The wireless headset is a great tool to increase productivity and worker satisfaction. The decrease in neck, back, and shoulder pain and strain has been proven in several studies. On its own, a wireless headset is a great thing. With the addition of a remote answer device you are able to achieve true wireless freedom by being able to answer and end calls up to 450 feet away from your desk!

Remote answer devices come in two different styles: Remote Handset Lifter and Electronic Hook Switch Cable.

What is a Remote Handset Lifter?

A remote handset lifter (RHL) attaches to the top of the phone, underneath the handset, with adhesive mounting strips. It will then connect to the headset base with an included cable.

When the phone rings, the RHL sends a tone into your wireless headset to alert you of the incoming call. Simply press the answer/end button on the wireless headset and you’re connected to the caller. When you answer the call, the RHL lifts the handset up; when you end the call, the RHL lowers the handset into the cradle to disconnect the call.

RHLs are compatible with the majority of office telephones.

What is an EHS cable?

An electronic hookswitch cable attaches to your phone and headset base, and electronically allows you to answers and ends calls away from the desk. It’s important to note that with an EHS cable in place, the phone’s handset does not physically move up or down. There are a myriad of EHS cables, and the one that’s right for you depends upon your office phone’s make and model.

How do remote answer devices work?

Typically, handset lifters respond to sounds within a certain frequency range. The Sennheiser HSL10 has a unique ring tone detection via a high quality microphone. Jabra’s GN1000 RHL (pictured) senses the magnetic field the speaker generates when your phone rings, which means it’s virtually foolproof.

The EHS cable passes predefined signaling to either answer or end the call.

Phone Compatibility

Each of the manufacturers offers a Headset Compatibility Guide on their web site to help determine whether you will need an EHS cable or a remote handset lifter.
Jabra Compatibility Guide
Plantronics Compatibility Guide
Sennheiser Compatibility Guide
VXi Compatibility Guide

If you’re curious about a wireless headset and the true freedom you can experience at work, give us a call at 1-866-998-9991. To read more about why we love wireless headsets, read our blog post here: Why Avcomm Loves Wireless Headsets (And You Should Too!).

The movie “Jerry Maguire” features a great scene with Cuba Gooding, Jr., as an aging professional football player telling his agent Jerry Maguire that he needs to “show me the money” – Jerry needs to negotiate a high-dollar contract for his client.

This phrase is easily applicable in industry and government, where shareholders, stakeholders and more are scrutinizing the bottom line. ROI (return on investment) is a much discussed term that attempts to determine the value of something and its impact on the company’s overall financial health.

Scaled-down budgets and budget cuts are forcing many to stretch their limited resources. It can be a temptation when looking at a reduced budget to quickly make decisions based upon price alone. You have X amount of dollars, and so you look for a low price, giving you (theoretically) more product for the money. Unfortunately, you get what you pay for.

A high quality headset may have a higher price tag, but over the long run, offers a better value and costs less – equaling happier customers and employees. How?

1. Durable construction – Corded headsets can clutter a workstation. Chairs roll over the cords on the floor, feet can get tangled in them, and the general use of corded headsets can cause cords to break, snag, and fall off. Headsets offered by Avcomm Solutions have been tested by the manufacturers for user-proof adoption.
   
   The recent trend in headset manufacturing has been the inclusion of Kevlar cords. We know that Kevlar bullet-proof vests in the law enforcement community stop bullets, and the Kevlar reinforced headset cords add a layer of protection to the cords, so they aren’t easily broken down.
   
   High quality, heavy duty materials – plus design features that minimize the damage that can come from repetitive and sometimes hard use – will keep your agents on the phones.
   
   
2. Reliability – With call centers running sometimes continuous 24-hour shifts, appropriate agent coverage is a necessity. Can you rely on your headsets to work when your agents need them? Increase first call resolution, improve engagement, and reduce hold times with a reliable headset.

1. Comfort – The fit and feel of a headset can contribute to your agent’s job satisfaction. Heavy phone users – those on the phone for the majority of their workday – will appreciate a comfortable headset that doesn’t pinch or fall off their head and ears. A happy agent makes for a happy customer!

