusing on the road with this user-friendly headset.  The multiple charging options mean it can be powered up at home, on the road and in the office and it can be paired with two Bluetooth enabled devices at any one time.

The Explorer® 260 is an easy-to-use Bluetooth headset, ideal for first-time buyers using their headset in the car. The straight forward QuickPair™ set-up and one-touch features make using this Bluetooth headset simple, whilst the Plantronics’ technologies ensure guaranteed sound quality with up to 8 hours talk time. It has been tested with top Bluetooth mobile phone brands to ensure near universal compatibility and comes with multiple charging options. Both these Plantronics headsets come with a 2-year warranty.

Pricing and Availability

Customers will be able to purchase the Plantronics Explorer® 390 and Explorer® 260 from 10th August , through The Carphone  Warehouse retail and online stores. RRP is £29.99 - £39.99, for more specific pricing please refer to The Carphone Warehouse. To learn more about the Explorer® range, please visit: www.plantronics.com.

“Plantronics is committed to improving unified communications for end users through audio solutions that deliver great sound quality, ease-of-use and seamless interoperability between any phone and the PC,” said Gunjan Bhow, vice president and general manager of unified communications at Plantronics.  “This award from Microsoft for our first USB handset, the .Audio™ 1100M, is a testament to the importance of delivering a simple, intuitive user experience that will spur adoption.”

Awards will be presented in a number of categories, with winners chosen from a pool of nearly 2,000 entrants worldwide. The OEM Hardware Solutions, Device Manufacturing Partner of the Year award recognizes independent hardware vendors or original device manufacturers who deliver superior customer value by designing and developing hardware peripheral and device solutions that use Microsoft technologies. To be eligible for this award, you must:
• Be active in the OEM Hardware Solutions competency, Device Manufacturing specialization.
• First profile your nominated solutions in Partner Solution Profiler.

“Microsoft is pleased to recognize Plantronics as the OEM Hardware Solutions, Device Manufacturing Partner of the Year for developing a highly innovative and easy-to-use hardware accessory to accompany Microsoft’s Unified Communications,” said Ross Brown, Vice President, Solution Partners and ISVs, Microsoft Corp. “Plantronics’ solution provides seamless transition from analog telephones to unified communications solutions, providing significant ROI, customer satisfaction, and broader adoption.”

The Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference Awards recognize Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered exceptional Microsoft-based solutions over the last year.

www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/wwpc/default.mspx

Plantronics – The Voice of Unified Communications™
Plantronics offers one of the industry’s most complete families of corded and wireless products for unified communications.  Widely recognized for their sound quality, reliability and comfort, Plantronics’ audio solutions help companies extend the benefits of IP communications throughout the extended enterprise, fostering better business communication and efficiency regardless of where professionals are working.

For more information about Plantronics’ UC-ready products, visit: http://www.plantronics.com/uc

London – 22nd June, 2009 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today continued its 47-year legacy of audio expertise and ingenuity with the new Plantronics Voyager® PRO Bluetooth® headset. Plantronics Voyager PRO features AudioIQ2, the next generation of its AudioIQ digital signal processing (DSP) technology, to deliver superior noise and wind cancellation as well as rich, natural inbound audio so you can hear and be heard clearly.

The Plantronics Voyager PRO is the successor to the popular Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth headset, a cult favorite among headset enthusiasts. Like the Voyager 510, the new Plantronics Voyager PRO is designed for mobile professionals who need all-day wearing comfort and excellent audio wherever they are working.
Engineered for Sound Quality

Today’s headset users expect great noise cancellation and Plantronics Voyager PRO delivers it with AudioIQ2 and a unique adjustable dual-microphone boom. While other headsets deliver noise cancellation at the expense of overall audio quality, the boom provides the advantage of capturing your voice close to your mouth so the AudioIQ2 technology can more effectively remove ambient noise, while still maintaining the natural sound of your voice.

The headset also effectively minimizes wind noise – a major cause of disruption during calls. Plantronics Voyager PRO features three layers of WindSmart® technology. Dual external stainless steel microphone screens and acoustic fabrics that surround the microphones together provide substantial physical barriers to wind noise. At the same time, the AudioIQ2 DSP algorithms intelligently decipher your voice from the wind to deliver clear sound to your listener.

