The Logitech Wireless Headset H820e Combines Innovative Features and Industry-Leading Battery Life in a Comfortable, Stylish Design
"for two years now has been allocating significant resources to developing products and strategies geared exclusively toward the business segment."
NEWARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) today introduced the Logitech®
Wireless Headset H820e for unified communications and PC-based soft
phones, bringing together enterprise-grade audio and innovative features
in an affordable package that makes wireless freedom practical for
everyone in the organization, working in all types of locations from
traditional cubicles to open offices and even from home.
The Logitech H820e delivers true-to-life sound, even in noisy work
environments, thanks to a noise-cancelling microphone, acoustic echo
cancellation and digital signal processing (DSP). The headset is
Optimized for Microsoft® Lync™ and is compatible
with all major unified communication and soft phone applications,
including Cisco platforms.
The Logitech H820e also offers an industry-leading 10 hours of wideband
talk time, enough to get through even the longest workday.
Priced under $200 in both mono (one ear) and dual (both ears) models,
the Logitech H820e draws on Logitech’s heritage for human-centric
design. The headset’s long list of innovative features includes an
in-call LED indicator light at the back of the microphone boom to
prevent interruptions during calls, on-ear volume control buttons
positioned on either side of the head band to easily find by touch, and
auto-pair by docking, so that any Logitech H820e headset can easily
connect through any Logitech H820e charger base. A stylish and
lightweight design in silver and black makes for all-day comfort, while
the weighted base makes it easy to slip the headset into the charging
slot.
The Logitech H820e is built on the DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless
Telecommunications) standard, allowing for range up to 300 feet and
high-density deployment in crowded offices – exceeding what’s possible
with most Bluetooth® devices, while avoiding the Wi-Fi®
interference that Bluetooth can cause. A wide band/narrow band switch
provides greater control in setting the correct balance between audio
quality and density.
“Providing users with a comfortable, high-quality audio device is a
critical requirement when adding voice to Lync installations,” said
Giovanni Mezgec, general manager of Lync product marketing for
Microsoft. “Logitech is showing that even in an established category
such as headsets, it’s possible to introduce significant new features
and benefits that can help drive user acceptance of unified
communications.”
“Our research shows that unit sales of wireless headsets will
dramatically increase from 27 percent of the global office and contact
center market in 2012 to 49 percent in 2019, almost reaching parity with
wired headsets, while volume will more that quadruple from 3 million
units in 2012 to 13.4 million units is 2019,” said Elka Popova, program
director for unified communications and collaboration at the research
firm Frost & Sullivan. “This growth is being driven by the realization
that wireless headsets give users a more comfortable calling experience
and therefore expand the benefit of unified communications platforms. On
the other hand, we’ve found the relatively high cost of wireless
headsets is a barrier to adoption. Logitech is moving the market forward
by offering wireless products with high audio quality and user-friendly
features at an accessible price.”
Frost & Sullivan called Logitech “the most disruptive new entrant in the
office (headset) space” in the firm’s “Global Office and Contact Center
Headset Market” report, released in February, adding that Logitech “for
two years now has been allocating significant resources to developing
products and strategies geared exclusively toward the business segment.”
In a global survey of IT managers, 57 percent identified Logitech as the
primary brand they choose when replacing a desk phone with a headset.
“We’re looking to change the attitude that wireless headsets in the
enterprise are an afterthought or a perk,” said Eric Kintz, senior vice
president and general manager for Logitech for Business. “Premium audio
quality is essential in today’s anywhere workplace, where employees are
connecting with each other in open spaces, from the road and from home,
and people can do more when they aren’t tethered to their
desks. Wireless headsets are rapidly becoming the ‘new normal’ for
maximizing audio and video collaboration.”
For situations where wired headsets are the best choice, Logitech offers
the corded Logitech
USB Headset H650e. Introduced last month, the Logitech H650e has the
same contemporary design and many of the advanced features of the
wireless Logitech H820e – including the in-call indicator light,
lightweight construction, noise cancellation, DSP and acoustic echo
cancellation. The Logitech H650e is Optimized for Microsoft®
Lync™ and is compatible with all major unified communication
and soft phone applications, including Cisco platforms.
Pricing and Availability
The Logitech Wireless Headset H820e is expected to be available
worldwide starting in May 2013 for $179.99 (mono) and $199.99 (dual).
The corded Logitech USB Headset H650e is available worldwide now for
$79.99 (mono) and $89.99 (stereo). The headsets connect through a USB
port to Windows PCs, Macs and Linux systems. For more information,
please visit www.logitech.com/business.
About Logitech
Logitech is a world leader in products that connect people to the
digital experiences they care about. Spanning multiple computing,
communication and entertainment platforms, Logitech’s combined hardware
and software enable or enhance digital navigation, music and video
entertainment, gaming, social networking, audio and video communication
over the Internet, video security and home-entertainment control.
Founded in 1981, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed
on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market
(LOGI).
Logitech, the Logitech logo, and other Logitech marks are registered in
Switzerland and other countries. All other trademarks are the property
of their respective owners. For more information about Logitech and its
products, visit the company’s website at www.logitech.com.
(LOGIIR)