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.

Barcelona (Mobile World Congress 2009) — February 16th, 2009 – Altec Lansing, the sound specialist and division of Plantronics, Inc., today launched its first wearable stereo Bluetooth products, the Backbeat Series Stereo Bluetooth headphone and headset, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Included in the series are the Backbeat 903, a truly comfortable light and flexible wireless headset for stereo Bluetooth mobile phones that delivers rich, full-spectrum stereo music and call clarity, and the Backbeat 906 headphones, which comes with an additional Bluetooth adapter to stream music from your iPod®, or other digital music player.

Combining cutting-edge audio and voice technologies from Altec Lansing and Plantronics, the Backbeat wireless headphone and headset provide brilliant, full-spectrum stereo sound and call support for most music-enabled mobile phones*. Designed for the active lifestyle, whether on the run or at the gym, both are equipped with OpenMic™, a new technology that allows users to ‘open’ the microphone audio to their surroundings at the touch of a button. This new feature allows the user to instantly hear their surroundings, providing greater convenience and safety while exercising.

“With consumers so accustomed to digital music capabilities in their mobile phones these days, the time is perfect for Altec Lansing to combine our legendary audio expertise with the convenience of Bluetooth,” said Luc Ackaert, EMEA Consumer Marketing Director for Altec Lansing. “The BackBeat 906 is brimming with smartphone-friendly extras – it’s comfortable, simple and supports multiple voice features – and especially shines when listening to music.”

Outstanding Audio for Music and Conversations
The BackBeat 903 headphone and 906 headset deliver an exceptionally rich audio experience. Featuring Altec Lansing’s new BassBoost technology, they enhance speaker output in low frequency ranges for sound with depth and resonance.

The BackBeat 903 and 906 include Plantronics Dual-Mic AudioIQ® technology to separate voice from noise for audio clarity during calls. Similar to its performance in Plantronics’ award-winning lineup of Bluetooth headsets, the inclusion of dual-microphones enables the BackBeat to accurately isolate voice signals: one microphone captures voice as the second microphone identifies and cancels out background noise. AudioIQ, Plantronics’ proprietary digital signal processing algorithm, intelligently senses the caller’s surroundings to further improve background noise and automatically adjusts the sound for the best possible two-way audio quality.

Flexible For Fit And Storage
Designed with a soft neckband to fold easily for quick storage in pockets or bags, the Backbeat range are ideal for those on the move. They also feature pivoting, telescoping earpieces for a customized, secure fit and the comfortable in-ear design includes contoured, soft silicone tips that rest gently within the curve of the ear. Phone and music controls are intuitively spaced and have a tactile feel for easy use. All materials are sweat-resistant and highly durable.

Universal Stereo Bluetooth Adaptor
The BackBeat 906 headset include a stereo 2.0 Bluetooth adaptor, which transmits wireless stereo sound from iPhones, iPods and other MP3 devices via a 3.5mm jack.

The BackBeat 903 consists of the headphones only and is specifically designed for use with Bluetooth enabled MP3 players and stereo Bluetooth enabled mobile phones that do not require a separate Bluetooth adaptor.

The headphones integrate Bluetooth v2.1 with EDR and support profiles including Hands-Free, Headset, A2DP and AVRC for wireless call and music control capability. Talk/music playback time is rated up to 7 hours and standby time is up to 8 days.

Pricing and Availability
Available now from electrical retailers, the BackBeat 903 retails for £69.99/ €79.99 (inc VAT) and the BackBeat 906 for £89.99/€99.99 (inc VAT). www.alteclansing.com.

The new BackBeat stereo Bluetooth series leads Altec Lansing’s comprehensive new 2009 collection of headphones and headsets. For more information about Altec Lansing’s complete BackBeat portfolio visit: http://www.alteclansing.com/winter2009/.

*Your music phone or device must have the A2DP Bluetooth profile to stream music and the AVRCP profile to control tracks and volume.

The Plantronics .Audio 1100M USB phone handset is optimised for Office Communicator 2007 to provide the functionality of a familiar phone interface for business users adopting PC telephony.  The .Audio 1100M features a standard, 10-key dial pad combined with call-answer and call-end keys, a visual ring indicator, a speakerphone activation key and ringer volume control.  A headset jack is also available on the handset for users who want a hands-free option.

The Plantronics MCD 100 USB speakerphone, also announced today, is an option for those conducting group conference calls via Office Communicator 2007.  It provides 360-degree room coverage so more than one person can participate in a PC-based audio conference. To achieve call clarity, the MCD 100 includes acoustic echo cancellation, noise suppression and equalizer algorithms embedded within the product.

“Plantronics expects an increased adoption of unified communication applications as distributed workforces become more prevalent,” said Amy Huson, director of UC Product Marketing at Plantronics. “More companies will consider implementing Office Communicator 2007, a cost effective method for increasing virtual collaboration.  We’ve developed these products to give IT decision makers and business users cost-effective and familiar options for those transitioning to PC telephony.”

Options for IT Departments Deploying Office Communicator
The Microsoft Corp. qualification process addresses IT professionals’ concerns about software to hardware interoperability and cross-vendor support.  The new .Audio 1100M phone handset and the MCD 100 USB speakerphone offer an enhanced user experience with integrated call control from the Office Communicator 2007 software.  These products join the growing portfolio of Plantronics products Optimised for Microsoft Office Communicator announced in 2008.

Enterprise IT buyers can now choose from the following Plantronics products Optimised for Microsoft Office Communicator:
• .Audio 1100M USB phone handset
• MCD 100 USB speakerphone
• .Audio 630M USB wideband binaural headset
• .Audio 615M USB wideband monaural headset
• SupraPlus Wideband USB monaural headset

“Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Release 2 is creating tremendous opportunities in the unified communications marketplace for companies like Plantronics,” said Eric Swift, senior director of the Microsoft Unified Communications Group at Microsoft Corp. “We look forward to working with Plantronics to reduce communications chaos and increase business productivity for our mutual customers.”

Availability
All Optimised for Microsoft Office Communicator Plantronics products are now available and may be purchased through authorised Plantronics resellers.

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.

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

London, England – November 13, 2008 – Designboom, in association with consumer electronics and design veterans Plantronics and Altec Lansing, have announced the winning entries from the Sound Innovation design competition, which called for futuristic speaker and Bluetooth headset designs. Sponsored by Plantronics and Altec Lansing, the entries were judged by a panel consisting of renowned designers including Alberto Meda, Matali Crasset and Darrin Caddes. The top entrants in each of the two categories are Kimming Yap and Yulia Sakson in first place with the Altec Lansing Mini and Pedro Gomes with the ON-TIME sound headset system for his Bluetooth headset designs. The winners will receive a $5,000 prize and will have their designs featured on the Designboom, Plantronics and Altec Lansing Web sites.

“We were blown away by not only the number of entries we received for this competition but also the sheer calibre of the designs,” said Luc Ackaert, Consumer Director for Plantronics and Altec Lansing. “It was an extremely difficult task to narrow down the winners from the 3,487 amazing designs submitted by the truly talented pool of entrants. We’re thrilled with the outcome of the Sound Innovation competition and are excited to share the winning designs with the public.”

The Altec Lansing Mini concept was designed as the perfect companion for an MP3 player, ideal for those who want to break away from headphones or to share music with friends. Plug and play, perfect for use anywhere, anytime with its distortion-free sound system and built-in rechargeable battery, the music keeps playing all night long.

The ON TIME – Sound headset system looks into the future and aims to address new trends and styles. It re-designs the concept of headsets and places it as a desirable design object to wear as a headset or a futuristic clock-bracelet developing a strong interface experience with the user through its aesthetic & functional values. When using it as a headset, the bracelet works as a clock and its LCD touchpad screen allows the user to see the caller id optimizing mobility levels. When calling, the bracelet vibrates for a silent warning and the user can answer the calls with one touch on the screen or refuse the call with two.

Dedicated to promoting innovative and functional design, both Plantronics and Altec Lansing are have a rich history with decades of forward thinking in consumer electronics. Known for creating the headset that transmitted the first words from the moon in 1969, Plantronics is a pioneer in the design of beautiful Bluetooth headsets and have recently launched a celebrity acclaimed, jewel inspired earpiece, the Discovery 925. With an equally rich history deeply-rooted in design, Altec Lansing created the first cinema speakers in the 1920’s and have continued to innovate designing and manufacturing award winning ipod and mp3 speaker systems, headphones, home audio and PC speakers including their latest design classic, the Expressionist BASS.

For additional information on the Innovative Sound design competition, including the winning entrants and designs, please visit www.designboom.com.

ABOUT DESIGNBOOM
Designboom has more than 1,500,000 readers a month from over 165 countries, and is the leading independent publication for key contemporary issues and the critique of all aspects of design. Based in Milan, the free internet resource offers snapshot reports from major international design shows, architecture and art exhibitions; interviews and portraits of the protagonists in the contemporary creative scene; design history and in-depth information on the creators of design classics.

London 16 December, 2008 –Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today announced that the Plantronics EncorePro™ headset won the prestigious international Forum (iF) product design award 2009.

iF jury members judged nearly 3,000 products from more than 1,000 contestants in 39 different countries to select the winners for 2009.  Products were evaluated based on criteria including innovativeness, functionality, design quality, material, ergonomics and environmental compatibility.  Plantronics Industrial Design developed EncorePro, a corded headset for contact centre professionals, and also designed the Plantronics Discovery® 640 Bluetooth® headset that won an iF Design Award in 2006.

“Recognition of the EncorePro for an iF Design Award confirms the importance of designing both consumer and enterprise products with the user in mind,” said Darrin Caddes, vice president of Corporate Design at Plantronics.  “I applaud the EncorePro design team, lead by Soohyun Ham, for truly understanding how contact centre professionals use our products.  They were able to design a headset that harmoniously combines superior audio performance with great comfort and style.”

Bringing Style to the Contact Centre
The Plantronics EncorePro, announced in October 2008, incorporates form and function, resulting in a lightweight headset that is beautiful and practical. An informal Plantronics survey of agents who trialled the EncorePro headset revealed that 60 per cent thought the fit and comfort was improved, 65 per cent felt the transmit sound was better and more than 70 per cent believed the EncorePro is more stylish than their existing headsets.

