99% of workers in open offices are distracted.*

Who wouldn’t be, with daily mayhem coming from every direction? Luckily there are plenty of high quality headsets from Poly that are designed to avert open office perils and combat the chaos.

Give your teams the perfect balance of Active Noise Canceling (ANC): not too much to be uncomfortable, not too little to let noise sneak in. Noise blocking microphone technology, too. So people on both ends of a call can hear what matters. Count on all-day comfort, thanks to premium, lightweight materials. And a range of styles that work for everyone in the office.

ANC Headsets from Plantronics, now Poly

Voyager 8200 UC (pictured above) has a boomless mic design, adjustable ANC levels, connects to mobile via Bluetooth, and offers a choice of USB adapter to connect to PC: either USB-A or USB-C. The ear speakers completely surround the ear. Choose between two colors: Black or White. MSRP: $379.95.

Voyager Focus UC is comfort+: the adjustable sling cushioned metal headband and leatherette ear cushions wrapped around pillow-soft memory foam maintains a secure fit. Available with a desktop charge stand, or without, and USB-A or USB-C. MSRP varies: $279.95 No Stand; $299.95 With Stand.

Voyager 6200 UC features earbuds on a neckband; wear both earbuds for complete concentration, thanks to ANC, or just one, to keep an ear on the surrounding office. The neckband vibrates as an incoming call alert. Two color choices: Black and Sand; and USB-A and USB-C adapters are available. MSRP is $299.95.

Finally, if your team is primarily desk-bound, and prefer a corded ANC headset, Blackwire 7225 headsets have a boomless mic design with the call controls on the ear speakers. Blackwire 7225 headsets are available in Black and White, and USB-A and USB-C. MSRP: $199.95.

If your teams are struggling to tune out the chaos of an open office — whether it’s scooter rallies or loud talkers or ice chewers — distractions make it almost impossible for people to stay focused. Time to bring productivity back.

Ready to reduce interruptions and boost productivity? Download the ebook from Poly, here: Perils of the Open Office Ebook and then contact us today for personalized headset solutions: 1-866-998-9991.

*“All Your Employees Are Distracted: The Realities of Today’s Open Office and What You Can Do About It,” by Future Workplace, April 2019, sponsored by Poly

The difference between a UC-certified device and one that's not certified for business use?

Sound. (And listening time. And call quality. And technology.)
Here are a few BIG differences:

UC certified devices have:
Microphones tuned for voice
while consumer, store-bought devices only offer single-directional microphones.

UC certified devices have:
Headset Call Controls
while consumer, store-bought devices do not offer headset controls, and are missing necessary buttons.

UC certified devices have:
Multi-device connectivity to connect the same headset to both a PC and a mobile phone or tablet,
while consumer, store-bought devices are optimized for a single connection (such as, mobile phone only).
If you like the sound of:

• increased operational costs
• decreased adoption of the UC platforms your business has implemented (including Teams, Jabber, etc.) and
• decreased collaboration

then continuing to allow employees to bring in whatever headsets/ear buds/headphones they have at home is probably the best plan for your company.




However, if you're ready for UC-certified professional headsets and speakerphones to support your staff, and leverage your business systems, then contact our team on Chat, or call us at 1-866-998-9991 today!

Help your Jabra headset become smarter.

While you may be familiar with high-quality devices from Jabra, such as Evolve headsets and Speak speakerphones, you may not know that Jabra also provides innovative, AI-enhanced software that supports its USB (and Bluetooth with Link 360/370 adapter) products. Jabra Direct 2.0 is available now — and, it's free.

Core functions of Jabra Direct:

•Automatically get firmware updates so that your headset is always updated and secure.

•Personalize your headset settings according to personal preferences, or company requirements. Functions such as ringtone, sound optimization for music, audio protection level, sidetone level, and many more areas can be controlled.

•Remote call control (answer/end/call, mute, redial, etc.) for UC platforms.



Jabra Direct has an intuitive, user-friendly interface that provides overall status of each connected device, and notifications of updates. To receive firmware update notifications, go to Settings and switch Update Notifications to "On." This alerts you to open Jabra Direct, and run updates as they are available.

Key updates in Direct 2.0: Enterprises that use a proxy server, and those who prefer on-premise deployments, are now supported. Jabra Direct 2.0 will be able to connect to the Internet and receive settings and firmware in proxy-based environments. For enterprises that prefer not to be connected to the Internet, change settings or firmware updates on Jabra devices can be managed and controlled by the enterprise, within their firewall. Another update: Direct 2.0 provides data about end-user name and PC/Mac name, which is also then added as a service in Xpress 2.0. Additionally, Jabra announced that it has certified the handling of customer data in the Jabra Cloud with the SOC 2 declaration. Jabra is committed to protecting customer data against unwanted usage by a third party.

Download Jabra Direct 2.0 for Windows or Mac, from the Jabra Direct page.

Jabra Engage 50

Jabra Engage 50 is a new generation of digital headsets that provide additional call analytic metrics. The Engage 50 is the first Jabra corded headset to have the chip in the headset itself, making it a true digital headset. The Engage 50 uses the very latest chipset, and this, along with the positioning of the chip, delivers enhanced functionality and user experience.

No longer are headsets an accessory to a phone system, simply transmitting human audio; they are now a "business critical element of the whole infrastructure," according to Jabra SVP Holger Reisinger. These digital devices provide call analytics that in some cases can listen to how people say things, extracting human sentiment from the human voice. Reisinger says that Jabra is providing proof of concept with new KPIs for the contact center, such as measuring agent friendliness against customer anger, in real time. Rather than recording calls and doing transcription analytics, this information is measured in real time and shown as a graph, in front of the agent who is on the call, so that the agent can adjust tactics, mid-call.

