1. General definition about Headset
2. Types of Headsets
3. What is Telephone Headset?
4. What is Bluetooth Headset?
5. What is Cordless Headset?
6. What is PC Headset?

1. General definition about Headset

Headset - A telephone transmitter (microphone) and receiver (earpiece) assembly worn on the head to conduct conversations.

2. Types of Headsets
There are mainly four types of headsets: Telephone headsets, Bluetooth headset, cordless headset, and PC headset.

3. What is Telephone Headset?

Telephone Headsets attach to the telephone and allow hands-free operation, they are more commonly found in the offices of telephone marketing companies and call centers. Headsets allow comfortable conversations for long periods of time.

The telephone headset industry groups headset users into different categories. The traditional telephone headset user is referred to as "headset dependent" and uses a headset for six to eight hours a day. The second category of user is known as the "headset intensive" user. These are users that spend four to six hours on the phone a day. Finally there is the "occasional" user who uses a telephone headset for protracted calls during the day or for periods of one to three hours at a time.

Telephone headsets usually plug into either the telephone line or to telephone handset jack via a headset adapter or amplifier unit. Most telephone headset adapters have controls to alter the microphone sensitivity and headphone volume and tone.

While it may appear that telephones and the handset jack interfaces are similar, it should be noted that not all handset connections are similar. There are a number of different types of microphone elements that each individual telephone set utilizes. The three main categories of microphones in use in the telephone headset industry are: carbon, electret, and dynamic. These three types of telephone headset microphone work differently so if you have a headset that was made specifically for one of these three types, it will not be possible to use them with a microphone of another type.

The manufacturers of telephone headsets build their products so that they can be interfaced according to the phone manufacturer's specifications. Each manufacturer has application engineers that work with them in order to ensure that all new phones and current telephone products are properly identified and matched up to work with compatible telephone headsets. With this information, headset suppliers are able to initially recommend telephone headsets that work with specific phones.

Some telephone headset manufacturers also make general purposes headset adapters that enable the use of more than one type of headset. This is possible through the inclusion of switches for microphone and wiring type selection. There are also a number of modern telephones such as wireless telephones that have a 2.5 mm stereo jack so that compatible telephone headsets can be plugged directly into them.

4. What is Bluetooth Headset?

Bluetooth wireless technology is a specification for small-form factor, low-cost, short-range radio links between mobile PCs, mobile phones, and other telecommunications and computing devices.

Creating a good Bluetooth headset is surprisingly difficult. Regular wired headsets are very easy to design - with styles ranging from an absolutely minimal earbud speaker and shirt clip/microphone, up to a major dual earcup, over the head, set of headphones and angle-boom microphone. Lightweight versions are so light that having them securely mounted to/on your ear is no problem, and heavy-duty headsets include secure mounting as part of their structure.

A Bluetooth headset can never be as small or light as small-wired headsets, because it needs to include a battery and extra electronics. This extra size and weight impact on how the headset can be mounted on/around your ear.

All Bluetooth headsets to date have concentrated on offering as small as possible single piece designs. The idea of having a headband has never been implemented, and neither has the idea of having a separate microphone joined by wire to the headset (but note the recent introduction of new 'necklace' style designs).

5. What is Cordless Headset?

Cordless phone headsets for home allow you to walk away from the base without a cord. This also applies to wireless headsets in the business environment that are not connected to a base unit with a cord.

6. What is PC Headset?

A PC headset offers you superb sound quality as well as accurate voice-processing for games and internet chatting; enjoy great stereo sound, superior voice pick up technology and an innovative design that let you work or play in comfort.

Get more out of your computer audio system with a PC headset; enjoy interactive intimacy on your computer - regardless of what is going on around you. With a PC headset you can totally lose yourself in your computer applications and shut out the world around you. Experience virtual seclusion and let a PC headset surround you with quality stereo sounds.

The modern voice pick up technology employed in their PC headset equipment means you will always be heard clearly too. There’s no need to shout or raise your voice - simply sit back and chat with ease.

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