Plantronics Voyager Pro UC headset designed for cell and PC calls

Due out later this month, the Voyager Pro UC lists for $199.99.

(Credit: Planatronics)

Plantronics trotted out a new Bluetooth headset on Monday, the Voyager Pro UC headset, which adds a plug-and-play Bluetooth USB adapter "to deliver richer wideband audio on softphones along with Voyager Pro's superior noise and wind cancellation on both mobile phones and softphones."

On the consumer front, the Voyager Pro UC is geared toward Skype users and has some firmware in the dongle that lets you answer Skype calls or swap between a cell and Skype call by simply pressing a button on the headset. Additionally, Plantronics says the dongle helps improve audio quality and range.

The Voyager Pro UC (the UC stands for "unified communications") is also compatible with enterprise softphone applications from Avaya, Cisco, IBM, and Microsoft, and works with Google Talk, though you'll have to use your PC's mouse to answer and end calls (in other words, there are no special features geared toward Google Talk users).

In case you're wondering, you cannot pair the original Voyager Pro headset with the dongle. It's also worth noting that this "UC" version is enhanced for PC communications but should sound the same as the identically styled Voyager Pro for cell calls.

The Voyager Pro UC will be available this month and carries a list price of $199.95. For a complete list of supported softphone applications, visit www.plantronics.com/personosuite.

Anybody want one? Should we do this as a Crave giveaway of the week?

[DENOBIN]

Yes and yes.

[streamline35]

Not really sure what the big deal is. I use my 2 year old $30 plantronics bluetooth headset both with my phone, and with my netbook to talk on skype. Seems like there are much cheaper alternatives - if they want to sell it for that much they put more emphasis how nice the headset is, and less on how it is "pc comparable". If someone is looking for a headset for their PC/skype, I suspect most users will realize there are much cheaper alternatives.

[parsaf]

I like Plantronics products and especially their support. However I don't quite see the need for this product. I have a Voyager Pro headset and I already use it with SKYPE on a number of Bluetooth capable machines. I have it paired to my VOIP PBX system as well using the lifter and base unit from the old Voyager. It sounds great on all of these. Why not just buy a Voyager pro and use Bluetooth to go with your softphone? Sure you might need to buy a $20 bluetooth dongle but it will work quite well. Maybe you wouldn't be able to answer or close a call using the call button?

Nice concept to high of a price! There are devices out that do the job at less than half
the price.

[AppleSuxLeo]

The diff is Plantronics is "professional grade" The boom is longer for better voice.
Businesses use Plantronics. You get what you pay for. Plus it looks nice.
Good article.

[dlee267]

hi

[JMax19]

Yes. The Voyager Pro is already the best noise cancelling headset out there, (yes, it's better than the Discovery 975), so to have one for Skype, etc would be great.

[mirrordash]

Not sure what the big deal is either. I use the original Voyager Pro with my computer and my Vonage Companion. It works great and sounds fantastic. My only complaint, which this might fix, is the connection breaks if the computer has gone to seep or if the headset gets turned off and then back on. Works best on a first time use after restarting the computer. Seems to be some type of bluetooth driver issue, not a headset issue.

[northofcowles]

I think the big deal is "this single headset lets you seamlessly switch between calls received on your PC and those received on your mobile phone." I don't think you can do that with the original model as you are paired with either the cell or the PC but not both simultaneously. I think the audience for this will be limited especially with the much higher cost than the original.

[northofcowles]

I was wrong because, according to the user guide, the PRO supports multipoint which allows it to be used with two different phones. When a call arrives on the second phone you tap the call control button to terminate the call on the first phone and then tap it again to answer the second call. Switching between a cell phone call and a Skype call must need the functionality in the dongle to allow the tapping to work.