The headset is built with premium nylon composite and incorporates finishes and accents that are purely aesthetic, which is not typical for contact centre products.  The leatherette cushion and metal accent of the earpiece are reminiscent of a high fidelity speaker and serve to re-affirm the headset’s excellent sound quality. The shape and metal accents on the unique swivelling extendable microphone are designed to make the microphone look like a smaller version of a traditional broadcast microphone. A satin finish and metal accents are used throughout to incorporate the designers’ vision of a high-end European design.

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.

London 16 December, 2008 –Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today announced that the Plantronics EncorePro™ headset won the prestigious international Forum (iF) product design award 2009.

iF jury members judged nearly 3,000 products from more than 1,000 contestants in 39 different countries to select the winners for 2009.  Products were evaluated based on criteria including innovativeness, functionality, design quality, material, ergonomics and environmental compatibility.  Plantronics Industrial Design developed EncorePro, a corded headset for contact centre professionals, and also designed the Plantronics Discovery® 640 Bluetooth® headset that won an iF Design Award in 2006.

“Recognition of the EncorePro for an iF Design Award confirms the importance of designing both consumer and enterprise products with the user in mind,” said Darrin Caddes, vice president of Corporate Design at Plantronics.  “I applaud the EncorePro design team, lead by Soohyun Ham, for truly understanding how contact centre professionals use our products.  They were able to design a headset that harmoniously combines superior audio performance with great comfort and style.”

Bringing Style to the Contact Centre
The Plantronics EncorePro, announced in October 2008, incorporates form and function, resulting in a lightweight headset that is beautiful and practical. An informal Plantronics survey of agents who trialled the EncorePro headset revealed that 60 per cent thought the fit and comfort was improved, 65 per cent felt the transmit sound was better and more than 70 per cent believed the EncorePro is more stylish than their existing headsets.

The headset is built with premium nylon composite and incorporates finishes and accents that are purely aesthetic, which is not typical for contact centre products.  The leatherette cushion and metal accent of the earpiece are reminiscent of a high fidelity speaker and serve to re-affirm the headset’s excellent sound quality. The shape and metal accents on the unique swivelling extendable microphone are designed to make the microphone look like a smaller version of a traditional broadcast microphone. A satin finish and metal accents are used throughout to incorporate the designers’ vision of a high-end European design.

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.

London, England – September 24th, 2008 – Plantronics (NYSE: PLT) today announced the company has developed a new power supply for the award-winning Plantronics CS60 headset which reduces energy usage, costs and CO2 emissions by up to fifty percent. The energy-saving product is another initiative from the California-headquartered company towards promoting environmental and social responsibility, a concern that’s rooted in the company’s corporate philosophy.

In addition to developing and manufacturing products that are environmentally friendly throughout their entire lifecycle, Plantronics was one of the first companies to achieve full RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances Requirements) compliance for products shipped to the European Union and was at the forefront in compliance with Europe’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive. The company’s latest green innovation, the CS60 power supply, enables those using the CS60 wireless office headset to be as green as possible.

“We at Plantronics have a long-standing dedication to environmental and social responsibility and have worked to embed these values in our culture, global operations and business relationships across the board,” said Philip Vanhoutte, EMEA Managing Director of Plantronics. “We’re constantly looking for new ways to conserve energy, costs and emissions and are thrilled to introduce the new CS60 switched mode power supply, which achieves all of the above.”

Over the past two years, Plantronics has made significant strides toward making their global facilities more green, including a solar implementation at the company’s headquarters in Santa Cruz, CA that creates 200 kilowatts of solar energy annually, which reduces CO2 emissions by 210,800 kilos – essentially offsetting the carbon emissions of 40 cars. Awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification for environmental sustainability, the Plantronics operations in Suzhou, China is the only manufacturing facility in the country to achieve LEED certification.

London, UK. — September 17, 2008 — Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today announced the availability of a new contact centre headset designed to enhance productivity while increasing job satisfaction and agent retention.  The EncorePro^TM wideband headset, available in both monaural and binaural versions, combines featherweight comfort with a sleek design normally associated with consumer headsets.

“Leveraging our experience as a leader in both professional and consumer products we developed EncorePro to address critical pain points for contact centre management, including productivity and agent retention,” said Paul Clark, UK General Manager, Plantronics. “The improvement in transmit sound can decrease average call length, while the sleek lightweight design can impact agent satisfaction, a key factor in reducing agent turnover.”

A recent informal Plantronics survey of agents who trialed the EncorePro headset revealed that 60% thought the fit and comfort was improved, 65% felt the transmit sound was better and over 70% believed the EncorePro is more stylish than their existing headsets.

The EncorePro balances form and function resulting in a lightweight headset that’s attractive and practical. Built to last, the headset provides an ultra-lightweight design and features plush leatherette earpads that disperse weight evenly to allow professionals to work in comfort throughout the day.

The EncorePro headset features a noise-cancelling microphone and unique sliding boom for precise microphone positioning. The result is a superior sounding headset that improves intelligibility for clear conversations and minimal misunderstanding between agents and customers.

Pricing and Availability

The EncorePro corded wideband headset is now available in both monaural and binaural versions for MSRP £109 and £129 (ex VAT) respectively. In addition to the European market, the product will also be available in North America.

Latest Headset from Plantronics with Dolby Technology gives gamers the advantage by unleashing surround sound capabilities

IFA, Berlin – 27^th August 2008 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE:PLT) today launched the GameCom 777 featuring Dolby® Headphone technology. The GameCom 777 gives gamers an audio advantage, creating realistic, cinematic 5.1 surround sound, enabling them to accurately pinpoint enemies and obstacles even BEFORE they appear on screen.

Extremely comfortable and lightweight, the Gamecom 777 is ideal for intense gaming sessions and the improved audio listening experience, enabled by Dolby Headphone technology, adds an extra dimension to gameplay. The Dolby Headphone and Pro Logic® II technology is housed in a plug-and-play USB sound card that digitally separates (from the front, rear and centre) and amplifies multiple speakers for true 360-degree audio. Similar to the sound experience of high-performance home theatre systems, Dolby Pro Logic II combined with Dolby Headphone technology processes high quality stereo (two-channel) audio into five channels of full-bandwidth surround sound.

Bringing games to life, the two 40mm stereo speakers power a rich, resonant stereo and maximum bass response. Gamers can communicate clearly and accurately through the noise-cancelling microphone, designed specifically for online multiplayer games. In addition, when playing in a LAN the open ear design enables gamers to hear what is happening outside the game and communicate with teammates quickly.

Luc Ackaert, Head of EMEA Consumer Marketing at Plantronics, commented, “We have worked with gamers all around the world to design a headset that would give them a competitive advantage. Working with Dolby to create surround sound adds a new depth to the gaming experience, and when gamers are ready to fire off orders they can unveil the hidden, noise-cancelling mic boom and strategise clearly with their team members. Game on! “

The Gamecom 777 also features convenient in-line controls to quickly adjust volume or mute at the touch of a button, and a microphone boom that stows completely into the headband when not in use, turning the headset into surround sound headphones for listening to music or watching DVDs .

The Gamecom 777 is priced at £79.99 and will be available in September 2008.

IFA, Berlin - 27^th August 2008 - Plantronics and Altec Lansing – developers of leading audio products – said today that convergence is now firmly focused on the playback market. Consumer expectation knows no bounds, and is now demanding a high quality of digital audio to complement the plethora of emerging, sophisticated technologies available via their mobile phones.

Further, the streaming of video to mobiles has been opened up largely by the development of the LG and iPhone models. Now that the ‘Big Screen’ issue has been addressed, the focus is on delivering complementery sound sophistication.

The message is clear:
Digital Music + Better Quality Playback = More Consumption = Higher Revenue

Mobile phones with music capabilities are expected to grow 20% by 2010. In order to deliver the experience successfully, the headset market projection is expected to double from 2008, reaching 14.2 million Bluetooth headset sales in 2010 according to Strategy Analytics. In 2007, the sales of music phones reached 575.7 million worldwide and a further 116 million were equipped with A2DP stereo capabilities. Mobile music phone sales for 2010 are predicted to reach 886.7million with a further 544 million ready to deliver a stereo experience.

“The ability to enjoy quality sound has now become one of the most important attributes when selecting a device over which to consume the vast amounts of media headed for mobile phones”, Luc Ackaert, European Head of Consumer products at Plantronics and Altec Lansing, comments. “Music phone users have unprecedented choice, from docking-powered speaker systems like the T612 from Altec Lansing designed for the iPhone to a Bluetooth headset that quickly converts into stereo headphones, such as the Voyager 855 from Plantronics”.

As technologies evolve faster and faster with each decade, the companies behind them are in a constant race to keep up and offer the best products to compete for market share. Micro audio development is under the microscope more than ever before. Penetration potential of global handset technologies has been predicted thus:

Source: Strategy Analytics

The two highest growth areas are in the consumption of music and streaming video, both of which rely on screen and audio quality in order to succeed.

“There is a huge opportunity for carriers to start earning revenue from selling high quality playback speakers and headsets,” said Geert De Vos, EMEA Mobile Marketing Manager for Plantronics and Altec Lansing. “If consumers can not listen to their music or media in high quality they will not adopt mobile music, leading to lost data revenue.”

Global sales for the consumption of mobile music have increased by 70% and are on course to almost double by the end of 2008. Sales for digital music overall is expected to by 40% by 2011. Reports from RH Associates and eMarketer state that mobile phone downloads will increase from $1.7 billion in 2007, to 6.2 billion in 2010.

Designboom partner with Plantronics and Altec Lansing to run design competition with $10,000 prize

London, 21^st July 2008, Designboom has today announced its latest design competition sponsored by Plantronics and Altec Lansing, tapping into the imaginations of designers from across the globe.  The competition is split into two categories, giving designers the opportunity to enter either one or both for a winning prize of $5,000 in each.

Plantronics has pioneered the design of beautiful Bluetooth headsets and has recently launched a celebrity-acclaimed, jewel-inspired earpiece, the Discovery 925. The company is inviting designers to take this theme further and develop a concept Bluetooth headset that is both futuristically fashionable and desirable to wear.

Altec Lansing created the first cinema speakers in the 1920s and has continued to innovate, by designing and manufacturing award winning iPod and MP3 speaker systems, PC speakers, home audio and headphones. Altec Lansing is inviting speaker designs that unleash and enhance a digital music lifestyle.

