Employees embrace wireless technologies to stay even better connected
New wireless headset products to further adoption and Plantronics leadership in the wireless office
CeBIT, Hanover – 9th March 2006 – Modern worklife requires more multi-tasking and contrary to predictions, more time on the phone than five years ago according to recent global research conducted by Plantronics. The study surveyed more than 1,200 people in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, Germany and the United States to explore the challenges of working in an office environment.
The research found that almost half of office workers spend more time on the phone than they did five years ago, with almost a third spending more than two hours on the phone each day. UK respondents spend the most time on the phone, with 20% most likely to spend at least four hours on the phone each day compared to just 4% for respondents in Spain and France.
Whilst contact centre workers reportedly spend on average seven hours per day solely on the phone, increasingly they need to fit more into their day. 79% of respondents believe the modern work environment requires more multi-tasking than five years ago highlighting the need for headset technology that provides comfort and clarity whilst keeping the hands free to respond to email, load and access CRM data and move around the office.
The research also found that the majority of respondents (59%) anticipate a shift to wireless workplaces in the next five years, but at the same time feel their own company is lagging behind (41%). Plantronics is launching two new wireless headsets to further drive adoption in the workplace; the SupraPlus™and the CS70.
SupraPlus™ Wireless
The Plantronics’ SupraPlus™ wireless headset offers up to nine hours of talk time for wearers in call-intensive settings. Aligned particularly to the needs of those such as contact centre supervisors and IT helpdesk professionals, the SupraPlus™ brings new found flexibility to the working lives of employees based in this kind of rapid-fire environment. Users can roam up to 100 metres away from their desks while attending to other front-line queries or tasks when necessary.
The SupraPlus™ is available in 2 wearing styles; the monaural unique removable voice tube version for optimal hygiene and the binaural noise cancelling version that reduces background noise by up to 75%, ideal for noisy environments such as contact centres.
Designed specifically for the needs of a call intensive workforce, the quick pair feature allows multiple SupraPlus headsets to be used with one phone station, guaranteeing flexibility as well as maintaining a good level of hygiene for hot desking or shift workers.
CS70
Plantronics’ CS70 wireless headset breaks the design mould by offering the professional employee an extremely stylish headset that does not compromise on range or sound quality.
Aimed at facilitating the lives of multi-tasking executives, and at minimising any precious ‘lost’ phone time, the CS70 is light enough to be almost unnoticeable to the wearer with comfort a key factor in the design. Advantageous to the executive accustomed to holding multiple, long conference calls for instance, the user is now hands-free to write or type whilst on the phone.
Harnessing DECT wireless technology, users are free to continue telephone conversations or answer calls up to 100 metres away from their desks.
“This research reinforces that whilst email is an important tool in the business world, voice communication is still a crucial component in the everyday lives of office workers. Headsets are a key aspect of wireless technology improving working conditions across the world, and making multi-tasking a reality,” said Philip Vanhoutte, managing director for EMEA, Plantronics.
“With an estimated 15% of office workers already using a wireless headset in the office, Plantronics predicts that the launch of the CS70 and SupraPlus will further drive growth and adoption.”
SupraPlus Wireless – key features
• Extremely comfortable for all day wearing
• Binaural noise cancelling variant for noisier environments
• QuickPair feature allows multiple
• headsets to share one base for effective hot-desking or multi-shift working
• DECT technology for excellent sound quality
• Range -100m - up to 50m in a typical office
• Up to 9 hrs talk time, 80hrs standby time with fast recharge
• Remote call answering when away from your telephone*
• Dedicated Headset Volume & Mute control, including on-mute indicator
• QuickCall feature for short-call convenience
• IntelliStand™automatically answers call when headset is picked up from base*
*Requires HL10 or electronic hookswitch control
CS70 – key features
• An incredibly discreet & stylish DECT headset
• lightweight – 22g and designed for all day wearing comfort
• DECT technology for excellent sound quality
• Compatible with most popular business telephones
• Volume and mute functions
• Boom swivels for use on either ear
• Up to 5 hrs talk time, 25hrs standby time with fast recharge
• Range - 100m–up to 50m in a typical office
• Unique removable voice tube for optimal hygiene
• Remote call answering when away from your telephone*
• IntelliStand™automatically answers call when headset is picked up from base*
*Requires HL10 or electronic hookswitch control
• About 40 Million DECT terminals were sold in 2004. DECT adopted in 110 countries worldwide. DECT installed base grew 20%+ in 2004
For further information and high quality product images or if you would like to review a Plantronics headset, please contact:
Eryl Baum/Lisa Popplewell
02070670630
ebaum@golinharris.com
lpopplewell@golinahrris.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
