New Bluetooth Headset Features Voice-Activated Messaging Powered by Dial2Do

Plantronics yesterday released the Plantronics Savor M1100 Bluetooth headset, which combines precision three-mic audio performance and a new online voice service, Plantronics Vocalyst.

“We’ve established ourselves as the leader for premium headsets through an unrelenting quest for product, design, and technology innovations that delight our customers by making communications more natural and convenient,” said Elizabeth Bastiaanse Hamren, vice president of product marketing at Plantronics. “The Plantronics Savor with Vocalyst builds on the worldwide successes of the Discovery 975 and Voyager PRO, delivering a breakthrough in voice-driven simplicity and performance.”

Plantronics Vocalyst is a cloud-based voice service integrated with the Plantronics Savor and the new Plantronics Voyager PRO+. By pressing Savor’s dedicated voice button and saying Call Vocalyst, users may:

• Send and listen to emails and text-to-speech messages;
• Record and listen to reminders;
• Post messages to Twitter and listen to their streams;
• Update Evernote accounts; and
• Listen to the latest news, finance, sports and weather reports.

The Plantronics Vocalyst service is free for a full year for Plantronics Savor and Voyager PRO+ customers. Users activate Vocalyst with a few steps at www.plantronics.com/vocalyst. Android and BlackBerry smartphone users can also download the Plantronics Vocalyst application at their respective app stores. The apps provide hands-free listening to text messages and custom configurations, such as an auto-responder for incoming text messages (I’m currently driving and will return your message shortly.). Vocalyst’s voice-driven services extend from Plantronics’ partnership with Dial2Do, a provider of cloud-based voice services.

In addition to Vocalyst, the Plantronics Savor also features voice commands so users can always keep their eyes on the road, not their phones. Users can answer or ignore incoming calls by simply saying, Answer or Ignore. The Plantronics Savor also includes whispered voice alerts for low battery, lost connection and more.

The Plantronics Savor features three microphones that work in harmony to ensure every word is heard clearly during conversations. Two of the three microphones capture the user’s voice and simultaneously cancel background noise. The third microphone automatically activates when in extremely noisy situations, helping to overcome the most challenging environments while maximizing battery life. The three mics work with AudioIQ3, the next generation of Plantronics’ AudioIQ digital signal processing (DSP) technology, to preserve the natural voice and improve speech accuracy. Plantronics Savor also includes WindSmart technology to reduce wind noise when taking calls in the car or on a busy street, and its premium speaker and automatic volume adjustments mean that users don’t have to put a hand over their ear to hear inbound audio.

With a single button press, Plantronics Savor users can access Bing 411 for driving directions, the number of a favorite restaurant, to check on the status of a flight, and much more. The Plantronics Savor includes A2DP technology for streaming music, GPS navigation, podcasts, audio books and more from A2DP-enabled mobile phones, such as the iPhone and Droid. A new feature for iPhone users allows them to monitor headset battery levels with an on-screen battery meter.

The Plantronics Savor includes soft gel ear tips, in three different sizes, and an optional ear loop to provide multiple wearing options and a comfortable fit. The Plantronics Savor provides up to four hours of talk time and seven days of standby.

Plantronics today also introduced Voyager PRO+, a new version of Voyager PRO Bluetooth headset. In addition to integration with Plantronics Vocalyst, the Voyager PRO+ features A2DP technology for streaming music, podcasts and GPS navigation, as well as the iPhone headset meter that allows users to monitor battery levels. The Voyager PRO+ also includes convenient voice alerts for remaining talk time, volume, phone connection, out-of-range, and more. A new feature for iPhone users allows them to monitor headset battery levels with an on-screen battery meter.

The Plantronics Savor M1100 and Voyager PRO+ both have a retail price of $99.99 and will be available in the United States in October. The Plantronics Savor and Voyager PRO+ will be available in Europe in 2011. The Plantronics Savor will be available in Hong Kong beginning in October and broader Asia in 2011.