Luc Ackaert, Consumer Director for Plantronics and Altec Lansing, comments, “We are passionate about design and supporting the design community. By working with Designboom we aim to give designers international recognition and the opportunity to win a cash prize.”

Designboom has more than 1,500,000 readers a month from over 165 countries and is the leading independent publication for key contemporary issues and the critique of all aspects of design. Based in Milan, the free internet resource offers snapshot reports from major international design shows, architecture and art exhibitions. It also features interviews and portraits of the protagonists in the contemporary creative scene, design history and in-depth information on the creators of design classics.

To enter, visit http://www.designboom.com/sound_innovation.html entries close on the 25^th October 2008.

Walk and talk to burn five times more calories

London, May 24, 2008 – Plantronics are urging office workers to free themselves from the shackles of their desks and walk whilst on the telephone, and burn five times the amount of calories in the process.

Office workers spend on average up to three hours talking on the telephone per day [1]. As the summer kicks in so does the temptation to get fit and by switching to a wireless headset, and strolling whilst talking, office workers can drastically increase the amount of calories burned as well as increase productivity.

Simple changes to office life can have big effects:

• Burn 1080 calories, the equivalent of over three Mars bars [2] by using a wireless headset and walking whilst on the telephone rather than the average 204 calories burned by talking at your desk (based on three hours of telephone conversations in a day)
• Walk nearly half the number of government recommended steps in a day (10,000) by pacing whilst talking for a combined total of one hour [3]
• Reduce email traffic. Plantronics found that workers spend over 2 hours on email every day [4], using a mere 150 calories per hour

Vicky Warr Personal trainer and Nutritionist advises, “Sitting in a chair, at a desk all day, emailing/typing poses a challenge resulting in aches and pains in the muscles, tightening of the chest and rounded shoulders, leading to a poor posture. By using a wireless office headset, health and fitness is improved and tension and stress reduced plus a re-focussing of the mind and improved productivity with easy multi-tasking.”

Plantronics wireless headsets are comfortable and stylish and benefit from a 100 metre range. They offer excellent sound quality and are compatible with most office telephones. “By making the small changes, we can make a big difference to our physical and mental fitness”, comments Philip Vanhoutte, Plantronics EMEA Managing Director, “most people never consider using a wireless headset, but once they try it, their conversations become more natural and energetic, this positivity is transferred to their voice and conversations become more pleasurable.”

FIVE TOP TIPS ON IMPROVING OFFICE FITNESS

1. Stretch to ease upper body tension. When you are sat down for the majority of the day, the muscles ‘seize’ up, lose their flexibility and this means reducing your range of motion around the joints. Stretches are easy to do at the desk – shoulder rolls, neck stretches and lifting the leg up in front of you and stretching the back of the legs. Stretching will also revitalise you, improve concentration and have you less likely to reach for a sugary, fatty snack as a pick me up instead. Use a wireless headset and walk whilst talking; pacing burns about one calorie for every 15-20 steps you take
2. Incorporate five minute ‘refresh breaks’ every hour, get out of your chair and move your body and focus on breathing from the diaphragm, rather than the chest. This relieves stress and energises you. Even better go outside, you will release ‘endorphins’, lifting your mood making you more upbeat, easier to handle tricky tasks, conversations with clients and colleagues
3. Keep herbal teas stocked in your office drawer instead of the caffeine. Research has shown that peppermint tea increases activity in the brain responsible for alertness
4. Keep a pair of trainers and jogging gear at work to start jogging at lunch-time. Ask people to join you and form a jogging/running/stretching club, with a challenge to run a 5km/10km for charity at the end of a number of weeks
5. Have brainstorms or meetings where you go outside and walk for five minutes before the meeting will help improve focus, encourage ideas and reduce stress ready for a positive meeting

Calories Used on Office Tasks

• Sitting and talking for an hour – 68
• Walking and talking for an hour – 360 (depending on pace)
• Typing for an hour – 150
• Sitting in a meeting - 102
  

[1]   Henley research 12/5/07

[2] One Mars bar contains 294 calories, www.weightlossresources.co.uk

[2] For basic fitness, the government recommends that we walk 10,000 steps per day; we can pace about 70 steps per minute whilst talking on the telephone. An hour long “walking” telephone conversation equates to around 4,200 steps, almost half of the recommended daily steps.

[3] Henley research 12/5/07

Face the Elements with the New Explorer 370, the First Bluetooth Headset To Combine Water, Dust and Shock Resistance with Windscreen Technology

Barcelona, Mobile World Congress – February 11, 2008 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today introduced the Plantronics Explorer 370, a new Bluetooth® headset tailored for the adventurer in all of us – or at least those requiring their communication tools to stand up to the elements. Durability tested to meet IP54 military-grade specifications, the Explorer™ 370 is water, dust and shock resistant and features windscreen technology to ensure users experience clear calls no matter what the environment.

“Everyday life can be rough on electronics, so Plantronics developed a headset that can be work as hard as you; it can be dropped repeatedly, worn in the rain and still work properly,” said Eric Extier, Head of Consumer Division, EMEA Plantronics, Inc. “The Explorer 370 delivers a quality headset in a durable package that can withstand tough environments, including windy and dusty work conditions, rugged outdoor adventures or anything life throws at you.”

The Explorer 370 is certified to MIL-STD 810 standards issued by the United States Army’s Developmental Test Command to prove that equipment qualified to the standard will survive in the field. The first Bluetooth headset to boast a “ruggedized” design plus Plantronics’ wind screen technology to effectively filter wind noise, the Explorer 370 also features QuickPair™ technology to simplify headset-to-mobile phone pairing. The Explorer 370 provides up to seven hours of talk time and up to eight days of standby time and is equipped with a lanyard, idea for outdoor workers and sports enthusiasts.

Plantronics Explorer 360: A Smart Choice for Simple Setup

With an increasing number of mobile phones featuring Bluetooth, the demand for easy to use products is growing. Plantronics have developed the Explorer 360, a lightweight, reliable and simple-to-use headset.

Small and discreet at just 13 grams, the new Explorer 360 incorporates excellent call clarity with multiple control features, including volume, answer and end call, last-number redial, and voice-activated dialing, with the touch of a button. Weighing less than an ounce , the headset’s compact design is light and truly comfortable. Plantronics QuickPair technology allows easy pairing with your Bluetooth enabled mobile handsetr. A universal Micro USB adaptor provides quick charging convenience for up to seven hours of talk time and eight days of standby time.

Plantronics Car Kit: Enhancing Driver Safety

It is illegal in some countries to talk on a mobile phone without a hands-free device while driving. Plantronics helps to ensure motorists are correctly and safely using headsets in the car with hands-free solutions that add simplicity and convenience. 

The new Explorer 360A provides easy hands-free calling for the car with an accessory that stores and charges the headset. The Explorer 360A features a unique 12V pivot charger that fits within most car cigarette lighters and continuously charges the headset when not in use.

Pricing and Availability

The new Plantronics Explorer 370 Bluetooth headset (MSRP €49/£39) , Explorer 360 Bluetooth headset (MSRP €39/£29) and Explorer 360A Bluetooth headset with car kit (MSRP €49/£39) will be available in March at major electronic retailers and www.plantronics.com.

Game On! with the Plantronics .Audio ™ 770

Plantronics, Inc launches its first ever SRS Virtual-Surround-Sound gaming headset, the .Audio ™ 770. A USB adapter powers the SRS Virtual-Surround-Sound and the headset features an open-ear design, allowing gamers to coordinate tactics with team-mates at LAN parties.

.Audio™ 770 – engineered for the game!

The .Audio ™ 770 is engineered specifically for gamers: lightweight with an adjustable headband and comfortable ear cushions, it can be worn for long sessions.  The virtual surround sound technology gives complete in game immersion whilst delivering maximum bass response through 40 mm speakers. The big ear cushions are super-comfortable and the open ear design enables easy conversations with team-mates at LAN parties.

Additionally, the .Audio ™ 770 features Inline controls, a noise-cancelling microphone for improved speech recognition and greater accuracy, and a QuickAdjust™ microphone boom ensuring perfect positioning. The microphone can be stowed out of the way for watching movies and listening to music.

The .Audio ™ 770 is priced at £59.99 and is available now.

New Plantronics Voyager™ 855 is First Two-in-One Stereo Bluetooth Headset With Exclusive AudioIQ Technology for Crystal Clear Wireless Sound

Plantronics, Inc. today launches the new Voyager™ 855, the industry’s first mono-to-stereo convertible Bluetooth® headset with AudioIQ® DSP noise reduction technology for MP3 mobile phones.

The new Plantronics Voyager™ 855 headset offers a convertible design with immersive sound experience for calls and listening to music on Bluetooth® enabled mobile phones with stereo A2DP. The lightest stereo headset available to date, the new Voyager™ 855 includes intelligent features that offer unparalleled audio clarity.

Tailored Wear for Mono or Stereo Sound

Customisable for either mono or stereo use, the Plantronics Voyager™ 855 features a detachable stereo cable so consumers can tailor the wearing style to their communication and entertainment preferences. With specially designed, form-fitting ear buds, the Voyager™ 855 fits snugly and securely to seal out unwanted background distractions.

The Voyager™ 855’s sound-isolating ear buds and convertible cable offer crystal clear wireless stereo sound when listening to digital music, as well as complete binaural immersion for conversations. When attached, the stereo cable also enables wireless AVRCP remote control capabilities. Plantronics’ stereo multipoint technology alerts users to incoming calls and allows easy switching between conversations and music.

Drop the second ear bud or detach the cable and the headset serves as a high-quality mono Bluetooth® device.

“The Voyager™ 855’s stereo cable and fitted ear buds essentially replace that ‘finger in the ear’ we all use to help block out distracting background commotion,” said Eric Extier from Plantronics, Inc.

“Consumers are in and out of noisy, busy surroundings while trying to conduct calls, listen to voicemail or enjoy music on their phones,” added Extier. “Whether you’re using your phone from a cafe or the back of a cab, you want to hear your audio as well as be heard clearly and intelligibly. You need to hear and be heard clearly, regardless of where you need to take a call – in an airport, in a taxi or in the street; we have an adaptable solution for this need.”

Slide-to-Talk, Boom-Extended Microphone

The Plantronics™ Voyager 855 Bluetooth headset features a sleek slide-to-talk boom to provide convenient call control and improved audio performance. Sliding the boom open instantly connects the caller. The extending boom also houses a voice tube to position the microphone closer to the mouth for directional voice reception, ensuring maximum voice clarity and intelligibility. When the boom slides back, the call ends and/or the user’s music selection conveniently resumes play.

