Plantronics Expands VoIP Product Family for Enhanced Business Communications

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., Dec. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Plantronics, Inc. today expanded its family of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) headset solutions with the new Plantronics SupraPlus(R) Wideband headset and Vista(TM) M22 amplifier with Clearline(TM) audio technology. Used together or separately, the new products utilize wideband networks to offer professionals optimal voice quality and business-critical reliability and comfort.

"Today, businesses are unwilling to compromise on the sound quality of their IP phones," said Nora Freedman, research analyst, IDC. "In fact, global desktop IP phone shipments are expected to grow at an average of 29 percent each year between now and 2010, with shipments increasing from approximately 7 million in 2005 to 25 million in 2010."

Aware of this trend, Plantronics designed the SupraPlus Wideband headset to support new wideband IP phones from industry leaders, including Avaya, Cisco, Nortel, Siemens and ShoreTel. Phone professionals can enhance SupraPlus Wideband with the Vista M22 amplifier to form a complete wideband solution with advanced audio performance and capabilities.

"By understanding the VoIP network and working closely with leading IP phone manufacturers, Plantronics continues to develop products that operate optimally and intelligently within VoIP infrastructures," said Chuck Yort, vice president of Business Solutions at Plantronics. "Plantronics' new wideband products compensate for environmental and network factors to allow more effective business conversations in the enterprise and contact center."

Amplify Business Communications

The Plantronics Vista M22 enhances any Plantronics direct connect solution by delivering advanced audio performance, reliability and flexibility. It supports the latest wideband VoIP technology while maintaining backwards compatibility with narrowband phones -- helping companies future proof their investment.

The Plantronics Vista M22 features Clearline audio technology, which helps to reduce common problems with business conversations that stem from poor audio quality, including repeats, errors, and listening fatigue. Other Plantronics Vista M22 benefits include:

-- Phone line noise reduction: The M22 filters incoming and outgoing phone line noises, such as high-frequency hissing, making conversations clear, less fatiguing and more comfortable. -- Call volume equalizer: the Vista M22 equalizes the level of all calls to the same comfortable, preferred listening level. -- Protection from loud noises: the Vista M22 delivers greater protection against sudden loud noises by quickly reducing them to comfortable levels. -- Echo management: the Vista M22 eliminates echo problems introduced by latency in IP networks. Extending a Legacy of Communications Excellence

Introduced in 2004, the Plantronics SupraPlus headset family is today the headset of choice among office and contact center professionals worldwide for its durability, lightweight design and excellent audio quality. The new SupraPlus Wideband is optimized for intelligibility and all-day acoustic comfort for headset-ready wideband phones. Like the SupraPlus, SupraPlus Wideband also exceeds the industry standard for acoustic protection.

The SupraPlus Wideband is available in multiple wearing styles. The monaural headset has a manufacturer's suggested price of $107, and the binaural headset has a manufacturer's suggested price of $132. Both will be available this month through Plantronics authorized resellers and http://www.plantronics.com/ .

The Vista M22 has a manufacturer's suggested price of $120, and will be available this month through Plantronics authorized resellers and http://www.plantronics.com/ .

Growing VoIP Product Portfolio

Plantronics offers the industry's most complete family of corded and cordless VoIP products for both business and consumer use. Widely recognized for their sound quality, reliability, simplicity and style, Plantronics' VoIP solutions help companies extend the benefits of IP communications throughout the enterprise. For more information about Plantronics' VoIP-ready products, please visit: http://www.plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/voip/ .

About Plantronics

In 1969, a Plantronics headset carried the historic first words from the moon: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Since then, Plantronics has become the headset of choice for mission-critical applications such as air traffic control, emergency dispatch, and the New York Stock Exchange. Today, this history of Sound Innovation(TM) is the basis for every product we build for the office, contact center, personal mobile, entertainment and residential markets. The Plantronics family of brands includes Plantronics, Altec Lansing, Clarity, and Volume Logic. For more information, go to http://www.plantronics.com/ .

NOTE: Altec Lansing, Clarity, Clearline, Plantronics, Sound Innovation, SupraPlus, Vista, and Volume Logic are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc.

All product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Press Contact: Dan Race Kristin Bleier Plantronics, Inc. The Hoffman Agency 831-458-7005 408-975-3031 dan.race@plantronics.com kbleier@hoffman.com