Hands free calling: wireless or wired headset?

Chances are that at some point you’ll need a hands-free headset for your BlackBerry. Sometimes we can get by with just speakerphone. But that doesn’t work for every situation. Whether it’s walking down a crowded street or simply driving, a headset might be a worthwhile accessory. They have their drawbacks and their stigmas, but that doesn’t make then any less useful. Here’s a quick rundown of your two primary options. Wireless Headset Years ago Bluetooth wireless headsets were hot items. It seemed like everyone was walking around with one in her ear. That is, until everyone realized that they were totally lame. Or, rather, that they looked lame while walking around. I still get a kick out of people at coffee shops who have in their Bluetooth headset for no apparent reason. And, of course, there’s this: Still, as long as you’re not seen in public with one a Bluetooth headset gets teh job done. An Amazon.com search for “bluetooth headset” in the Cell Phones & Accessories category reveals the Plantronics Voyager PRO+ as the most popular Bluetooth headset. It looks usable enough, but it has that microphone bar hanging off it. That’s a dealbreaker for many. That, and it’s $75. The Motorola H720 is smaller and almost half the price, so it might make for a better Bluetooth headset. Wired Headset If you look around at wired headsets, you’ll see some familiar designs. Many are almost identical to Bluetooth headsets, just with a headphone wire running down from them. In that case it’s probably easier to just get a Bluetooth headset. But if you’re looking for something a bit more concealing — a bit more natural — you can find something a bit more suitable. There’s the always-trusty single-ear bud. It just slips into your ear like any other ear bud, and it has a mic right on the cord. It might look a little odd having just one headphone, but I assure you it will look less goofy than a Bluetooth headset. It is one of the cheapest, easiest, and most affordable ways to use your BlackBerry hands-free. You can get a mono earbud headset for $17. If you want something even more natural, or you just want to combine your headset with your headphones, you can get something a bit more sophisticated. RIM actually offers a pretty good earbud solution. It comes with premium, noise-reducing ear buds that include playback controls and a microphone. The buds come with interchangeable gels, so you’ll find the right size for your ear. And, most of all, it looks completely natural. Everyone walks around with ear buds, right? You can get the premium multimedia headphones for $28.45.

About the Author

Joe Pawlikowski is the Senior Editor at MobileMoo.com and has been covering the mobile industry full time since 2007. When he's not writing about the tech scene, he can be found discussing his personal love - baseball (and more specifically the New York Yankees) as well as writing on his personal blog.