Finally, Voyager PRO delivers unmatched inbound audio quality to ensure every word is heard on both sides of a conversation. It features a custom speaker that delivers full-spectrum audio so conversations are richer and more vibrant. The adaptive 20-band equalizer delivers distortion-free audio and works with AudioIQ2 to automatically adjust sound levels based on the noise level around you to ensure maximum audibility.
“Plantronics is singularly focused on one thing – the headset perfected. With the Plantronics Voyager PRO we set out to engineer a high-performance headset for today’s professional user who not only demands unparalleled sound quality on both sides of call, but also insists on comfort and usability,” said Renee Niemi, vice president and general manager of the Plantronics Mobile and Entertainment Division. “Voyager PRO breaks new ground in Bluetooth headsets, and consumers will be delighted by the total experience.”

Engineered for Comfort
The Plantronics Voyager PRO endured an extraordinary 24 rounds of human factors testing to perfect the design for all-day wearing comfort and stability. The behind-the-ear wearing style is perfectly counterbalanced so weight is distributed evenly, rendering it virtually weightless when worn. The Voyager PRO ear tip is made of soft silicone for an optimal fit and features a “sound channel” that helps distribute audio evenly to the ear.

Engineered for the Mobile Professional
The Plantronics Voyager PRO was designed for the mobile professional user. It includes easily accessible power, volume and mute buttons. It can seamlessly connect to two different mobile phones with multipoint technology, and it folds up easily for storage. The Voyager PRO also features voice prompts for low battery warnings and mute status. Finally, the lithium polymer battery provides up to six hours of continuous talk time and five days of stand-by time, exceeding the talk and standby times of most mobile phones.

Pricing and Availability
The Plantronics Voyager PRO is available for £79.99 at www.plantronics.com. For more information about the Plantronics Voyager PRO, please visit: http://www.plantronics.com/voyagerpro.

London: June 2nd 2009– Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today announced the launch of their new VoIP Headset System, the Plantronics IP40.  The very first of its kind in the market, the new IP40 is a groundbreaking, simplified IP phone for contact centres.

Plantronics IP40 simplifies contact centre desktops and lowers costs by up to €100 (£90) per agent position by eliminating the need for over featured desk phones with largely redundant interfaces or expensive PC upgrades required to run IP softphones.  Plugging directly into the Ethernet port, agents no longer need an IP desk phone or softphone to place and receive calls. Unlike a soft phone the IP40 guarantees audio quality as with the voice path being entirely independent of the PC.

Compatible with Contact Centre Applications from most major vendors, the IP40 delivers clear and crisp audio quality, reliability, a small form factor and a competitive price. Complimenting flexible working, the IP40 can be used within a call centre or from a remote or home office.

“As the infrastructure in today’s contact centres continues to move towards VoIP and SIP, we recognized a void in the market and the growing need for a more reliable option to deliver these services,” said Philip Vanhoutte, EMEA Managing Director at Plantronics.  “Our new IP40 is a compact, simple-to-use VoIP headset system that has all the advantages of an IP Phone and soft client but none of their disadvantages. To put it simply, it provides all you need and nothing you don’t.”

Already tested at INOVO Contact Centre Solutions, Eugene Schalkwyk, the Chief Technology Officer comments “We simply love the IP40, it provides a unique value proposition for any contact centre. It not only significantly reduces complexity for the operator but is very easy to install and maintain. The market has been asking for a unit like this for a long time and we can finally offer a high quality and cost effective SIP device.”

Compatible with Plantronics professional grade headsets, the IP40 features plug-and-play installation, power over Ethernet support and key control buttons right on the device.

The IP40 will be available in June and is priced at €155/ £138 (exc VAT). Please contact Rowland Harding at GolinHarris on 020 7067 0600 or by email at PlantronicsPR@golinharris.com for more information regarding pricing and availability.

Plantronics – The Voice of Unified Communications
Plantronics offers one of the industry’s most complete families of corded and wireless products for unified communications.  Widely recognised for their sound quality, reliability and comfort, Plantronics’ audio solutions help companies extend the benefits of IP communications throughout the extended enterprise, fostering better business communication and efficiency regardless of where professionals are working.

London – May 27, 2009 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today introduced the new .Audio™ 995 Digital Wireless Stereo Headset for multimedia and voice applications on the PC. The .Audio 995 combines rich digital stereo sound and great voice quality to provide users with a single headset for all of their PC activities — including music and movie listening, gaming, PC calls and podcasting — without the cords.

The Plantronics .Audio 995 headset utilizes advanced Plantronics audio technology and the digital 2.4gHz frequency for exceptional audio and lower interference with other wireless devices. Users can wirelessly roam up to 40 feet away from the PC and remotely control volume, play and skip tracks on iTunes® and Windows Media Player® via music controls directly on the earpiece.

