Plantronics launches wireless UC headset for the workspace of today

Plantronics has released the Voyager Focus UC, the industry's first wireless Bluetooth stereo headset with active noise-cancellation (ANC) technology designed to reduce noise and distraction in open, collaborative and remote workspaces.

Voyager Focus UC was designed for enterprise workers in an open office or other loud environments who want to eliminate background noise on calls or during focus time.

It's class 1 Bluetooth with adaptive power delivers up to 150 feet of wireless range while preserving battery life.

The device has been tested with the predominant collaboration solutions from Microsoft, Cisco, Avaya and Huawei to ensure optimum user experience when using these applications.

The headset includes smart sensor technology, audio alerts, and wideband audio and hi-fi stereo sound.

"No one can dispute the positive impact a great audio experience has on effective communications and collaboration," says Rich Costello, IDC senior research analyst.

"But audio experiences are increasingly being challenged, especially as traditional office environments expand to include workers in more remote and non-traditional, open-office environments that introduce more external noise factors," he says.

The immersive on-the-ear design of the Voyager Focus UC means many high frequency noises like office sounds and voices are reduced in volume. Low frequency sounds, like air conditioners, are reduced through ANC.

In order to reduce the noise that is transmitted and overheard by others, three tuned microphones and noise-cancelling algorithms reduce noise caused by keyboard clatter, close-talkers, and movement, while optimising voice intelligibility.

"We tried to think of every collaboration challenge and built a solution that solves for them," says Bill Loewenthal, Plantronics vice president enterprise solutions management.

"We created a premium design that will convey confidence and competence during a video call. We've used sensors and context to adapt the user experience to the wearing style and state so it just works as expected.

"But our real innovation is in the audio performance. We adapted our best-of-breed microphone technology with improved algorithms to ensure clarity of the user's voice, while suppressing background noises and tuning the audio listening profile to ensure that your favourite playlist sounds dynamic and impressive," he says.

The Voyager Focus UC will be available from July onwards.