September 30, 2019
Twenty years ago, most folks providing headsets had a 90%-95% chance of compatibility if you sent a headset and multipurpose amplifier. You could get away with sending that combo when you couldn’t locate a specific phone in the paperback compatibility guide.
Fast forward to now and it’s more complex. There are still desk phones, but they have evolved. Desk phones now support EHS (Electronic Hookswitch) cables, lifters, or USB connectivity. Additionally, you have more and more people using headsets for web conferences, UC applications, softphones from their PC’s/Laptops and of course…mobile devices.
Work styles and environments are also changing. Today a contact center agent doesn’t necessarily need to physically be sitting in a call center. Instead, they may be working from their home, on the road, or wherever they happen to be. They may be using a desk phone or more likely, a softphone or mobile app.
EHS cables
Lifters
USB Connectivity
Headsets today provide multiple connectivity options, varying wireless operating frequencies and certain features and functionality depending on your voice, video and collaboration platform.
Beyond wearing style and corded or wireless, it’s important to know a day or even a week in the life of you. What devices do you use to communicate? Desk phone, Which manufacturer? What model? PC or Laptop? Which softphone and version? USB-A or USB-C? How will you update firmware when needed? Mobile device? Tablet, Mobile Phone? Bluetooth, NFC, 3.5mm headset jack?
The major headset manufacturers all produce online compatibility guides to help select the right headset. Unless you went to “Headset School”, you will probably need help navigating around and deciphering recommendations. This is where a tenured Headset specialty vendor like Call One, Inc. can help. We’ve been doing this since 1987, we know about the things that aren’t in the compatibility guide. We have customer feedback from thousands of end-users. Plus if you follow our YouTube Channel, you know we do our own tests as well.
The point is, have patience when asked a series of questions about use case and devices. The headset manufacturers and we want you to have an optimal headset experience. The more information we have, the more compatible and appropriate headsets we can recommend.
Online Headset Compatibility Guides:
Jabra
Poly (formerly Plantronics)
Sennheiser
If using USB headsets, I can not stress enough the importance of being able to access the appropriate headset software. Things are constantly evolving and changing. Sometimes a simple update is a difference between everything running smoothly to being at a complete standstill. Visit our Headset Management Software page for more information on compatibility.