“Consumers shouldn’t have to decide between superior audio quality and the benefits of wireless when selecting a PC headset,” said Matt Miller, director of PC and Entertainment at Plantronics, Inc. “Unlike other wireless products on the market today, there are no compromises with the .Audio 995. We designed it to enhance the array of multimedia and voice-intensive activities that PC users perform everyday through full-range stereo sound, clear audio and a comfortable fit.”

The Plantronics .Audio 955 includes pillow-soft, swivel-mounted ear cushions and a lightweight design for long-wearing comfort.  The headset features Plantronics’ noise-canceling Fast Mic Mute™ technology, which quickly mutes audio when the boom is raised. Users can connect the .Audio 995 in one simple step with the plug-and-play wireless USB connector.

Pricing and Availability
The Plantronics .Audio 955 is priced at £79.99 The product is also available at www.plantronics.com. For more information about the .Audio 995, please visit www.plantronics.com.

London – May 19th, 2009 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today unveiled the company’s latest market research identifying how headsets shape the experience shared between sales representatives and their customers. With the economic downturn and trimming of travel budgets, companies are becoming increasingly dependent on their salesforces’ ability to foster and maintain valuable customer relationships over the phone.

With the pressure mounting, Plantronics has discovered that throughout the UK and Europe, it’s clear that for sales and customer, using a headset is the key to creating a comfortable and compelling customer experience.

Conducted by research specialist Opinion Matters/Tickbox.net, Plantronics’ online survey polled thousands of sales representatives (not contact centre workers) and customers from the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. In each region, both groups reported a vast preference for the use of a headset during sales/customer calls and expressed the importance of headsets in shaping a positive customer experience.

According to the survey, an overwhelming majority of sales respondents from all regions reported feeling better able, in general, to solve customer/client problems and issues and work more efficiently when using a headset as compared to talking over the telephone with only a handset. In addition, the sales representatives questioned felt that using a headset leads to more satisfactory outcomes for their customers, and even rated headsets as a more vital business tool/accessory than a Blackberry.

Similarly, the majority of customers polled throughout the UK and Europe said they believe that professionals using headsets boosts their experience as a customer, and that they actually feel closer to a salesperson when he/she is using a headset. Furthermore, the same customers said they find sales peoples’ communication skills more effective when they are using a headset rather than a telephone handset.

“As one of the first in our field, the value in using a headset to communicate more efficiently and effectively is a concept we passoniately believe in at Plantronics,” said Philip Vanhoutte, Managing Director at Plantronics EMEA. “We were stunned with the survey results and feel that sales organizations throughout the UK and EMEA could benefit greatly from using headsets to improve their overall customer experience, especially as their travel budgets continue to suffer in today’s rough economic climate.”

Other key findings from the survey include:
- Top two reasons for using a headset are to work more efficiently/smarter and to enable quicker access to customer data/info.
- Other key influencers for headset use include its ability to bring the sales/customer rep closer to the customer as well as appear more natural on the call.
- Almost all respondents felt that their jobs would become more difficult and/or the level of service they provide would suffer if the headset were no longer available
- Headsets were rated the third most important business tool vital to performing their job successfully, just under mobile phones and software tools.
- Sales/customer service representatives feel more effective at communicating with their clients and feel the rapport they build with clients / customers when talking to them is stronger when using a headset.

Opinion Matters / Tickbox.net is a leading market research organisation, carrying out consumer, corporate and niche market surveys online amongst a 50,000+ member panel. The Plantronics and Opinion Matters / Tickbox.net survey was conducted online between 03.02.09 and 12.02.09 amongst a nationally representative sample of adults throughout the UK, France, Germany, Holland and Spain aged 16+. None of the people surveyed were working in a contact centre, where the usage of headsets is the norm . Opinion Matters / Tickbox.net follow the codes of the MRS (Market Research Society) and are fully registered and compliant with the Data Protection Registrar.

According to the new study of 1,518 office workers and managers, conducted by Plantronics to understand the impact of the recession on attitudes towards flexible and home working, 59% of UK office workers said that they were still inclined to work from home or ask for flexible working hours despite the current recession.

Just 15% of the office workers surveyed said that they would be significantly less inclined to ask for flexible working hours as a result of the recession, with only 8% of UK office managers saying that they would be a lot less likely to encourage flexible working during the current economic crisis.