1. Excellent sound quality – The ability to hear and really listen to the person on the other end of the call is critical. Cisco has identified and categorized voice quality problems including echo, tunnel, soft, loud, or tinny voice, and absolute silence, as just some of the voice quality problems during phone calls: Recognizing and Categorizing Symptoms of Voice Quality Problems.
   
   Companies that specialize in designing headsets for call-centric environments have value-added features. Audio technologies and hearing protections such as SafeTone (Jabra), ActiveGard (Sennheiser) and Sound Guard (Plantronics) ensure the safety of headset wearers. To read more about these technologies, check out our blog post: Say What? The research and development necessary to produce the best headsets for call-centric environments is a continuous evolution of excellence for our headset manufacturers.

1. Noise cancelling microphones – If you are in a busy, crowded or noisy office environment, noise-cancelling microphones are a must and definitely worth the added cost. Colleagues and other background noises (copy machines included) are filtered out and therefore not transmitted to your caller through the microphone. Companies dealing with highly sensitive data, including credit card information, will provide peace of mind to callers who won’t hear other customers’ conversations in the background of their agent’s microphone. For a more detailed listing of microphone types, read our blog post.
   
   
2. Warranty replacement – A warranty replacement policy is another standard for high quality headsets. Sometimes, due to carelessness, or other issues, headsets can break or fail. Our manufacturers offer a 2-year, and sometimes 3-year warranty replacement, on their corded headsets. You won’t be purchasing replacement headsets regularly with this safeguard in place!

Let us know how we can help you increase your profits, and impact your bottom line, with the top quality headsets that we offer here at Avcomm Solutions. Our job is to help you find the best solutions for your office’s unique needs and environment. Contact us!

Source: Choosing the best direct connect headset solution for your contact center. Plantronics whitepaper. 1/23/08.

We recently had the pleasure of attending the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Washington, D.C., last week. Our expectations were high, and we weren't disappointed. At the Monday morning Vision Keynote address, Microsoft leaders articulated the organization's "clear and differentiated vision for the future in a mobile-first, cloud-first world."

Enterprise solutions that are secure, functional and rich with features is what Microsoft brings to the table, and with new ways of offering their software, Microsoft continues to stay at the forefront of its class. The launch and success of Office 365, a cloud based subscription suite of office software that makes your business more productive with its Software as a Service (SaaS) approach. According to Microsoft, 60% of Fortune 500 companies have purchased Office 365 in the past year.

Throughout the Commons Expo, networking opportunities were plentiful. Signing up and scheduling meetings in the Connect Portal was another way to schedule networking opportunities. And after-hours parties, sponsored by corporations, was a more informal way to visit with potential business partners.

The headset manufacturers that Avcomm offers each had a presence at the event. Jabra's sound booth invited guests to hear the difference using either a Speak 510 speakerphone or the new BIZ 2300 series headset. Additional headset models were available to play with; Jabra lives by the motto "Devices Make Experiences" and that hands-on availability encouraged visitors to test a variety of devices. Tony Everson, Jabra's Director of Strategic Alliances - Microsoft, was enthusiastic about this year's WPC.

At the Sennheiser booth, the new SP 10 and SP 20 speakerphones were prominently featured front and center. Plugging the SP 20 Microsoft Lync certified speakerphone into his cell phone, Area Sales Manager Jon Leighton (Telecom - Northeast) showed off the equalizer function of the device. The solid speakerphone, with stainless steel on its face, is a sleek device with powerful sound.

On Tuesday, Plantronics unveiled a new program at WPC called Plantronics Device-as-a-Service for SMB and mid-market customers to acquire Plantronics solutions along with cloud services. This makes it easy to acquire a complete solution, in a pay-as-you-go manner with 12-, 24-, and 36-month payment options. More information about the program here.

One of our favorite finds at WPC was the new Windows Apportals app. With this, we quickly created our very own Avcomm Solutions app! Microsoft says Windows Apportals "allows you to integrate your entire Line of Business (LOB) stack into a single, modern, touch-based experience. The concept behind Apportals is simple – introduce the same nested folder structure common in a desktop OS to the modern mobile OS." Users can set security levels to provide targeted information for your users.

