Even though many still think wearing a Bluetooth headset is a terrible fashion statement, they're often a necessary evil if you want a hands-free cell phone solution. Besides, many Bluetooth headsets are quite stylish and discreet these days. So if you want to get a new headset for your phone this holiday season, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
1. Sound quality: Before you start thinking about design and features, you should be looking for a headset with superior audio quality. This applies to both outgoing and incoming sound. After all, what's the point of a good-looking headset if it sounds terrible? Be sure to look for headsets with dual-microphone noise-canceling, and find out if it's possible to return a headset if it's not to your liking. Do note that you'll pay more for better quality. Some headsets, like the Plantronics Voyager Pro and the Plantronics Discovery 975, have wind-noise resistance that make them particularly helpful with wind noise, whereas the Motorola Endeavor HX1 is unique in that it blocks out extraneous sound altogether. If you want to get a stereo Bluetooth headset, music audio quality should also be a consideration.
2. Comfort: Equally important to quality is comfort. A headset must be comfortable to wear, especially if you plan on wearing it for hours a day or if you plan on keeping it on while driving. This is where design comes into play as well, as some people like wearing an ear hook for stability, but others prefer the freedom of not having one. You should make sure a headset comes with different-sized ear gels or ear buds so you can play around with the fit. Some headset manufacturers do provide additional ear buds if you ask.
3. Features: Headsets can do more than just make and answer calls these days. Some of the higher-end headsets have features that cheaper models don't. They include multipoint technology, which lets you connect up to two different devices simultaneously. This means that you can pair and connect to two phones, for example, and the headset will seamlessly switch from one to the other without having to disconnect and reconnect. This works especially well if you have to use one phone for work, and the other for personal use. If you're looking to use the headset for music as well, you need to get a headset that is compatible with A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile). All stereo Bluetooth headsets support this of course, but some mono headsets do as well, like the Jabra Stone">Jabra Stone for example.
4. Design: Though this is not quite as important as the other factors, sometimes looks do matter. For example, while we like the Plantronics Voyager Pro, it's quite a bulky headset that is reminiscent of something a telemarketer would wear. Some of our favorite stylish headsets include the Jabra Stone for its unique and discreet style, the Plantronics Discovery 975 for its one-of-a-kind pin design, and, of course, the Aliph Jawbone Prime with its luxury look and feel.
5. Price: Last but not least, price is an important consideration. Bluetooth headsets come in all different price ranges, from the very cheap to the terribly overpriced. You generally get a better headset if you pay more, but you can get decent Bluetooth headsets that are affordable as well. The Samsung WEP470, for example, is under $30, and makes for a good, basic headset. Most of the top headsets are over the $100 price range, however, but you do get what you pay for.
With these factors in mind, I've compiled a gallery of the top Bluetooth headsets of 2009 to help you make a decision if you're in the market for a headset. Take a look and feel free to agree or disagree in the comments. If you want more information, please check out our full Bluetooth headset buying guide feature.
We've already listed our top cell phones and smartphones of the year, but we think the messaging phone has emerged as a strong enough category in 2009 that we think it deserves a top-10 list of its very own. Not quite smartphones, these handsets have full QWERTY keyboards and are made mostly for sending text messages. They come in all different shapes and sizes, some with touch screens with plenty of multimedia features, and others with just a basic feature set.
In picking our top-10 list, we chose the ones with the highest ratings that fit within our messaging phone category. The two most obvious are the Samsung Rogue and the LG enV Touch, which both won our Editors' Choice this year. In fact, Samsung and LG dominated this list in general, with stand-outs like the Samsung Impression and the LG Xenon. There were a couple of phones that aren't from those two manufacturers, but you'll have to take a look at our slideshow to find out.
Welcome to the 411, my Q&A column answering all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. I receive plenty of questions about these subjects via e-mail, so I figured many of you might have the same questions, too. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I'm stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at nicole.lee@cnet.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, let me know in the e-mail.
Hello, My question is I received an LG Chocolate as a gift. Do I have to have a Verizon deal/contract to get it to work? Or can I buy minutes and use it that way? Thank you--Al, via e-mail.