Jabra Xpress 2.0 Now Available

For organization-wide updates and inventory management, we recommend Jabra Xpress, a free online tool. Read all about Jabra Xpress on our blog, here: Jabra Xpress: Mass Headset Deployment Made Easy. This program allows IT staff to create software packages for remote updates, configurations and asset management of Jabra USB devices. Jabra Xpress has also been updated to a 2.0 version. To create an account to begin using Jabra Xpress, or update existing Jabra Xpress to the 2.0 version, go to the Xpress microsite: Jabra Xpress 2.0.

Jabra Direct 1.0 and Jabra Xpress 1.0 will be discontinued June 30, 2019. We recommend updating to the new 2.0 versions today. Please reach out to us with any questions you have about these updates, and let us know if you need any assistance: 1-866-998-9991.

With 10 years in the headset business, headsets are our bread and butter. Of course, it makes sense that we see value in, and appreciate the use of, headsets. We came up with a (brief) list of reasons why we love headsets; and we are curious why others love their headsets. Share the reason why you love your headset on the Comments tab, above.

Headsets increase productivity. Studies show that workers using headsets are up to 40 percent more productive than those who don't. Headsets, especially those with integrated busylights, or used with external Busylights displayed on monitors or cubicle walls, are a clear notifier of status ... red means "do not disturb." Productivity increases without interruption.

Headsets produce clear conversations. Headset microphone technology has been designed to cancel background noise and focus on human voices, for the best possible audio experience.

Headsets protect hearing. Each headset brand has its own patented technology, providing hearing protections that guard against sound spikes and other sound hazards.

Headsets provide quiet work spaces. If we can't erect walls and a door around our desk, we can put a headset on our ears and block background noise. To really get the benefits of a quiet work space, we suggest an Active Noise Canceling headset. Read a round-up of all of the ANC headsets we offer here: Active Noise Canceling - The New Trend in Office Headsets.

Headsets support correct body alignment and good posture. One of the most important things about body mechanics and posture is alignment: how the head, shoulders, spine, hips, knees and ankles line up with each other. Proper alignment of the body puts less stress on the spine for good posture.

Headsets reduce stress. Noise can cause stress: ringing phones and conversations affect the rhythm and rate of our hearts. Interruptions cause stress. Open offices and the noisy environments they produce cause stress. By sealing yourself away from the noise with a headset, stress levels are lessened.

Headsets are a fashion statement. Headsets can represent a certain cool, edgy, "don't bother me, I'm busy" vibe. And, with all of the wearing styles available today, there truly is a headset for everyone: from ear buds to headbands, and everything in between, you can choose your look.

If you're not feeling the headset love, it may be time for a new, high quality, professional headset. We offer the top brands: Jabra, Plantronics, Sennheiser, BlueParrott, and VXi, and work with our customers to ensure the best fit for each environment and connection type. Give our headset experts a call today at 1-866-998-9991.

Hearing loss statistics are staggering: 30 million Americans age 12 and older has hearing loss in both ears. The Better Hearing Institute says that a large number of people wait up to 15 years from the time they know they have hearing loss until they purchase their first hearing aid, usually around the average age of 70 years old.

It is easy to blame loud music, headphones and ear buds as the cause of hearing loss; in fact, it is more complicated than that. According to Healthy Hearing, illnesses, head trauma and tumors, prolonged exposure to excessively noisy environments, genetic factors, and some medicines, can all play a part.

Aging is another factor that contributes to hearing loss. Currently, we are seeing an aging workforce: Workers are staying in the workforce past age 65. This is the highest it’s been in 55 years. And, by the year 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 36 percent of 65-to-69-year-olds will be part of the labor force.

Regularly, we are asked for headset recommendations for hearing aid wearers, and people who are having difficulty hearing calls. Through testing of our own, and daily use of the professional high quality headsets that we sell, we have some tips that will help you find the best set-up for clear calls.

Tip #1: Headsets must be designed for phone calls, not music or gaming. Taking phone calls all day on a headset not designed for human voices can cause problems. And with all-day wear, hearing fatigue can occur over the course of long work days. Beware of consumer-grade headsets that are tuned for music, rather than speech. Proper acoustic tuning in high quality, professional headsets removes noise that is not audible to the human ear, and simultaneously boosts higher frequencies that make fricatives* easier to discern.

Tip #2: We always recommend a dual ear headset. A mono headset covers one ear, leaving the other ear exposed to background noise. With a dual ear headset, both ears are covered, providing Passive Noise Canceling. The amount and degree of Passive Noise Canceling depends upon the shape and size of the ear cushions, and we recommend headsets with ear cushions that completely surround the ear.

Tip #3: If you choose a corded headset, we recommend the purchase of an amplifier, too. Amplifiers are designed to enhance voice quality and call clarity for headset users, boosting the headset's performance. They make sound louder. This technology enables headsets to be used with corded phones and phone systems. In addition to amplifying sound, amplifiers usually include additional features to enhance communication, including mute and volume controls.

Tip #4: Active Noise Canceling headsets may be an option. Active Noise Canceling technology uses one sound to reduce another sound, and is the latest office headset trend. We have compiled a comprehensive list of the ANC headsets from all of our brands: read the ANC Headsets blog post for more information.

We look forward to working with you on finding the best headset for your hearing needs. Our headset experts can be reached at 1-866-998-9991, or by email. After all, Communication Is Our Business!

*Fricatives are consonants that are formed by impeding the flow of air somewhere in the vocal apparatus so that a friction-sound is produced. For instance, the "f" in fine or the "ch" in Bach.

Source:
Are Americans Working Past Retirement Age? Jim Probasco, RothIRA.com