Barriers to flexible working
Lack of access to the right technology is seen as a block to home working for workers. 32% of employees feel poorly equipped at home and unsupported by bosses who are reluctant to provide the right technology to facilitate home working. Despite the widespread availability and falling technology prices that could make home working easy, such as high speed broadband, wireless headsets and portable communication devices, people still feel chained to their desks.

Company culture and image also play a crucial part in the attitudes towards flexible working practices. Of those respondents less likely to work from home, 62% said this was because they believed employers looked down on home working and so would worry that their commitment to the job was doubted.  Of those sceptical managers, more than a third believe colleagues that work from home are not as productive and don’t have the technology in place to support flexible working practices. In addition, of those managers against flexible working, a third said this was because they want to be able to keep an eye on their staff.

The Generation Gap
Flexible working is thought of as appealing to the younger generation - drawn to the prospect of greater freedom in the workplace. Of all the respondents it was the generation Y group (16-25) however, who said that they were less likely to ask for flexible working hours during the current recession. 18% said  they would be much less likely to ask.

By contrast, it was the older generation of 55+ who said that they would not be less inclined to ask for flexible working hours. 69% said that they would still ask. Furthermore, 53% of managers in the 55+ category said that they would also be more inclined to encourage flexible working during the recession.

Regional differences
Attitudes towards flexible working practices differ across the UK.  On average approximately two thirds of respondents in the East of England, the Midlands, the North East and all of the South said that they would still be inclined to ask for flexible working hours, with only just over a third feeling the same in London.

Feeling about preparedness for flexible working across the UK is more mixed however. Respondents from London, although less inclined to do so, felt that they were better supported from a technology standpoint with only 14% citing it as a reason against flexible working - compared to 55% in the East of England and 36% in the Midlands.

Dispelling the Workload Myth
Many argue against flexible working because they believe it increases the workloads of those left working from the office. Our research however, shows that 75% of respondents do not have greater workloads due to fewer people being in the office than they did a year ago.

“These results are very surprising and highlight that there is a real appetite for flexible working practices in the UK - among both managers and workers.” Says Paul Clark, General Manager, UK for Plantronics. “Furthermore, I would have thought it would be the younger generation jumping at the chance for flexible working not the older generation who seem to be more inclined to ask for it.”

“We know that attitudes are shifting in favour of flexible working practices and we also know that affordable technology is available for businesses to take advantage of it.” Clark continued, “As a company passionate about developing technology that helps people work smarter and not harder, Plantronics is keen to work with UK businesses to help them take full advantage of the technology, which will enable them to facilitate this shift towards flexible working.”

London – March 11th, 2009 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today announced their 100th TCO certified product, the Savi Office Wireless Headset. Designed for Unified Communications, the Savi office can be used seamlessly across multiple platforms including PC audio, web conferencing, multimedia streaming/listening and desk/softphones

Plantronics began applying for TCO certification in 2007 and were the first headset company to achieve accreditation they continue to consider this an important independent endorsement to the exceptional build and audio quality of their products. TCO Development the company behind the TCO Certification program owned by TCO (The Swedish Confederation for Professional Employees) comprises of 17 affiliated trade unions with 1.3 million members. TCO labeling is a worldwide-recognized standard within the IT industry.

Philip Vanhoutte, EMEA Managing Director of Plantronics, comments “We are delighted to have been awarded our 100th certification, this is a true independent testament to the our drive to design and manufacturer products of the highest quality.”
Savi Office is designed for office workers and provides a single wireless headset for mixing desk phone calls with PC audio and softphone calls and supports UC offerings from leading providers, including Avaya, Cisco, IBM, and Microsoft, and other popular services, such as Google Talk and Skype.

Availability
Plantronics Savi Office is Optimized for Microsoft® Office Communicator 2007 and will be available through Plantronics authorized retailers later this spring. For more information about the new wireless headset systems, the various configurations available to customers, and pricing, please visit: www.plantronics.com/saviseries.

Plantronics – The Voice of Unified Communications
Plantronics offers one of the industry’s most complete families of corded and wireless products for unified communications. Widely recognized for their sound quality, reliability and comfort, Plantronics’ audio solutions help companies extend the benefits of IP communications throughout the extended enterprise, fostering better business communication and efficiency regardless of where professionals are working.

For more information about Plantronics’ UC-ready products, visit: http://www.plantronics.com/uc.

Santa Cruz, Calif. – March 11, 2009 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today introduced the industry’s first suite of Unified Communications wireless headset systems that integrate multiple devices and applications for improved business collaboration and cost savings. Designed for today’s distributed workforce, the Plantronics Savi™ Series provides a new level of communication versatility combined with superior audio and reliability.