If you plan on using your phone on a relatively frequent basis then a Verizon contract would be good as you might save more money over the long run. However, if you want, you can buy prepaid minutes and use them with your new Verizon phone. You may need to ask Verizon if your particular phone--the LG Chocolate in this case--is supported, however--I understand Verizon only offers prepaid minutes for certain phone models.
You also bring up a good point in regards to gift-giving when it comes to cell phones--you need cell phone service for them to work! If any of you plan on giving cell phones as gifts this year, do remember to do a little research on what carriers your recipient prefers and if things like prepaid minutes or data plans are options. Do your research so they don't have to!
Help! I want a small simple cellphone, I don't need texting or camera capability. I am with Verizon's National Freedom 300 plan ($35 monthly). Plan is no longer available to new subscribers, I want to keep the plan. Can you suggest a phone for me? I have an old Motorola currently, battery won't last the day. Thank you.--Zeb, via e-mail.
There are a number of simple cell phones on Verizon that don't have cameras. The Samsung Knack, for example, is a very basic phone that has an easy-to-use keypad and a slim profile, and it's only $39.99 with a contract. If you prefer a more rugged model, the Motorola Barrage can be bought without a camera either, but it is more expensive at $129.99 with a contract. If you don't mind having a camera, you can get various phones for free with a contract--they include the LG Chocolate 3 and the Nokia 7205 Intrigue (At the time of this writing anyway). Unfortunately, Zeb, I don't think you can keep your current plan if you want to get any of these phones under contract. You might be able to keep your plan if you buy these phones without a contract, but the price would be significantly higher. The Samsung Knack, for example, would be $159.99 without a contract. Maybe you can ask a Verizon representative and persuade them to let you keep your plan. Let us know if that works out for you.
Ms Lee, I had owned two Gz'One Boulder telephones, both of which suffered from a poor receiver speaker. The speaker sounded extremely muffled on both, so I gave up on the Boulder. Can you tell me if this problem has been addressed on the new Gz'One Rock? Thank You. Dale, via e-mail.
The speaker on the G'zOne Rock is no longer as muffled as the one on the original G'zOne Boulder, so you're in the clear there. We still thought it sounded rather echoey and tinny, so your mileage may vary.
I really need a Bluetooth speakerphone recommendation! Price isn't an issue if the product is excellent quality...and small size that will cip to car visor... Kim, via e-mail.
I'm personally a fan of the BlueAnt S1 thanks to its voice recognition, streaming music ability, and affordability (currently around $65 online), but you might also take a look at the Motorola Motorokr T505, which earned an Editor's Choice last year for great features and performance. Hope that helps!
This is the last 411 column for the year, so thank you so much for your response in my inaugural year fielding your cell phone questions. Happy holidays to everyone and may you enjoy full signal strength in 2010!
Verizon's letter to the FCC
(Credit: FCC)A few weeks after the FCC sent an inquiry about its early termination fee (ETF) increase, Verizon has replied back with a seven-page missive of its own in defense of the fee hike. If you recall, Verizon increased its ETF from $175 to $350 specifically for "advanced devices," which we assume means smartphones like the Droid.
Verizon claims that the ETF allows the company to offer the phones at lower upfront prices and to reduce its losses if the customers do break their contracts early. Even with such a fee increase, Verizon claims it would still be losing money, since the carrier does prorate the ETF the longer you're in the contract (never mind that you still owe $120 in ETFs if you quit in the 23rd month). Verizon also points out that additional revenue from the ETFs is useful to keep its broadband network strong (a dig at AT&T, perhaps?). The company answers the FCC's questions about ETF awareness by saying it is making it very clear to customers, with advertising and marketing material.
We were hoping that we would get at least a lowering of the ETF out of all this, but it seems that Verizon is holding strong to its fee increase. It's the FCC's move next, to see if we can get any kind of reprieve at all.
Source: Verizon's response to the FCC via Phonescoop
Samsung Stunt
(Credit: Samsung)MetroPCS and Samsung announced a new basic phone just in time for the holidays. The Samsung Stunt has a simple black-and-blue candy bar design, with features like text and multimedia messaging, Bluetooth, speakerphone, and voice commands. It measures approximately 4.2 inches long by 1.7 inches wide by 0.54 inch thick and weighs about 2.6 ounces. No word on pricing yet, but we'll let you know once we find out.