Plantronics AudioIQ® - Noise Reduction and Two-Way Call Clarity

The Voyager™ 855 features Plantronics’ award-winning AudioIQ® technology - an exclusive, adaptive digital signal processing (DSP) technology that automatically reduces background noise and intelligently adjusts audio levels to increase clarity on both ends of a conversation.

Plantronics’ new Voyager™ 855 offers approximately seven hours talk time, six hours listening time and 160 hours stand-by time from a single battery charge. And at only 15 grams - the Voyager™ 855 is the lightest stereo Bluetooth headset available.

Pricing and Availability:

The new Plantronics Voyager™ 855 stereo Bluetooth® headset costs in the region of £69.00 (including VAT) and is available now at major national electronics retailers.

Perfect for Internet Telephony and Music Enjoyment

Plantronics, Inc. presents the new .Audio™ 480 headset for laptop multimedia and Internet conversations. The smallest, most portable computer headset in the Plantronics lineup, the .Audio™ 480 delivers outstanding stereo sound and voice quality for laptop users on the go.

The Plantronics .Audio™ 480 features sound-isolating earbuds and wind-noise reduction technology to filter out external distractions and enables users to completely immerse themselves in activities — Internet telephony, online gaming, music and movies — no matter how noisy the surrounding environment.

“Laptop users tend to be very mobile and often conduct activities in noisy, crowded environments, such as airports and coffee shops,” said Philip Vanhoutte, EMEA Managing Director at Plantronics. “The .Audio™  480’s rich sound, combined with noise-canceling technology, helps users create quiet personal spaces where they can fully engage in what they’re doing, and do so unobtrusively.”

The Plantronics .Audio™ 480 offers features tailored to the mobile laptop user:

- Sound-isolating ear buds block out unwanted noise;
- Noise-canceling microphone and wind-reduction technology minimise external noise, making conversations clearer;
- Sleek, flexible boom lets the user adjust the microphone closer for private conversations;
- Foldable and stowable with a low-profile design; and
- Easy operability with inline volume and mute control

Plantronics .Audio™ 480 headset is compatible with both PCs and Macs (USB version only) and will be available in both analogue (£49.99 MSRP) and USB (£69.99 MSRP) versions. The headset is now available at major retailers.

New Plantronics .Audio™ 920 - the Ultimate Bluetooth Headset Solution for Internet and Mobile Phone Calls

Plantronics, Inc. today launches the new .Audio™ 920, a Bluetooth® Headset  that combines all-day-wearing comfort, superb audio quality and unique USB technology that allows calls from PC’s and from mobile phones in the same headset.

Designed for a business user who takes and makes calls from multiple devices, the new Plantronics .Audio™ 920 headset features multipoint connectivity enabling connection to a computer and mobile phone at the same time. Users can take a call from either device and switch between the two seamlessly.

With Plantronics’ award winning noise cancelling microphone and WindSmart® technology, the .Audio™ 920 offers superior crisp, clear audio clarity, even in noisy or windy environments. Its unique Bluetooth® voice adaptor ensures there are no PC drivers to install, allowing a true plug and play experience and offers control of softphone applications from the headset.

“This is real wireless freedom!” said Eric Extier, of Plantronics, Inc. “In today’s multi-modal communication world, it has become the norm to take and make calls from many devices. The Audio™ 920 brings devices together and gives users wireless freedom to move from their desks, multitask or find a quiet spot to take a call from either their PC or mobile phone.”

The Bluetooth® technology gives users the freedom to roam up to 10 metres away from their PC and mobile phone and the intuitively placed volume controls allow quick and easy volume adjustments. The .Audio™ 920 offers up to eight hours talk time, and 180 hours stand-by time from a single battery charge.

Pricing and Availability:

The new Plantronics .Audio™ 920 headset costs in the region of £69.00 (including VAT), and is available from major national electronics retailers.

Reinforcing Plantronics Leading Position as World Class Innovators Giving World Class Service

2007/11/20, Swindon -Plantronics, the world’s leading provider of communications headsets for office, home and mobile use, has been named Contact Centre Supplier of the Year at the annual Irish Contact Centre Managers Association (CCMA) Awards which took place on Thursday 15^th November at the Burlington Hotel, Dublin.

The awards are a celebration of the best practices and service excellence in Irish contact centres, a sector which currently employs about 20,000 people in Ireland, with this figure expecting to rise to 40,000 by 2010.

Plantronics a world leader in sound innovation, currently supplies the majority of contact centres and businesses throughout the country with communication solutions including the award winning Eircom contact centre on Marlborough St., Dublin.

Commenting on the award, Paul Clark, Plantronics Director for the UK and Ireland said; “We are delighted to receive this recognition for our longstanding commitment to the contact centre industry in Ireland. Plantronics is the only headset supplier with dedicated staff based in Ireland, and this award is testament to this team’s dedication, enthusiasm and hard work.”

Paul Dunne Channel Manager, Plantronics UK & Ireland Business Solutions Unit added; “With the ever increasing emphasis on health and safety in the workplace, we have seen more and more businesses choosing to install wireless headsets in order to enhance the working environment for their employees which in turn leads to increased productivity in the workplace. Wireless headsets empower office workers to multi-task with far greater ease; from simply being able to talk and type more effectively, to make and take calls whilst moving around the room.”

Plantronics develops headsets for the office, contact centre, personal mobile, entertainment and residential markets and is a world leader in sound innovation. Plantronics headsets were first chosen for space missions as part of the critical communications lifeline for astronauts when a Plantronics headset carried the historic first words from the moon: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Plantronics SupraPlus Wideband USB Headset Provides Rich Audio, Hands-Free Communications for Microsoft Office Communicator 2007

16 October, 2007 — Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE:PLT) today announced that the new SupraPlus® Wideband USB professional headset is optimised for Microsoft Office Communicator 2007. SupraPlus Wideband USB provides Office Communicator 2007 users with enhanced wideband audio, reliability and hands-free communications throughout the business day.

Wideband utilises more than twice the audio bandwidth of conventional telephony to greatly enhance intelligibility. With SupraPlus Wideband USB, professionals using PC-based unified communications (UC) applications for voice over IP (VoIP) get the feeling of true “face-to-face” conversations, resulting in improved business communication and collaboration during audio and video conference calls, and person-to-person calls when initiated through Office Communicator 2007.

“Plantronics is furthering its strategic relationship with Microsoft to develop unified communications solutions that make enterprise communications integrated, life-like and immediate,” said Jeffrey Siegel, vice president of Business Development at Plantronics. “Our new wideband solutions are developed specifically to optimise the performance of unified communications environments, helping companies improve collaboration through ‘in-person’ quality voice fidelity independent of the worker’s location.”

“Combining Microsoft’s unified communications software with Plantronics’ SupraPlus Wideband USB offers customers an optimal voice communications experience,” said Moz Hussain, director, product management, Unified Communications Group,at Microsoft Corp. “Microsoft’s relationship with Plantronics provides the enterprise with new levels of business value, helping to create the highest-quality communication and collaboration experiences.”

Plantronics SupraPlus Wideband USB also features integration with Office Communicator 2007’s call control features. Users can manage calls through the headset without having to engage their PC softphone. The hands-free flexibility provided by the headset enables professionals to accomplish simultaneous tasks that fill the work day, such as typing an instant message (IM) or e-mail, or researching on the Internet, while on a call.

The headset also provides privacy to business users when listening to unified messaging voice mails via e-mail. Other product features include:

- Enhanced noise-canceling microphone for background noise reduction,
- Bendable click-stop microphone boom for optimal voice pick-up,
- In-line user controls and plug-and-play compatibility for added convenience, and
- Comfortable monaural design for all-day wear.

Extending a Legacy of Communications Excellence

Introduced in 2004, the Plantronics SupraPlus headset family is today the headset of choice among office professionals worldwide for its durability, lightweight design and excellent audio quality. The new SupraPlus Wideband USB exceeds the industry standard for acoustic protection.

The SupraPlus Wideband USB will be available in the US and EMEA this winter with a manufacturer’s suggested price of $169, respectively. Both will be available through authorised resellers and www.plantronics.com.

Growing Unified Communications Portfolio

Plantronics offers the industry’s most complete family of corded and wireless VoIP products for unified communications.  Widely recognised for their sound quality, reliability and comfort, Plantronics’ VoIP solutions help companies extend the benefits of IP communications throughout the enterprise, fostering better business communication and efficiency. For more information about Plantronics’ VoIP-ready products, please visit:  http://www.plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/voip/.

14 May 2007. According to independent research on workplace communications commissioned by Plantronics, European managers spend at least two hours per day dealing with email communications. This equates to a staggering ten years of a worker’s life spent emailing. [1]

According to the survey of over 180 senior managers, conducted by the Henley Management College, three and a half years of a working life spent emailing are a complete waste of time, since 32% of messages read and sent are considered irrelevant.

The Plantronics study discovered that there is an explosion in email traffic taking place, every mail sent generates a trail of between four to six additional items popping up in your inbox. The extensive use of email, particularly for internal transactions is being questioned by managers as a substitute for face-to-face or voice discussion, particularly as email is seen to prolong decision-making.

The study shows that, used effectively, email can help improve process and the sharing of information as well as support decision making, however if not used smartly it can create a faceless environment, reduce the ability of the individual to act and put an emphasis on protecting one’s own position. In contrast, speaking on the phone was found to put a stop to the generation of further email traffic, often clarifying issues and speeding up decision making.

There are also additional benefits to simply making a call. Using a phone with a wireless headset is increase work related productivity by 23% by allowing workers to multi-task and concentrate more effectively. [2]

However, despite the proven effectiveness of the phone as a communication tool, the study shows workers rarely pick up the phone, discussing complex issues via email in front of large audiences.  Since only 43% of managers surveyed felt that a tiny proportion (10%) of emails sent clearly conveyed the intended message such messages only serve to create more inbox debris to clear.

Time wasted on email also has social implications as workers interact less with each other. Where speaking on the phone was actually found to build relationships, use of email was seen to weaken them.

