Jabra Carves Niche With Stone Headset

By John Laposky -- TWICE, 10/26/2009

Nashua N.H. — GN Netcom introduced the Jabra Stone Bluetooth headset last week, which will be available exclusively at AT&T carrier stores next month.

The headset boasts a highly stylized behind-the-ear form factor and Noise Blackout active noise-canceling technology, which uses dual microphones to capture sound while intelligently filtering background noise only, the company said.

The shape of the Stone allows it to wrap behind the ear and eliminate a standard on-face boom microphone.

The carrying case doubles as an on-the-go charger. Charging the Stone and portable charger together for two hours will give a user a combined total of eight hours talktime (two hours to be used immediately in the headset, six available for on-the-go charging). About an hour of charging in the case will transfer two of the hours from the charger to the headset. This can be done three times until the portable charger needs to be recharged.

When the headset is in the charger and paired with a phone, it has 12 hours of standby time.

The Stone features a nearly invisible touch-controlled volume pad on the outside of the headset so users can slide their finger up or down to control the volume while on a call.

A flexible frame lined with soft rubber padding and an ultra-soft ear gel around the speaker provides for a natural feel, the company said.

Other key features include Jabra's StatusDisplay, which monitors battery level and Bluetooth connectivity at a glance; multiuse capabilities that allows the connection of two Bluetooth-enabled devices at the same time; and touch volume control, answer/end button, voice dialing and music streaming from A2DP-enabled cellphones.

It will ship with MicroUSB and AC chargers.

The Stone weighs 0.25 ounces and measures 2.3 inches by 2 inches by 1 inch.