Boost Mobile added unlimited calls to Canada (except Northern Territories) and landlines in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey as part of its International Connect plan today. Launched earlier this year, the International Connect plan costs $10 a month and includes unlimited text messaging and push-to-talk with Canada, Baja California, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and Chile for a flat fee.
To sweeten the deal even further, Boost Mobile has also lowered its handset prices to $99.99 for the Motorola Clutch i465 and $149.99 for the Motorola Debut i856.
It's been a slow week but we still have quite a bit of cell phone news for you. We hear that Nokia will be slowing down smartphone production, that Android updates are imminent, and that the FCC is asking Verizon some tough questions about ETF. We also chat about our latest reviews and answer your questions.
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News
Nokia to reduce smartphone offering by half in 2010
HTC Droid Eris to get Android update in 2010
Android 2.0.1 for Droid users
FCC questions Verizon over ETF hike
Sprint to phase out Qchat
Check your wireless coverage on CNET
Reviews
Casio G'zOne Rock
Sony Ericsson Aino
RIM BlackBerry Curve 8530 (Verizon Wireless)
Top 10 most popular cell phones of 2009
Upcoming reviews
Nokia N900
HP iPaq Glisten
LG Shine II
Powermat
Welcome to the 411, my Q&A column answering all your questions about cell phones and cell phone accessories. I receive plenty of questions about these subjects via e-mail, so I figured many of you might have the same questions, too. At times, I might solicit answers from readers if I'm stumped. Send your questions and comments to me at nicole.lee@cnet.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, let me know in the e-mail.
Nokia E71
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)Hi Nicole, I read CNET reviews from time to time and your team there is really helpful with great unbiased reviews. I am writing because I can't seem to find concrete information about using an unlocked smartphone. Like some people, I would like a smartphone, but do not want to carry a data plan and occasionally use e-mail and Web over Wi-Fi. I have read that buying an unlocked (smart)phone that is carrier-free can be used this way. But I have also read that companies (AT&T to be specific) can recognize even an unlocked smartphone not purchased from them, and automatically assign a data plan to the voice plan. I specifically want to buy a used unlocked Nokia E71, and get a SIM card with no contract or data plan. Can I do this, or do the new practices by carriers make that not possible? Any help is appreciated, thanks for your time.--Scott, via e-mail
... Read moreA ton of cell phones and smartphones are released in a year's time. Trust us, we've seen most all of them. However, not all handsets are created equal and some are more popular than others. If you're curious to see which handsets people are clamoring for, well you're in luck. We've compiled a list of the top 10 popular cell phones and smartphones for 2009 and put them into a pretty slideshow for your viewing pleasure.
As you peruse the gallery, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, the list is based on the most-viewed products to date by CNET users in 2009, and not just those released this year. As such, you'll find a number of older products on the list since they've obviously been on the site longer than the newer ones. Also, many of the models were highlighted on our Top products list.
All that said, it's pretty interesting to see what's still popular these days. Check it out for yourself and see if your phone made the list.
We missed the FCC filings for the past couple of weeks, so this week's listing will be extra-long. We noticed quite a number of Samsung phones as usual, as well as a few ZTE and Huawei handsets.
Because the FCC has to certify every phone sold in the United States, not to mention test its SAR rating, the agency's online database offers a lot of sneak peeks to those who dig. And to save you the trouble, Crave has combed through the database for you. Here are a selection of filings from the past week on new and upcoming cell phones. Click through to read the full report.
Huawei SG2157
Huawei SG3501
Huawei SG5580
LG GU295
Nokia 485X
Nokia 591
Nokia 629
Samsung B7300
Samsung GTM5650U
Samsung GTS7070
Samsung SCH-B359
Samsung SCH-F219
Samsung SCH-M510
Samsung SCH-R330
Samsung SCH-W890
Samsung SPH-W9600
ZTE F870E
ZTE GR352
ZTE VDF545