“As Unified Communications becomes more prevalent in the enterprise, professionals are increasingly using a mix of communication tools, including desk phones, softphones and mobile phones, on an everyday basis,” said Melanie Turek, industry principal, Unified Communications at Frost & Sullivan. “Intelligent headsets that can unify devices and applications to help eliminate costs and improve workforce collaboration are truly essential for successful UC deployments.”

Revenues for the worldwide unified communications application and service markets grew by 294 percent in 2008, according to Frost & Sullivan. The analyst firm forecasts a CAGR of 72 percent for the market (2008-2014).

The Plantronics Savi Series features two wireless headset systems: Savi Office and Savi Go. Savi Office is designed for office workers and provides a single wireless headset for mixing desk phone calls with PC audio and softphone calls. Savi Go gives mobile professionals a simple-to-use wireless headset to connect to PC and mobile phone communications.  Both products have variants that support UC offerings from leading providers, including Avaya, Cisco, IBM, and Microsoft, and other popular services, such as Google Talk and Skype.

“Plantronics is participating in numerous Unified Communications pilot projects, helping IT departments increase adoption by understanding end-user needs and preferences,” said Chuck Yort, vice president and general manager, B2B Solutions at Plantronics. “Experience is teaching us that the last leg of UC — how well end users interface with devices — is just as critical as the infrastructure. Our new Savi products are reliable, minimize risk and spur adoption for IT decision makers, and deliver great audio, comfort and ease of use for end users.”

Plantronics Savi Office – PC and Desk Phone Integration
As the PC emerges as an audio platform for business, professionals require a way to seamlessly transition between the various audio-intensive functions performed during the workday. With the Savi Office headset system, professionals can use a single wireless headset for PC audio, including web conferencing, multimedia streaming and music listening, and switch to/from both desk phone and softphone calls at the touch of a button.

Plantronics Savi Office features a new software application, PerSono® Suite, to manage calls and audio. PerSono Suite provides an intuitive, one-click interface to let users mix desk phones and softphone calls, mute a call, or put a call on hold with a single click. Users can personalize PerSono Suite and save ring tones, volume levels, and default settings.

Additional Savi Office features and benefits include:
• Mobility: All communications and PC audio listening on Savi Office are wireless, giving professionals the freedom to talk hands-free and work without the hassles of a cord, up to 350-feet away from the desk.
• Audio Quality: Savi Office is built on digitally encrypted, voice-dedicated DECT™ 6.0 technology for exceptional audio quality and lower interference with other wireless devices.
• Personal Choice: Savi Office is offered with two different wearing styles: convertible includes over-the-ear and over-the-head styles and a discreet over-the-ear style, both with noise-canceling microphones.

Plantronics Savi Go – Wideband PC Audio and Mobile Connections
Designed for the more than 47.3 million mobile professionals*, the Plantronics Savi Go headset system enables users to unify their PC softphone and mobile phone communications with excellent audio quality. Savi Go includes a plug-and-play Bluetooth® USB adapter that reduces support costs by eliminating cumbersome software set-up processes and provides life-like, wideband calling through any UC application. The Class 1 Bluetooth adapter provides up to 200 feet of range from the PC for extended mobility, and also features A2DP for wireless stereo streaming.

Additional Savi Go features and benefits include:
• Device Simplification: The Savi Go headset includes multipoint technology that allows users to switch between their mobile phone and PC calls with the touch of a button.
• Audio Quality: The headset features an extended boom and noise-cancelling microphone for call clarity, and a single button on the headset provides remote answer/end, volume up/down and mute.
• Ease of Use: Savi Go also comes with the PerSono Suite software to help manage PC audio and calling.

Plantronics Savi Go will be available in two versions: Optimized for Microsoft® Office Communicator 2007 and enhanced for other Unified Communications platforms.

Availability
Plantronics Savi Office and Savi Go Optimized for Microsoft® Office Communicator 2007 will be available through Plantronics authorized retailers later this spring. Savi Go enhanced for other Unified Communications platforms will be available this summer. For more information about the new wireless headset systems, the various configurations available to customers, and pricing, please visit: www.plantronics.com/saviseries.

Plantronics – The Voice of Unified Communications
Plantronics offers one of the industry’s most complete families of corded and wireless products for unified communications.  Widely recognized for their sound quality, reliability and comfort, Plantronics’ audio solutions help companies extend the benefits of IP communications throughout the extended enterprise, fostering better business communication and efficiency regardless of where professionals are working.