The ‘any time any place’ approach to work enabled by Information communications technology (ICT) has the benefit of reducing overheads and allows for flexible working schemes. However the increasing 24/7 nature of customer and client demands is impacting the lives of employees by intruding into home-life and creating even more email as over a third of managers carry a PDA.  The temptation to check your email for anything important late at night and at weekends is hard to resist – as is the desire to respond just to show that you have read it.

Peter Thomson, Director of The Future Work Forum at Henley Management College says, “Our research proves that email use is out of control, often causing confusion and inertia. It also paints a bleak picture of silent offices where colleagues email rather than talk face to face. However there is a solution and its very simple – make a phone call with a headset and start talking, email should just be used to firm-up and recap on what everyone has agreed on the phone. “

Philip Vanhoutte, European Managing Director, Plantronics says, “Our results show that the phone is used as a secondary communication tool and email the first ,despite the negative impact it has on employee productivity, wellbeing and the company’s bottom line. Managers need to encourage greater use of the telephone and teach people how to effectively use a range of information communications technology products to support decision making, networking and increase workers flexibility. “

June 13^th 2007: As part of the Plantronics Connect programme, which brings together industry-leading partner support mechanisms under one scheme, ‘Headset Sales’ In Birkenhead has become the first Premier Partner in the Programme.  The accreditation comes after the company was recently announced Reseller of the Year 2006/07 at the Connect Reseller Conference in Cardiff.

Running since last autumn, the Connect Programme has introduced a number of initiatives to support Plantronics business partners in promoting headsets. Its success at growing sales within the reseller channel has also led to an extension to the existing programme with the creation of a 3^rd tier within the framework.

Business partners can now participate within the programme as either:

- Connect Partners

- Connect Certified Partners

- Connect Premium Partners

David Hodgson, Sales Manager, Headset Sales said “We are delighted to be acknowledged as a centre of excellence for customers looking for a Plantronics headset supplier.  The premier status will help us to increase our credibility with customers and our growth as we embark upon some telemarketing activity with Plantronics support.”

Neil Watson, Channel Marketing Manager, UK & Ireland, said “The Connect programme is proven to be a very effective way of giving support and recognition to our partners. Headset Sales deserves its’ premier status for the commitment shown to the Plantronics brand, I hope that they continue to prosper and enjoy some of the other value added benefits of the Connect programme.

Designed for Multimedia, Music and Internet Telephony Use

Hanover, CEBIT March 15th – Plantronics, today introduce two new wireless headsets for PC use, the .Audio 990 and the .Audio 910 USB. Both feature Bluetooth technology and extend the renowned Plantronics wireless portfolio into the PC sector. Perfect for Internet Telephony, Multimedia and Music enjoyment on PC’s and laptops, both headsets are designed to enhance the digital lifestyles of the users.

Plantronics .Audio 990 Bluetooth® Stereo Headset
The .Audio 990 enables users to listen wirelessly to music and multimedia content, on their PC, while staying connected to another Bluetooth device, such as a mobile phone. Designed for users who like to be immersed in their music or movies but still need to be connected to their calls. The .Audio 990 alerts the user to incoming calls with a beep and can be answered with the single touch of a button, pausing the music or movie. Available with a universal Bluetooth audio adapter, the .Audio 990 provides immediate wireless connectivity for any device with a 3.5mm headphone port, such as an iPod, laptop, home stereo system, TV, an MP3 player and multimedia devices such as the Sony® PSP.

The Plantronics .Audio 990 has a manufacturer suggested retail price of €149.99/ £99.99 (including VAT) and is now available through Plantronics’ authorized retailers and dealerships.

Plantronics .Audio 910 USB
The .Audio 910 USB is the first PC headset which can interact with and control popular internet telephony applications wirelessly from the headset, releasing the user from their PC. This is made possible by a truly unique USB Bluetooth voice adaptor and software, which together offer breakthrough usability. With no Bluetooth drivers to install, the setup is truly Plug and Play, to start enjoying wireless conversations through the PC straight away.

The Bluetooth headset itself combines all day wearing comfort, superb audio quality from its noise cancelling microphone and the latest lithium battery technology which powers up to 6 hours talk time and 100 hours on stand-by.

Additionally the .Audio 910 USB features Plantronics Multipoint technology- this means that the headset can maintain not only a live connection with the PC, but also a second connection with another Bluetooth device, such as a mobile phone – so even when you are involved in a VOIP conversation on the PC, you can take an incoming phone call from your mobile with the press of a single button on the headset.

“We are now making award winning, best of breed wireless headsets for everyone”, said Philip Vanhoutte, EMEA Managing Director at Plantronics “Both the .Audio 990 and the .Audio 910 offer new levels of sound performance, greater functionality, wireless freedom and great style”

Pricing and Availability
The Plantronics .Audio 910 USB has a manufacturer suggested retail price of £89.99 / €129.99 (including VAT) and is available through Plantronics’ authorized retailers and dealerships from April.

Plantronics first with TCO certified Headsets

CeBIT, HanoverMarch 15th, 2007 –– Plantronics today announce the ultimate in digital sound for those working in intensive call environments, such as contact centres. The SupraPlus® DIGITAL™ and the VistaPlus® Adaptor ensure compliance to the new Noise at Work Legislation. The EU directive relating to Noise at Work states that call centres need to control daily personal noise exposure to not more than 85dB, and ideally below 80dB.

Compliance to the new Noise at Work Legislation is essential for contact centre managers and meeting the new requirements often means the headset volume has to be set lower than before, making calls hard to hear. When the SupraPlus® DIGITAL headset is coupled with the VistaPlus it uses smart on-board memory technology to store the headset characteristics, allowing the VistaPlus to fine tune it’s own settings and optimize the receive level. This helps to ensure compliance with the legislation and deliver crystal clear sound quality.

The VistaPlus adaptor uses SoundGuard DIGITAL™ providing protection against noise exposure and identifying and suppressing sudden loud sounds, without affecting normal speech.

Priced between £66.61 and £219 (E92 and E279) (EX VAT) depending on the choice of headset, the SupraPlus® DIGITAL™ and the VistaPlus® Adaptor is available from Plantronics partners.

Philip Vanhoutte, EMEA Managing Director of Plantronics states “This is an exciting time for Plantronics, we are developing cutting edge products that help to ensure legal compliance without losing any call quality. These are essential tools for contact centres, can help the agent have a more comfortable conversation, increase their productivity and ultimately increase the customer experience.”
Additionally, Plantronics are planning to adopt the new TCO ‘07 headset standard across its range of headsets World Wide, starting with key models from each of its Business, Consumer, PC and mobile families. From March 2007, the following products will have been tested and approved to the rigorous TCO ‘07 headset standard: CS60 wireless office headset, Supra Plus Corded headsets, predominantly used in contact centres. .Audio 910 PC headset and the following Bluetooth headsets   - the Voyager 510 and the Discovery 665.
It is intended that over the course of 2007 all Plantronics products will have gone through the approval process, allowing them to be both marketed and labelled as TCO’07 headset compliant.
The TCO (The Swedish Confederation for Professional Employees) comprises of 17 affiliated trade unions with 1.3 million members. TCO labeling is a world-wide recognized standard within the IT industry and have just developed a new quality and environmental label for headsets called TCO’07 Headsets.

Plantronics vision is to provide the absolute best audio experience for their customers and it has long been the Plantronics policy to be compliant with new standards as they relate to the telecommunications industry and associated systems from many different PBX manufacturers.  Compliance with the new TCO standard adds further independent endorsement to the build quality and audio excellence of Plantronics headsets, for both businesses and consumers.

Style, Comfort and excellent sound quality deliver clearer telephone conversations

CeBIT, HanoverMarch 15th, 2007 –– Plantronics today introduce the second wave of their wireless office and contact centre headset range with the addition of noise-canceling microphones. Totally wireless, the CS70N™ and the SupraPlus™ Wireless free the user from the constraints of being tied to their desks. Featuring DECT technology coupled with the noise canceling microphones the sound quality of telephone calls is optimized. Leveraging on more than 40 years of audio expertise and a solid understanding of office workers, the new products provide enhanced solutions for everyone who uses the telephone in the workplace.

For office-based professionals, the CS70™ wireless DECT headset is now available in a noise-canceling variant, significantly reducing distracting background noise. Combined with DECT technology, the CS70N™ delivers crystal clear voice clarity. Frustrating calls that are hard to hear can now be a thing of the past, particularly important given the rise in remote distributed teams and the increase of long conference calls.
Totally wireless, the CS70N™ is so lightweight and comfortable the user may forget they are wearing it, whilst its innovative, discrete design compliments even the most stylish office apparel. The CS70N can be used up to 100m from the desk/phone and is comfortably worn all day long. Featuring up to 5 hour talk-time and 28 hour stand by time the CS70N is always ready for the next call.

For intensive phone users, the SupraPlus™ Wireless offers the ultimate in comfort and sound quality. With the addition of the new monaural noise-canceling version, crystal clear conversations now come as standard. The SupraPlus wireless headset includes QuickPair™, a feature that allows compatible headsets to be paired with a phone at the click of a button. This is ideal for hot-desk or shift workers who can then keep their own personal headset and use it at any desk where there is a base.

Today’s Plantronics DECT wireless office headsets offer up to 100 metres range and now include noise-cancelling microphones at no additional cost.

Philip Vanhoutte, EMEA Managing Director of Plantronics comments, “This is a milestone for Plantronics, by adding noise canceling technology to our wireless headsets we have completed our wireless office and contact centre offering. Now there is a wireless solution for everyone whatever their technology platform of choice and individual needs. We are proud to transform our professional heritage and expertise into developing quality solutions for office and contact centre workers alike.”

Both headsets are priced in the region of £199 (Euro 299), the CS70N will be available in May and the SupraPlus Wireless Monaural Noise Canceling variant will be available in June from Plantronics approved stockists.

Reduce background noise by up to 50 percent with the new Discovery 665 Bluetooth Headset

CeBIT, Hanover, March 15th 2007– Plantronics expand their Bluetooth mobile portfolio to include the new Discovery™ 665 Bluetooth® Headset. Demonstrating audio expertise, design leadership and intuitive controls, the Discovery 665 is an essential wireless solution for users with mobile communication needs.

Ideal for Conversations on the Road
The Discovery 665 Bluetooth Headset features AudioIQ® the industry’s first headset DSP (digital signal processing) sound technology which automatically optimises audio quality for both caller and listener alike. This unique software significantly increases call clarity for the headset user, as well as for the listener on the other end of conversations and constantly adapts to any change in the surrounding noise-scape. This makes it ideal for users on the move outdoors or between quiet and loud environments. As a result of extensive research on headset usage in the car and while traveling, Plantronics has also developed a unique in-car charging and storage system which includes a new visual indicator for incoming calls.

