Headsets
A headset is
a headphone combined with a microphone.
Headsets provide the equivalent functionality of a telephone handset
with hands-free operation. Headsets typically have only one speaker
like a telephone, but also come with speakers for both ears. They have
many uses including in call centers and other telephone-intensive jobs
and for personal use at the computer to facilitate comfortable
simultaneous conversation and typing. The microphone arm of headsets may
carry an external microphone or be of the voicetube type. External
microphone designs have the microphone housed in the front end of the
microphone arm, inside a microphone capsule. Voicetube designs are also
called internal microphone design, and have the microphone housed near
ear-piece. The sound travels through the tube to the hidden
microphone.
Telephone headsets connect to a fixed-line telephone system. A
telephone headset functions by replacing the handset of a telephone. All
telephone headsets come in a standard 4P4C commonly called an RJ-9
connector, Computer headsets generally come in two connecting types,
standard 3.5 mm &
UB connection. General 3.5 mm computer headset comes with two
3.5 mm connectors, one connecting to microphone jack (line-in) and one
connecting to speaker jack (line-out) of the computer. 3.5 mm Computer
Headsets connect to the computer via a soundcard - which converts the
digital signal of the computer to analog signal for the headset. Mobile
(Cellular) Phone Headsets are most often referred to as Mobile
Handsfree. Most mobile phones come with their own handsfree in the
form of a single earphone with a microphone module connected in the
cable. However, as music-playing mobile phones are becoming the norm,
most manufacturers will bundle stereo earphones with a microphone for
MP3 listening. There are brands which offer mobile headset outside of
the mobile phones developer.
Wireless headsets are quickly becoming a new trend for both business
and consumer communications. There are a number of solutions for
wireless, and they usually differ according to application and
power-management.