Avcomm Solutions

There were 56 posts tagged: Plantronics

The Basic Guide to Buying a Corded Headset

July 2nd, 2015  •   0 Comments

Much like learning to dance, buying a headset can be confusing and seem out of reach. By breaking down the dance into steps, the overwhelming process of the 3-minute piece of music is simplified. The same is true with buying a headset. Follow these steps and the perfect headset is in your grasp – and on your desk – in short order.

First Step: Customization

The amount of choices and design features seem endless at first, but can be simplified to these decisions:

  1. Wearing style (over the head, over the ear, behind the neck, convertible)

  2. Mono or duo? How much sound do you need in order for you to concentrate on your caller rather than on everything else around you? If your work environment is noisy or busy, you might want to consider a duo style that covers both ears.

  3. Microphone (Voice Tube, Noise Cancelling or Ultra Noise Cancelling)

  4. Ear cushion type (foam or leatherette) and size

  5. Weight of the headset

  6. Connectivity – to an office phone? Computer? Mobile? Or combination?

  7. Call control – Will you want to be able to mute your mic or volume up or down as need be?

  8. Warranty? Most offer 2 years; some, 3. (At Avcomm, we have a 30-day money back guarantee. If an out of box failure should occur, a replacement product will be sent the day we know of the failure; just return the defective product to us using the shipping label we send out – you pay nothing).

Second Step: Compatibility

Which quick disconnect cord or amplifier do I need? How do I choose?

An amplifier provides added volume and control, allowing you to mute and adjust your volume control as you need. Batteries or USB cords give power to amplifiers, unless you purchase an AC adapter. The cost of an amplifier (typically around $100) is higher than the direct connect cord (between $20-40).

With the quick disconnect option, the wearer can keep the headset on, while stepping away from the desk, because they are simply disconnecting the headset from the bottom cable. These quick disconnect cords are unique to each manufacturer, so you must buy the same brand headset and cord.

Each manufacturer offers a helpful compatibility guide to help determine if an amplifier is needed for your environment.
Jabra Compatibility Guide
Plantronics Compatibility Guide
Sennheiser Compatibility Guide
VXi Compatibility Guide

We are also happy to help answer any questions regarding compatibility.

Third Step: Cost

How much am I willing to spend?

You can get more features, added durability and extended warranty with a larger initial investment. Decide which features are of utmost importance. Any of the options that Avcomm Solutions offers are commercial grade headsets – the quality is better than the $15 plug-and-play options you have seen in the office supply stores.

Bulk purchases can produce big discounts, as well as consistent, recurring orders can merit special pricing.

Fourth Step: Contact us!

Every work environment is unique and we are prepared to tailor a solution that best fits your needs. You can call us at 1-866-998-9991 (M-F 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Central Time), or connect with us on Twitter (@AvcommSolutions) and we will be happy to walk you through the tried and true steps of choosing the right headsets for your environment!

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Smaller, Slimmer, Lighter: Plantronics EncorePro HW540 Headset Has it All

November 12th, 2014  •   0 Comments

Plantronics has updated its EncorePro line with new headsets designed for all-day comfort and reliability. This new generation of headsets is designed for the future, with experience from the past. Balancing cost with best-practices, the EncorePro headsets deliver functionality and reliability at a reasonable price point. Headset wearing style is a matter of personal preference and comfort. With these headsets, customer service staff that spends the majority of their shift talking on the phone will value the comfort and fit of the new EncorePro headsets.

Available for purchase today are the HW530 and HW540 models; in December the HW510 and HW520 will be available. All of the models have a noise-cancelling microphone to ensure background noise won’t be conveyed to your caller.

The Avcomm staff tested the HW540 and loved the versatility of the 3 different wearing styles: ear hook, over-the-head and behind-the-neck. The HW540 will be universally accepted by your staff: it’s like getting 3 headsets in one box! And headset buying will be a breeze with the HW540 because you won’t have to purchase different headsets to match each user’s preference. Your staff will appreciate the changeability offered when they decide they don’t want to wear their headset over their ear and would rather use the behind-the-neck piece. It’s like wearing a new headset every day.

The neckpiece is made of lightweight flexible plastic that remains behind the head for all-day wearing. The ear pieces rest lightly on the ears without squeezing your ears to your head – perfect for eyeglass wearers. It’s a quick change to unsnap and then snap the earpiece into a new wearing style. The ear hook is flexible and can be molded to the ear, for complete wearing comfort and headset stability. And the traditional over-the-head wearing style is always a great choice.

Disconnect the QD cord and you can walk around the office without removing the headset. Plug the QD cord back in when you’re back to your desk, and you’re ready for your next call. You can use this headset with your smartphone, desk phone, an amplifier, or soft phone. The connection cord is personalized to your individual set-up and we help you determine the correct one.

    We also noticed:
  • Ear cushion is made of soft foam, and rests comfortably on the ear.
  • Flexible boom arm ensures the best positioning for the mic. Positioning guides are printed on the earpiece.
  • Impressive audio quality for clear calls. This is wideband compatible: if you are updating your phone system with wideband capability, your EncorePro headset is ready!
  • Aircraft grade aluminum, laser-welded construction and metal joints keep the headset lightweight and durable.
  • SoundGuard technology to protect your hearing.


  • What’s in the Box? Earpiece, over-the-head, behind-the-neck and over-the-ear wearing styles, Quick Start Guide, Safety Guide, Clothing Clip, White Carry Bag.



    Plantronics offers a two-year warranty on the EncorePro headsets. Learn more about the HW540 in this short video on YouTube:


    Would you like to try an EncorePro HW540? Which style would you wear the most?

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Do I Need a Remote Answer Device When I Buy My Wireless Headset?

September 9th, 2014  •   0 Comments

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!).

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Show Me the Money

August 29th, 2014  •   0 Comments

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.

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Connecting with Microsoft Partners at WPC14

July 21st, 2014  •   0 Comments

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.

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