Philip Vanhoutte, EMEA Managing Director of Plantronics, comments,  “The Discovery 665 removes the need to seek out a quiet location to answer an important call. By incorporating AudioIQ®into Plantronics’ new Bluetooth headsets, we are delivering optimal communications capabilities alongside our renowned style and comfort.”

In addition, the Discovery 665 includes Plantronics’ new QuickPair™ technology which simplifies the initial setup process by starting the headset in pairing mode when it is powered on for the first time.

The Plantronics Discovery 665 is now available at around £69.99 / €99.99 inc VAT. Features and accessories include:
- AudioIQ®, which clarifies incoming speech and reduces outgoing background noise by up to 50%
- Convenient charging and storage system targeted for use in -car
- Visual call indicator and low battery indicator
- Ultra-light, sophisticated design and customizable eartips for complete wearing comfort

To experience and learn more about AudioIQ® technology and Plantronics Bluetooth headsets, please visit: www.plantronics.com

New Plantronics Discovery 665 Bluetooth Headset with AudioIQ Reduces Background Noise Up To 50 Percent

3GSM – Barcelona, Feb 12th, 2007 –– Plantronics today introduced the new Discovery™ 665 Bluetooth® Headset with AudioIQ®, the industry’s first DSP (digital signal processing) sound technology that automatically optimises 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.

Leveraging Plantronics’ 40-plus years of sound innovation, AudioIQ enhances the sound quality of conversations regardless of the environment. For incoming calls, AudioIQ automatically adapts to background noise levels — from a quiet taxi to a noisy city street — and intelligently improves the receive quality, clarity and volume level. For outgoing calls, AudioIQ reduces background noise for listeners up to 7-8 decibels, or by approximately 50 percent,it also minimises interference from artifacts such as speech distortions to maintain exceptionally clear voice intelligibility.

“AudioIQ goes beyond making conversations sound great — it’s about making communications easier and more natural for people on both sides of a call. Long gone are the days when mobile phones users are forced to seek out a quiet location to answer an important call,” said Philip Vanhoutte EMEA Managing Director for Plantronics. “By incorporating AudioIQ into Plantronics’ new Bluetooth headsets, we are delivering optimal communications capabilities alongside our renowned style and comfort.”

Plantronics Discovery 665: Ideal for Conversations on the Road

The new Plantronics Discovery 665 Bluetooth headset with AudioIQ, based on the Plantronics Discovery 655, is ideally suited for those on the move and in the car. After conducting extensive research focused on headset usage in the car and while traveling, Plantronics developed a unique charging and storage system for automobiles that also includes a new visual indicator for incoming calls.

In addition, the Discovery 665 includes Plantronics’ new QuickPair technology that simplifies the Bluetooth setup process by automatically initiating the pairing mode when the headset is powered on for the first time.

“Personal technology should be intuitive and help consumers simplify their lives,” added Vanhoutte. “Plantronics is taking steps towards this with QuickPair and other technology innovations that make headset setup and use extremely easy.”

The Plantronics Discovery 665 will be available in the region of £69.99 and €99.99 (Ex VAT) at major retailers in February 2007. Features and accessories include:

- AudioIQ, which clarifies incoming speech and reduces outgoing background noise by up to 50%
- Convenient charging and storage system targeted for use in the automobile
- Visual call indicator and low battery indicator
- Ultra-light, sophisticated design and customizable eartips for complete wearing comfort

To experience and learn more about AudioIQ technology and Plantronics Bluetooth headsets, please visit: www.plantronics.com

One Bluetooth headset, allows users to seamlessly switch between VoIP and Mobile phone calls

London, Jan 29^th – The Plantronics .audio 910 USB combines all day wearing comfort, superb audio quality and unique technology that allows calls from both PC and from mobile phones. The unique USB Bluetooth voice adaptor offers breakthrough usability with Skype and other IP telephony applications and with no Bluetooth drivers to install, the setup is exceptionally easy, users can just plug in and start talking.

The .audio 910 USB further improves on the award winning, Plantronics Voyager™ 510-USB, featuring upgraded software that not only enables users to answer or end Skype calls from the headset, even when away from their PC, but also ensures automatically connectivity with Skype whenever the USB voice adapter is plugged in.

Additionally the .audio 910 headset features multipoint technology, allowing the headset to be shared between a mobile phone and PC so a call can be taken from either at the touch of a button. There is no need to disconnect the headset from a mobile phone before using it with a PC. With Plantronics WindSmart™ technology, conversations are clearer even in windy conditions and the latest lithium battery technology powers up to 6 hours talk time and 100 hours on stand-by.

“Skype have revolutionised the way people communicate across the globe and many businesses are using Skype as their primary communication tool”, said Philip Vanhoutte, EMEA Managing Director at Plantronics “Pairing Skype with the Plantronics .Audio 910 gives the users wireless freedom on calls, optimal sound quality, great style and they only need one headset for all their mobile and VoIP calls”

An extension of Plantronics’ VoIP product portfolio, the .Audio 910 features also include:

- PerSonoCall software for integration with many popular Softphone applications
- Travel Optimized- Foldable, light weight headset and USB travel charger included
- Up to 6 hours talk time and up to 100 hours standby time
- Freedom to roam up to 10meters from your voice-enabled Bluetooth PC or mobile phone.

Pricing and Availability

The Plantronics .audio 910 USB has a manufacturer suggested retail price of £89.99 / €129.99 (including VAT) and is available today through Plantronics’ authorized resellers and www.plantronics.com. The product will also be available in major retail stores later this summer.

Awareness levels of the regulation at 50% at time of implementation; Up to 16% of contact centre’s thought to exceed lower action level noise requirements

October 9 2006 – Headset manufacturer Plantronics today warned that contact centre employees may be at risk and unaware of a new EU directive that was implemented into country law early in 2006, stating that call centres need to control daily personal noise exposure to not more than 85dB(A), and ideally below 80dB(A). With awareness the key to the success of meeting legislation requirements, Datamonitor‘s ‘Spending priorities in small call centres’ analysis has shown that 91% of call centres were not aware of the legislation in 2005 and 50% were still unaware at the time of implementation.

Office workers have complained that that noise levels at work disrupt their concentration, and around a third feel that their ability to make work calls is compromised by workplace noise, according to a study by Plantronics. Excessive noise at work can be associated with an increase in work-related stress[1]. Contact centre workers spend the majority of their working day on the phone and are at the greatest risk from excessive noise exposure via the headset . They can also be at risk from a range of sudden loud sounds- from malicious callers, fax tones to ‘feedback howl’.

According to Plantronics testing of almost 500 agents at 61 contact centre sites across EMEA[2] 16.1% currently exceed the new lower action level of 80dB(A). Datamonitor expects the number of call centres in EMEA to reach 45,000 by 2008.  The new directive requires each contact centre to perform their own risk assessment and implement appropriate and proportionate measures.

Plantronics, provides testing and tools to automatically manage noise exposure via the headset. The Plantronics VistaPlus™ DM15 digital adapter ensures daily personal noise exposure is monitored and automatically controlled to aid compliance with the legislation. Constantly on guard, the SoundGuard® DIGITAL signal processing included in VistaPlus also identifies and suppresses sudden loud sounds, to avoid user discomfort. 

[1] Research on work-related stress”commissioned by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (May 2000)

[2] Contact Centre sites were in England, Scotland, Ireland, Netherlands, Italy and France

Trial Any Plantronics Wireless Office Headset To Experience The Benefits Of Wireless Calls

LONDON, November 11^th 2006 - Plantronics, the world’s leading headset designer and manufacturer has launched a new marketing initiative allowing end users to fully road test any of their wireless office headsets including their award winning Voyager™ 510S Bluetooth® Headset system for 14 days before they decide, without obligation, to either purchase it or give it back.

The Voyager 510S Office Headset System is a multipoint Bluetooth system and a single wireless headset that can seamlessly switch between a landline telephone, Bluetooth enabled mobile phones or VOIP telephony.

Plantronics’ exclusive multipoint technology allows users to switch between any two voice enabled Bluetooth devices at the touch of a button. The system comprises the Voyager 510 Bluetooth headset and a base unit, which Bluetooth-enables any desk telephone whilst also charging the headset. When paired with a mobile phone, calls can be taken from the landline or the mobile phone using a single headset.

Gina Mehmert, EMEA business marketing manager for Plantronics comments,” We are confident that once you have tried a Plantronics headset and experienced the benefits of wireless communications, you will not want to make and take calls without one!” she continues, “Our wireless office suite of products is extensive, depending on your telephony needs we have the headset for you.”

The headset is extremely comfortable for all-day wearing, offers superior sound quality and a noise-canceling microphone for clearer voice transmission. The swivel boom allows use on either ear and folds away for easy storage. It offers up to 6 hours talk-time and 100 hours stand-by time and weighs only 15 grams.

The Plantronics award winning CS60 range is also included in the free trial offer - giving hands free wireless freedom up to 100metres away from users desk.

To register for this exclusive offer, visit www.findyourspace.info and click on free trial

Plantronics research encourages a new look at the way we work

1st September 2006 – To combat increased hours, stress and ill-health caused in the workplace, the next generation of business executives are demanding more from their employers than ever before, reveals recent Plantronics research[1]. With the total number of working hours increasing by 2.3 million to 926.9 million in August, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics, 85% of 20 to 30 year olds are looking to advances in technology and progressive office equipment to get away from their desks and make the most of their working day.

With 50% of office workers already feeling they are chained to their desks, those rising through the ranks are starting to challenge what has become the norm for the majority of office workers like long hours and traditional working methods. The current standards are contributing to back pain which is the UK’s second commonest cause of long term sickness absence, costing £6bn each year in benefits, treatments and lost production. The Plantronics survey showed that 80% of those interviewed felt that their health and productivity would be better if they could move around more at work and in a manner that was more suited their own work-style.

“The new generation of executives are more likely to integrate new technology into their working life and work in a smarter way. We can see from the response rate that the adoption and interest rate for new wireless equipment are highest at 84% for workers in their 20’s, with decreased delineation for each 10 year age group, with the over-60s confirming that only 46% believe new technology will make them more effective at work. New standards need to evolve to create a healthy working environment and attract and retain the best young talent who are looking at work-life pressures with fresh expectations and ideas,” explains Philippe Vanhoutte, managing director, Plantronics EMEA.

