Logitech Adds PC-Telephony
By Greg Scoblete -- TWICE, 9/24/2001
FREMONT, CALIF.— Logitech entered the PC telephony market with the introduction of two cordless headsets and one corded headset.
The Cordless Freedom Headset for PCs, the Cordless Telephone and PC Headset, and the corded Hands-Free Telephone and PC Headset ship in October.
The Cordless Telephone and PC Headset System, which carries a suggested retail of $79.95, consists of a 900MHz cordless phone and complementary cordless headset. It enables hands-free telephone calling or PC-based hands-free Internet voice chat with automatic switching between the telephone and the PC. The system plugs into a PC and home phone and features Logitech's proprietary smart switching technology, which eliminates manual switching between the handset and the headset.
It includes a cordless headset and POTS adapter, 10-channel autoscan 900MHz transmission, a boom microphone that employs exclusive noise canceling and amplification technology. It has a six-hour battery life and up to 100 feet of cordless range.
The Cordless Freedom Headset for PCs is designed solely for PC telephony functions such as hands-free Internet voice chat/VoIP telephony, video conferencing, and multi-player Internet gaming. With an estimated retail price of $69.95, it includes an untethered headset, 10-channel auto scan 900MHz transmission, rechargeable batteries, and remote standby time up to seven days.
The Hands-Free Telephone and PC Headset System is a corded headset that enables communication for the PC and the telephone, with noise-canceling technology for accurate speech recognition. It also offers "smart switching" technology to enable users to instantaneously switch between the PC and the telephone.
The device also features a hands-free headset and POTS adapter, AC adapter and base stand. This headset will sell for a suggested $49.95.
"PC voice access is growing at an aggressive rate due to popular applications like audio instant messaging," said Ray Weikel, director of product marketing for Logitech's Audio Business Unit. "Now our customers can easily move between the telephone and the PC without the constraint of a cord."
