Till Wortmann, dpa
September 27, 2003
Berlin (dpa) - For those who want to emulate Tom Cruise a la the futuristic "Minority Report," a wireless headset for the cell phone is just the thing.
Unlike the cable-bound headphones that are traditionally used with cell phones, wireless models allow for real hands-free conversation. The only prerequisite for their use is a Bluetooth ready cell phone.
"Anyone who has used a traditional headset and been put off by all the fumbling with tangled cords will see the joy of these headsets immediately," says Kai Petzke, director of a Web site dedicated to telecommunications. This is particularly the case in cars, since many municipalities have forbidden holding a cell phone while driving.
Handsets that use Bluetooth, a wireless radio standard, to communicate with the phone leave the hands free and thus do not restrict the driver.
"The Bluetooth handset is a successful compromise between expensive built-in speakerphone models and traditional headsets where a cable can quickly get in the way," says Peter Knaak, a technology expert for the European consumer testing organization "Stiftung Warentest".
Wearing a Bluetooth headset is easy. The user clamps the futuristic-looking headpiece behind his or her ear. The headsets are so light - usually less than 30 grams, and in some cases as low as 22 - that the user will hardly notice it. The cell phone itself, however, can remain safely in a pocket. The headsets are operated via a button or dial that allows for both answering and ending a conversation.
Yet not everyone may necessarily enjoy having this kind of little birdie in their ear. "Buyers should check out the various possibilities at a dealership, trying out as many as possible," advises communications expert Petzke.
Bluetooth technology has another disadvantage: it uses a relatively high amount of electricity. "Buyers should also buy a cigarette-lighter charger to keep the phone juiced up while driving," advises Pieter-Jan Schrieken of Belkin Components, which manufacturers such devices.
In order for the Bluetooth headset to exchange data with the cell phone, both devices must accommodate the same profile.
"The Bluetooth profile is more or less just the plug at the end of a cable, which must be the right size," explains Steffen Grosch, Manager for Product Marketing at Sony Ericsson.
Sony supports two profiles for voice communication: headset and hands-free. This raises the chances for compatibility with products from other manufacturers. The "recipient" for the headsets must also support one of the two profiles for the communication to work. Yet sometimes a lack of just this kind of compatibility between two manufacturers can cause problems, warns Knaak.
Bluetooth headsets can also be used to telephone over the Internet. A USB stick, also known as a dongle, is required for this, says a representative from the Hama firm, which manufactures the devices. The headset is then plugged into the computer like a standard headset. The one requirement is that the PC allows for a headset profile.
Bluetooth headsets occasionally leave something to be desired when it comes to user friendliness. Many headsets do not come with a case or holder to safely store and recharge the unit when not in use. Expert Kai Petzke for one expects even lighter and smaller headsets down the road, with higher stand-by and talk time limits.
Copyright 2003 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
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