Plantronics Preview Their Next Generation Bluetooth™ Headset at CeBIT, Hanover 12 March 2003
Swindon, UK. - Plantronics, Inc., (NYSE:PLT), the world’s leading manufacturer of communications headsets, has today previewed their next generation Bluetooth™ headset at CeBIT, Hanover. This announcement demonstrates Plantronics’ leadership with wireless headsets and ongoing commitment to delivering innovative Bluetooth solutions to consumers.
The M3000 will set new standards for Bluetooth headsets, bringing more features to the user than any other Bluetooth headset on the market today. The M3000’s stylish innovative design incorporates controls that are easy to find and intuitive to use when on the move. Everything a busy user needs to keep in touch is a fingertip away - answering in-coming calls, activating voice dialing, adjusting the volume to suit the environment they’re in and muting the call when required. And with outstanding talk and stand-by times, the M3000 is the obvious choice for busy mobile phone users.
Kevin Carey, Senior Product Manager, comments, ” We believe we will see a dramatic increase in Bluetooth adoption over the next four years; a recent study by Strategy Analytics projects the shipment of Bluetooth computer and communications devices to accelerate rapidly reaching almost 275 million units by 2005. They predict that by 2005 the demand for Bluetooth headsets could reach 50 million units. The M3000 has been designed to meet this demand and resets the standards for Bluetooth mobile headsets, delivering new levels of performance that consumers will come to expect in all Bluetooth headsets. This is a groundbreaking product for Plantronics and for the consumer with exactly the mix of features the consumer is seeking. The modern, discreet styling and combination of features and functionality allow users to maximize their conversations with the minimum of effort, making full use of the many features offered by all the Bluetooth enabled mobile phones on the market today.”
All Plantronics Bluetooth headsets feature noise-cancelling microphones ensuring superb transmit sound quality facilitating the use of existing voice command and control applications and emerging voice enabled services.
Pricing and Availability The M3000 will begin shipping early Summer 2003, with pricing being released nearer the time. Display Information The Plantronics M3000 Wireless Headset is being displayed at CeBIT in Hanover, Germany, March 12 - 19; at Plantronics stand F in Hall 27. In addition to the M3000, Plantronics are launching a new office DECT adapter. These groundbreaking new headsets clearly demonstrate Plantronics’ vision of wireless freedom for mobile and office environments.
The Bluetooth Market A study by Strategy Analytics projects the shipment of Bluetooth devices to accelerate rapidly over the next four years. By 2006, Bluetooth handsets alone are estimated to reach almost 735 million units worldwide. According to the study, by 2005 the demand for Bluetooth headsets could reach over 50 million units. Plantronics invested early in Bluetooth technology and were one of the earliest members of the Bluetooth consortium (number 20) - the first headset company to join the Bluetooth initiative which now includes over 2100 companies. Plantronics is an Associate Member of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) and is actively involved in technical working groups, having early access to working drafts of specifications for new Bluetooth profiles.
About Plantronics Plantronics introduced the first lightweight communications headset in 1962 and is recognized as the world leader in communications headsets. A publicly held company with more than 2,400 employees, Plantronics is the leading provider of headsets to telephone companies and the business community worldwide. Plantronics headsets have been featured in many high-profile events, including Neil Armstrong’s historic “One small step for man” transmission from the moon in 1969. Plantronics, Inc., headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, was founded in 1961 and maintains offices in 20 countries. Plantronics products are sold and supported through a worldwide network of authorised Plantronics marketing partners. Information about the company and its products can be found at www.plantronics.com or by calling 0800 410014.
For further information please contact: Nicola Hussey / Joanna Wilmot Republic Tel. 020 7379 5000 Fax. 020 7379 5111 nicolah@republicpr.com / joanna@republicpr.com
© 2003 Plantronics, Inc. All rights reserved. Plantronics, the logo design, Plantronics and the logo design combined are registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc. in the United States and in various countries. All other marks are the property of the respective companies. Bluetooth is a trademark owned by the Bluetooth SIG Inc., and is used by Plantronics, Inc. under license. All other products or service names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners.