For more information about Plantronics’ UC-ready products, visit: http://www.plantronics.com/uc.

The .Audio 655 is the first headset certified to work with Skype’s new SILK speech codec, which was introduced earlier this year. This new audio codec delivers exceptionally clear conversations and achieves wideband audio quality (16KHz) using 50 per cent less network bandwidth than previously required. Moreover, it introduces a new standard for speech quality – super wideband audio (24KHz) – which delivers crystal clear, richer and warmer sound to those using a compatible headset and a high quality broadband connection. Skype’s bandwidth manager interacts with the codec to adjust quickly to fluctuating bandwidth conditions to produce the most reliable sound.

“Skype’s new super wideband audio is a breakthrough in providing consumers with even richer voice and video calls, so they get the feeling of true ‘face-to-face’ conversations,” said Matt Miller, director of PC and Entertainment at Plantronics. Inc. “The .Audio 655 is the only headset for Skype’s 405 million registered users worldwide to take full advantage of super wideband audio, while delivering great comfort and plug-and-play simplicity.”

“We believe that our new state-of-the-art super wideband audio capability sets a new standard for richer voice communications over the Internet,” said Jonathan Christensen, Skype’s General Manager for Audio and Video. ”We are proud to be partnering with Plantronics to showcase this improvement in the calling experience for consumers.”

Plantronics .Audio 655 – A Perfect Skype Companion
The Plantronics .Audio 655 stereo headset delivers deep bass and full-range digital audio through 40 mm speakers, includes a noise-cancelling microphone for clear conversations, and features Fast Mic Mute™ technology that lets users quickly mute the microphone by raising the boom. The .Audio 655’s soft, swivel-mounted ear cushions and lightweight design provide all-day wearing comfort so users can listen to music, make internet calls, or play DVDs and games. For ease of use, the headset uses a plug-and-play USB connection and features one-touch volume controls on the earpiece.

The All-New Skype
The all-new Skype is the most exciting and fundamental change to Skype’s software since the company’s inception five years ago. It incorporates many substantive improvements to video calling and overall ease-of-use, making it even easier to communicate online, using whatever method is preferred – free voice and video calls to other Skype users, instant messaging, as well as calls to landlines and mobile devices around the world and SMS at very low rates.

Pricing and Availability
The Plantronics .Audio 655 USB stereo headset will be available from the start of April 2009 for £39.99 including VAT. To learn more about the .Audio 665, please visit: www.plantronics.com.

“Altec Lansing has a unique history of designing innovative and modern sound systems to match the audio needs of the ever-evolving music and entertainment culture dating back more than 70 years,” said Luc Ackaert, EMEA Marketing Director of Altec Lansing. “As one of the first developers of the iPod docking system, we feel the new iMotion Max speaker system for the iPhone and iPod is a representation of our passion for meaningful design, ultimate freedom and flexibility and above all, impeccable crystal-clear sound to capture the true emotion of music.”

High Quality Sound
Using proprietary ESS technology for an expanded sound stage, powerful XdB bass-enhancement and twin precision-matched, full spectrum speakers, the new Altec Lansing inMotion MAX delivers crisp sound unmatched by the competition and at a surprisingly large stereophonic range – easily filling any size room with rich, realistic, distortion-free audio.

iPhone In-Call Support
Compatible with the Apple iPhone, Apple iPod and most MP3 players, the inMotion MAX speaker system automatically pauses music when a call is received on an iPhone. In order to avoid any nasty interruptions mid-song, the inMotion MAX is fully immune to GSM and Wi-Fi signals, preventing the speakers from picking up potential intermittent noises emitted by the iPhone 3G, original iPhone or other mobile devices.

Additional Features
For those aren’t early risers by nature, the inMotion MAX supports iPhone and iPod alarm and sleep timer features and is additionally equipped with a built-in digital FM radio and high-contrast amber LCD to display songs and FM station data (RDS).  Perfect for parties on the go, the inMotion MAX includes an enhanced remote to control speaker system functions, the FM Radio and playlist and song navigation, as well as an auxiliary input to connect a second audio source. Whether on the road or at home, the inMotion Max’s rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to 3.5 hours of continuous play.

Available in March 2009, the Altec Lansing inMotion MAX (iMT702) system will be sold at leading electrical retailers and priced in the region of €199 / £149.99 (including VAT).

For information, including where to find the inMotion MAX near you, please visit: http://www.alteclansing.com.