Plantronics research also reveals that four out of five officer workers believe that the modern workplace requires a greater ability to multi-task compared with five years ago. Independent research by performance consulting firm HB Maynard confirmed the role of headsets as efficient workplace technology, improving productivity as much as 43%.  In its controlled testing over an eight day period, not only was a reduced error rate and improved service record noted, but workers on the phone full-time with Plantronics headsets placed an average of 16 more calls per day than those using traditional handsets. Perhaps most telling of all, workers equipped with Plantronics headsets reported higher morale, lower fatigue levels and fewer phone-related physical complaints.

The health benefit of headsets also shines through - there is a measurable risk for anyone using the phone for as little as two hours a day; especially in terms of phone cradling between head and neck. University of Surrey in a report titled ‘The Effect of Telephone Headset Use on Working Posture and Self Reported Musculoskeletal Symptoms: An Intervention Study’ confirms that headset users experience a reduction of 31% in neck pain and 16% lower back pain.

“These statistics are clear; the drive to change the workplace to a smarter and more flexible environment will increase productivity and reduce sickness and absence, which will make for a happier workforce. The call to employers to embrace and provide a wireless office is on,” said Vanhoutte.

[1] Independent research by KRC Research of 750 office workers in the UK and across EMEA, in August 2006, March 2006 and October 2005

Plantronics Voyager 510-USB Extends Benefits of Unified Communications to Oracle Workforce

28 November, 2006  — Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE:PLT) today announced that Oracle, the world’s largest enterprise software company, selected the Plantronics Voyager™ 510-USB Bluetooth® headset systemto optimise Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications and provide hands-free efficiency to its global workforce.

Combining the Voyager 510-USB with a VoIP-enabled laptop and mobile phone, Oracle employees now have a single wireless headset to use across multiple applications. For example, the Voyager 510-USB allows employees to use voice commands to log into Oracle®  Collaboration Suite, listen to and draft new e-mails, and access calendar items, address book contacts, and other information. The result: improved efficiency through faster communications and decision making and enhanced collaboration.

“We evaluated numerous headset offerings to complement Oracle’s VoIP deployment, and the Plantronics Voyager 510-USB is clearly ahead of the pack for audio performance, ease of use and style and comfort,” said Mark Sunday, Senior Vice President and CIO, Oracle. “We are also very impressed with Voyager’s performance with Oracle Collaboration Suite. Now employees have a single wireless headset for all of their voice and data communications.”

Oracle chose to standardise on the Plantronics Voyager 510-USB for several key benefits, including:

• Clear conversations: A noise-canceling microphone and wind-reduction technology within the headset provide brilliant sound for both indoor and outdoor environments.
  
• Flexibility: Plantronics’ proprietary multipoint technology allows Oracle users to switch between multiple Bluetooth-enabled devices, including softphones and mobile phones, with the touch of a button.
  
• Efficiency: Oracle employees can conduct hands-free calls up to 33-feet away from their laptop and mobile phone, providing the freedom to perform other activities in support of the call, such as researching customer data, sending an e-mail or printing a document.

• Simplicity: The system includes a plug-and-play USB adapter that eliminates cumbersome Bluetooth software setup processes, resulting in reduced IT maintenance and support costs and high employee satisfaction.

• Comfort: The headset features a lightweight, discreet design and can be worn on either ear for all-day comfort.

“Ergonomics and hands-free benefits were key factors in selecting the Voyager 510-USB,” said Maria Maskiewicz, Global Corporate Procurement and IT Vendor Management, Oracle. “The headset is extremely comfortable and will help reduce neck and back pain typically associated with prolonged handset usage. Additionally, the headset is very discreet which will encourage employees to wear it frequently.”

Oracle employees also benefit from Plantronics PerSonoCall® software. PerSonoCall provides remote ring detection and enables users to wirelessly answer/end PC telephony calls away from their working area. By “cutting the cord” between the PC and headset, professionals have the freedom to roam, talk between conference rooms or at the printer, and be completely hands-free to multi-task and collaborate more effectively.

In addition to the Voyager 510-USB, Oracle employees are also using the Plantronics CS60-USB for VoIP calls within the office. The CS60-USB is a premium wireless VoIP system designed for in-office use that provides excellent fidelity and range. With the CS60-USB, users can have conversations and answer/end calls up to 200 feet away from their PC. The Plantronics CS60-USB includes four different wearing styles and one-touch call management convenience. The CS60-USB also comes with PerSonoCall software for remote ring detection and call answer/end.

For more information about Plantronics’ VoIP-ready products, please visit:  http://www.plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/voip/.

The call to employers to provide a wireless office is on

October 16^th 2006 – Younger office workers are demanding more from their employers than ever before, reveals recent Plantronics research [1]. 85% of 20 to 30 year olds are looking to advances in technology and progressive office equipment to combat increased hours, stress and ill-health caused by the workplace.

50% of office workers feel they are chained to their desks and those rising through the ranks are starting to challenge the long hours and traditional working methods that have become standard practice in most workplaces.

Plantronics research reveals that four out of five office workers believe that the modern workplace requires a greater ability to multi-task compared with five years ago. 80% of those interviewed also felt that their health and productivity would be better if they could move around more at work and in a manner more suited their own work-style.

Independent research by performance consulting firm HB Maynard has confirmed the role of headsets as efficient workplace technology, improving productivity as much as 43%.  In controlled testing over an eight day period, workers equipped with headsets also reported higher morale, lower fatigue levels and fewer phone-related physical complaints.

There is a measurable risk for anyone using the phone for as little as two hours a day; especially in terms of phone cradling between head and neck. The University of Surrey in a report titled ‘The Effect of Telephone Headset Use on Working Posture and Self Reported Musculoskeletal Symptoms: An Intervention Study’ confirms that headset users experience a reduction of 31% in neck pain and 16% lower back pain.

With long term sickness absence caused by back pain, costing the UK £6bn a year in benefits, treatments and lost production, a headset is a simple and cost effective piece of technology to implement explains Philippe Vanhoutte, managing director, Plantronics EMEA.

“The new generation of executives are more likely to integrate new technology into their working life and work in a smarter way. Adoption and interest in new wireless equipment is highest for workers in their 20’s (84%).  New standards need to evolve to create a healthy working environment and attract and retain the best young talent who are looking at their work-life balance with fresh expectations and ideas,” explains Philip Vanhoutte, managing director, Plantronics EMEA.

Health and Productivity - Top Tips

Don’t let the office get the better of you!

Backcare Awareness Week (16-21 October 2006) serves as a reminder – in particular to those of us who spend every day within the constraints of an office environment – to pay attention to our physical well-being.

With a large proportion of people in the UK currently working in sedentary office-based jobs, at the mercy of their phones and PCs, back pain is the nation’s second commonest cause of long term sickness absence for much of the UK (1).

With research showing that healthy employees are as much as 20% [2] more productive than their unhealthy peers, leading headset manufacturer, Plantronics, has come up with a check list of winning ways to make sure that you’re in control of your working day and your environment and maintaining peak performance every day.

- Take breaks. The Health and Safety Executive recommends that short, frequent breaks (5-10 minutes after 50-60 minutes of continuous work) are more satisfactory than longer less frequent ones. Even small breaks, facilitated by switching to a wireless headset to make calls, can liberate you from your sitting position and allow you to stretch your legs whilst remaining in touch

- Get some air. Go for a walk, get some natural light and do whatever you can to take a lunch break at least twice a week – no matter how busy you feel you are. It will actually increase your alertness, help you relax and ultimately make you more productive

- Stay ahead of the pack. Make sure you plan for tomorrow last thing in the evening so you can anticipate how your day will pan out which will minimise anxiety and allow you to enjoy the evening without work worries

- Don’t let email be the boss of you. Sort incoming mail into categories: urgent, important but not urgent, and non-urgent, non-important. Do not afraid to be ruthless

- Remember what your mother told you and ‘sit up straight’! Or make sure you have your work station assessed at the very least. Using a headset can help you improve your posture as you don’t have to cradle your phone between your neck and shoulders

- Don’t be an ostrich! Address issues head on, and try to restrict your use of email. Make difficult calls first thing and phone or ask questions face-to-face wherever possible. This will cut down on the amount of email messages in your in-box and will also improve working relationships

- Smile! Try your best not to let stressful situations get on top of you; take a deep breath and get things into perspective. A smile even comes through your voice when you are on the phone and makes you sound warmer. On the whole people react more positively to people who sound friendly and approachable – which will help you out in the short and long term

(1) www.backpain.org

[1] Independent research by KRC Research of 750 office workers in the UK and across EMEA, in August 2006, March 2006 and October 2005
[2]VieLife

Awareness levels of the regulation at 50% at time of implementation; Up to 16% of contact centre’s thought to exceed lower action level noise requirements

October 9 2006 – Headset manufacturer Plantronics today warned that contact centre employees may be at risk and unaware of a new EU directive that was implemented into country law early in 2006, stating that call centres need to control daily personal noise exposure to not more than 85dB(A), and ideally below 80dB(A). With awareness the key to the success of meeting legislation requirements, Datamonitor‘s ‘Spending priorities in small call centres’ analysis has shown that 91% of call centres were not aware of the legislation in 2005 and 50% were still unaware at the time of implementation.

Office workers have complained that that noise levels at work disrupt their concentration, and around a third feel that their ability to make work calls is compromised by workplace noise, according to a study by Plantronics. Excessive noise at work can be associated with an increase in work-related stress[1]. Contact centre workers spend the majority of their working day on the phone and are at the greatest risk from excessive noise exposure via the headset . They can also be at risk from a range of sudden loud sounds- from malicious callers, fax tones to ‘feedback howl’.

According to Plantronics testing of almost 500 agents at 61 contact centre sites across EMEA[2] 16.1% currently exceed the new lower action level of 80dB(A). Datamonitor expects the number of call centres in EMEA to reach 45,000 by 2008.  The new directive requires each contact centre to perform their own risk assessment and implement appropriate and proportionate measures.

