SAN FRANCISO — CE accessory maker Muse Mini is readying a pair of portable Bluetooth receivers that will enable consumers to turn any pair of headphones into wireless headphones.
Described as “really smart paperclips,” the LynkUp and Clipr were created out of a response to consumers’ desire for wireless ear buds at a reasonable price point, Dean Briones, founder and CEO, told TWICE. “Part of what we saw with customers is that they really like Bluetooth ear buds, but there are still some limitations in technology as far as chip set and what range is capable. We could spend $100 and it wouldn’t matter because of chipset limitations,” said Briones. “We wanted to create a product that bridged that gap.”
Both the LynkUp ($49.99 suggested retail) and Clipr ($39.99) are about the size of a half-dollar, and they can be used with any headphones that have a 3.5mm jack. Both receivers feature nearfield communications (NFC), on-device controls and can clip onto the user’s shirt. The LynkUp adds Liquipel treatment for waterproofing.
In addition to headphones use, the receivers can be plugged into home-theater systems, enabling consumers to wirelessly play audio from their portable device.
The Clipr was scheduled to be available by the end of this month, while the LynkUp is due for Christmas availability. The products will join MuseMini’s other Bluetooth accessories: the DBoom portable speaker and the UberBuds Bluetooth ear buds.
MuseMini was founded in 2010.