Next year, WPC will take place in Orlando, a tempting way to mix business along with a family vacation to see all of the sights Orlando offers!

Did you attend WPC in Washington, D.C.? What was the highlight of your experience? You can share your thoughts on the Comments tab at the top of this post.

The Jabra warranty process has been brought together into one program called ServiceNet, an online service platform. From checking warranty, to following the status of the return order from beginning to end, this platform simplifies the warranty and return process. It is ideally suited for organizations with large quantities of Jabra products deployed, but is available to all Jabra product owners.

Set up a free ServiceNet account by clicking here. Simply provide your name, company name, address, phone number and e-mail address to set up your account. Within a few minutes, a ServiceNet login and password are created and e-mailed to you.

Once you log in, you can check warranty status with the Warranty Checker, request a replacement, and follow the status of the return order.

To check the warranty status of your Jabra product, simply enter the serial number within the Warranty Checker window. If you don't know where to find the serial number, the site has a click-through link: "How to Locate a Serial Number." Next, select from the choices of Headsets, Speakerphones, or Accessories. Scroll down the page to find your product. Once you select your product, a picture of where the serial number is located appears. Type in the serial number, click Next, and you will see if the product is under warranty.

If the product is still covered by warranty, you will see a screen similar to this:

Click Next, and the Basket window appears.

The Basket is automatically loaded with a new, replacement product at no charge. Click Next for your Address Book. You can add and save multiple addresses into this window:

In the successive two screens, you will Confirm the order, and then get a Receipt. After submission, you can follow up on your warranty request by logging in and selecting Manage Your Orders. Here, you'll find all of your warranty history. It's a handy way to keep your Jabra warranty information in one place.

If your product is no longer under warranty, you will get this message: "This product is not under warranty. Please remove the out of warranty item from this order, and proceed with either inside warranty items only, or check the return process for outside warranty items by clicking here."

For Jabra's Warranty and Service Information, please click here.

We hope you find Jabra's ServiceNet to be a useful tool and a great way to keep track of your warranty replacements!

The phone rings. You answer the call. During the conversation, you need to access a file in an office down the hallway. Do you:

a. Hang up on the caller and assure them you'll call back once you have found the file?

b. Ask them to hold; place the handset on the desk, walk down the hall, visit with co-workers along the way, find the file, go back to your desk, and hope the caller is still on the line?

c. Continue the conversation as you walk down the hall, grab the file, and walk back to your desk?

If you have a wireless headset, you can answer "c" with confidence! Corded headsets are the workhorse of the office headset world. Contact centers and offices may find that it's best for their employees to stay close to their desks when on the phone. In other situations, and increasingly more common (57 percent in a 2012 study), organizations have found that wireless headsets give workers freedom to conduct their jobs most efficiently and effectively.

Jabra and YouGov questioned more than 11,000 mobile and office workers in 12 countries about their office environments, and which office tools are most valuable for them. The study found that headsets increase overall work efficiency and job performance, with 75 percent of calls being answered when wireless headsets are used.

Workers using the traditional desk phone and handset "say they feel hindered in performing regular office tasks and would have the potential to be more efficient if they were equipped with a headset at work." High sound quality and comfort are key priorities for people using wireless headsets.

Wireless headsets are ideal for employees who need the freedom to roam from their desk without having to miss or terminate a call.

Organizations recognize the benefits of headsets that move with you, enhancing employee efficiency and productivity. Making the most of your time, and money, makes sense for any size organization, which is why we love wireless!

Interested in experiencing complete wireless freedom?

Here's what you'll need:

1. Desk phone, soft phone, or mobile phone

2. Wireless headset – With so many options and connectivity types available, it's important to consult with an Avcomm headset expert to be sure you choose the headset that best fits your environment and requirements.

3. EHS cable or Remote Handset Lifter—This is an optional add-on device which alerts you of an incoming call by sending a tone into the headset. You can answer and end calls by simply pressing a button on the headset, all while being up to 450ft.* away from your desk!

*Actual headset range is dependent upon model of headset and user environment.

If we can help answer any questions you might have about wireless headsets, please let us know! Our dedicated team has been trained to discover and suggest the best solutions for your unique needs.