Plantronics, provides testing and tools to automatically manage noise exposure via the headset. The Plantronics VistaPlus™ DM15 digital adapter ensures daily personal noise exposure is monitored and automatically controlled to aid compliance with the legislation. Constantly on guard, the SoundGuard DIGITAL™ signal processing included in VistaPlus also identifies and suppresses sudden loud sounds, to avoid user discomfort.

26 June 2006 - Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE:PLT) today announced that its Plantronics Voyager™ 510-USB, the first Bluetooth® headset system optimised for Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) connections, will support the integration and use of call management capabilities to be featured in the new Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 and Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007.

The strategic relationship formed between Microsoft and Plantronics will enable the two companies to jointly develop new innovative unified communications devices that provide professionals with superior voice and data integration enabling unified communications across the enterprise.

“Plantronics and Microsoft teamed together because we share a vision for creating the next generation of unified communications solutions that will make office communications integrated, intuitive and real-time,” said Chuck Yort, vice president of Business Solutions at Plantronics. “This initiative is consistent with Plantronics’ long-range strategic view to make voice solutions more deeply embedded and valuable across the entire enterprise workflow and communication process.”

“Microsoft’s vision for unified communications enables people to find and collaborate with co-workers right from the applications they use most to more effectively get business done,” said Eric Swift, senior director of product management for the Unified Communications Group at Microsoft Corp.  “Plantronics is playing a significant role in the development of voice and VoIP peripheral solutions using Office Communicator 2007 and our unified communications platform. Through our cooperative efforts and the integration of the Plantronics Voyager 510-USB Bluetooth headset system with Communicator 2007, Plantronics is adding significant value to PC-based enterprise communications and enabling businesses to better connect people, information and business processes.”

The Plantronics Voyager 510-USB marks the first step towards this joint vision, supporting instant VoIP connectivity and extending the reach of the network via a wireless Bluetooth headset. The Voyager 510-USB will support the enhanced instant messaging (IM) capabilities of Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 by enabling professionals to instantly place hands-free VoIP calls through a PC.

Office Communicator 2007 on the PC brings voice capabilities to enhanced IM and presence awareness, integrated telephony, VoIP, and real-time elements of conferencing and unified communications.

An extension of Plantronics’ VoIP product portfolio, the Plantronics Voyager 510-USB features the award-winning Voyager 510[i] headset and includes a plug-and-play Bluetooth USB adapter that simplifies setup and use.  Plantronics’ exclusive multipoint technology allows users to switch between multiple Bluetooth enabled devices, including softphones and mobile phones, with the touch of a button. The Voyager 510-USB also includes Plantronics’ PerSonoCall® software which enables users to wirelessly answer/end PC telephony calls while roaming in the office.  By “cutting the cord” between the PC and headset, professionals will have the freedom to roam within their offices, talk between conference rooms or at the printer, and be completely hands free to multi-task and collaborate more effectively.   PerSonoCall will be fully integrated with the new Communicator 2007 and include wireless call control in the near future.

For more information about the Plantronics Voyager 510-USB, visit: http://www.plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/productName/Voyager510USB.

About Plantronics
In 1969, a Plantronics headset carried the historic first words from the moon: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”  Since then, Plantronics has become the headset of choice for mission-critical applications such as air traffic control, 911 dispatch, and the New York Stock Exchange.  Today, this history of Sound Innovation™ is the basis for every product we build for the office, contact center, personal mobile, entertainment and residential markets. The Plantronics family of brands includes Plantronics, Altec Lansing, Clarity, and Volume Logic. For more information, go to www.plantronics.com or call (800) 544-4660.

Altec Lansing, .Audio, Clarity, PerSonoCall, Plantronics, Plantronics Voyager, Sound Innovation, and Volume Logic are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc. The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Plantronics, Inc. is under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

All product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

CeBIT, Hanover – March 9, 2006 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today announced its new family of .Audio™ PC headsets developed for a wide range of uses, including gaming, podcasts, Internet Telephony, and multimedia.  The .Audio 340, .Audio 510 and .Audio 550 stereo headsets headline the new family of 10 products that all boast sound quality, as well as new contemporary designs that reinforce Plantronics’ commitment to style.

All of the .Audio headsets share a new design language that offers a contemporary and refreshing departure from traditional PC headgear.  Plantronics conducted extensive ergonomic testing to develop a unique form factor that securely, comfortably fits a wide range of physical variants.

“The intention was to create a line of headsets that truly become an extension of the user by considering the function of the product and the human anatomy first,” said Darrin Caddes, vice president of Corporate Design for Plantronics, and formerly of BMW and Indian Motorcycle.  “This is not unlike designing a car or motorcycle where the product clearly provides a defined function, but must also adapt to physical comfort and aesthetics that people respond to emotionally.”

Plantronics .Audio 340
The Plantronics .Audio™ 340 features a pressure-free, behind-the-head headband that rests stylishly above the neckline for a feather-light fit as users explore music, gaming, DVD’s and applications in robust stereo sound.  Soft, swivel-mounted ear cushions deliver acoustic precision and ensure all-day comfort.  Perfect for Internet chat and VoIP communications, the .Audio 340 features a noise-cancelling microphone to enhance speech recognition, while the QuickAdjust™ pivoting boom ensures ideal microphone placement.  The .Audio 340 is compatible with all popular Internet chat and Internet telephony services from companies Skype, Yahoo!, AOL and MSN among others. The .Audio 340 will retail for £24.99 inc VAT (Euro 39.99 inc VAT).

Plantronics .Audio 510 USB and .Audio 550 DSP
The Plantronics .Audio™ 510 USB and .Audio™ 550 DSP are ideal for multimedia applications like gaming, music, and movies.  They offer a supple, lightweight design and 40mm speakers that convey music and gaming with dynamic base response. The noise-cancelling microphone cuts out background distractions and enhances speech recognition accuracy for chatting and recordings, such as podcasts.  The .Audio 550 DSP features a digital signal processing chip for actively eliminating background noise, and PerSono® Audio Control Centre Software, which provides music lovers with full control over microphone and audio characteristics like volume, bass and treble for balancing between hip hop, rock and classical. The .Audio 510 USB and .Audio 550 DSP will retail for £39.99 inc VAT (Euro £59.99 inc VAT) and  £69.99 inc VAT (Euro 119.99 inc VAT).

The new .Audio products are reasonably priced, ranging from (£9.99 to £69.99) €19.99 to €119.99 respectively and will be available in April May 2006 in most retail chains across Europe, for more details please visit  www.plantronics.com. 

About Plantronics
In 1969, a Plantronics headset carried the historic first words from the moon: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”  Since then, we’ve become the headset of choice for mission-critical applications such as air traffic control, emergency rescue, and the New York Stock Exchange.  Today, this history of Sound Innovation™ is the basis for every product we build for the office, contact centre, personal mobile, entertainment and residential markets.  For more information, go to www.plantronics.com or call 0800 410014

Altec Lansing, .Audio, Clarity, PerSono, Plantronics, QuickAdjust, Sound Innovation, and Volume Logic are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth Headset Receives “Innovation” Award from Leading Independent Consulting Lab

CEBIT, Hanover – March 9, 2006 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today announced two new Bluetooth® headsets, the Plantronics Discovery™ 645 and Voyager 510 with WindSmart®, that incorporate new technologies for excellent audio clarity during conversations.  The Voyager 510 is the first Bluetooth headset on the market to include both a noise-cancelling microphone and wind-reduction technology for brilliant sound in windy environments.  The Discovery 645 includes a digital signal processing (DSP) chip to actively reduce background noise when talking.

A recent test of the new Voyager 510 headset by the USA National Analysis Centre, a leading independent testing lab for the wireless phone industry, found that “the Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth headset supports an innovative boom microphone design which greatly minimises the effects of wind noise.  A high level of customer satisfaction should be realised due to the exceptional audio quality along with the ability to use the headset in outdoor windy conditions.”  For its superior wind noise performance, the National Analysis Centre awarded Voyager 510 with its “Innovation” award.

“As Bluetooth headsets gain in popularity, consumers are using them in every imaginable environment —from the car to nightclubs to sports games,” said Philip Vanhoutte, EMEA Managing Director at Plantronics.  “By adding advanced sound technologies to the Discovery and Voyager products, we are providing consumers with the best of both worlds: products that look great and sound fantastic, regardless of where they are talking.”

The Plantronics Voyager 510 with WindSmart also features a new stylish black and silver colour scheme, and includes multipoint technology for seamlessly switching between two Bluetooth devices.  Other product features include:
- Lightweight, foldable design for all-day wearing comfort and easy storage,
- One-touch call answer/end, last number redial and voice activated dialing,
- Boom swivels for use on either ear for optional wearing preference,
- Support for Bluetooth headset and hands-free profiles,
- Up to 6 hours talk time and up to 100 hours standby time, and
- Freedom to roam up to 10 meters away from voice-enabled Bluetooth devices.
The Plantronics Voyager 510 is priced in the region of £49.99 (euro 79.99) and is available from leading retailers.

Plantronics Discovery 645 — The Ultimate DSP Bluetooth Headset
The Discovery 645 incorporates the same style and design as the internationally acclaimed Discovery 640, which recently won the prestigious Industry Forum (iF) Product Design Award, and now includes DSP for crystal clear calls.  Weighing less than 10 grams, the Discovery 645 is extremely discrete and one of the lightest DSP Bluetooth headsets on the market.  Discovery 645 product features include:
- Innovative AAA pocket charger that delivers up to 9 hours talk time,
- Unique vibrate ring in charging pocket, last number redial, and voice dialing,
- Four adapters that work with most mobile phone chargers to charge headset,
- Three soft gel ear tips for long-wearing comfort, and
- Chrome-finish carrying case.
The Discovery 645 is priced at £79.99 (Euro 119.99) and will be available in late March at leading retailers and for more information visit www.plantronics.com.

About Plantronics
In 1969, a Plantronics headset carried the historic first words from the moon: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”  Since then, we’ve become the headset of choice for mission-critical applications such as air traffic control, emergency rescue, and the New York Stock Exchange.  Today, this history of Sound Innovation™ is the basis for every product we build for the office, contact centre, personal mobile, entertainment and residential markets.  For more information, go to www.plantronics.com or call 0800 410014

Altec Lansing, Clarity, Plantronics, Plantronics Discovery, Plantronics Voyager, Sound Innovation, WindSmart and Volume Logic are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc. The Bluetooth name and the Bluetooth trademarks are owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and are used by Plantronics, Inc. under license.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.