Anthony Newman finds that Bluetooth headsets are no longer just frustrating toys for executives. Join him as he reviews Wireless Network, Inc.'s H1010 headset.
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Only a year ago it was rare to see a Bluetooth headset. Now, headsets from Sony Ericsson, Nokia, Motorola, Jabra and Plantronics have been joined by offerings from a wide range of other companies, threatening to flood the market with similar products. Wireless Networks Inc. (WNI) recently launched their own Bluetooth Headset, the H1010. How will it fare in this newly competitive market?
 | Wireless Networks Inc.'s headset is cheap, comfortable and performs well
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The WNI headset bears all the standard features. It is Bluetooth 1.1 certified, with a range of up to 10 m. Its quoted battery life is four days on standby and approximately three hours of talk time. At 22 grams it is not the lightest headset, although it is practically unnoticeable either in the hand or on the ear. It comprises a short boom mike, widening into a bulb that sits on the ear, which contains the speaker and tiny 160 mAh LiPol battery. The whole lot is held in place by a curved rubber strip that fits over and around the ear. Handily, this is usable on either ear with a quick adjustment. The fit is pleasantly comfortable (as well as surprisingly secure), and the design unobtrusive, even with the protrusion of the boom mike. Interesting for some may be the fact that the headset is available in three colour combinations: the grey/charcoal we tested, but also white and light blue, and dark blue and grey.
An indicator light is mounted at the midpoint of the device, and flashes green or red to indicate pairing status, low battery and whether the device is on or off. For control, WNI have opted for a three-way jog dial mounted on the back end of the headset, with the up and down scrolling providing a volume control and a press inwards controlling all the other features. Receiving a call or making a voice dial is achieved by a quick push in, and pairing with a phone requires a sustained press of several seconds. The dial is quite small, and on occasion proved difficult to press inwards.
The packaging is surprisingly plush considering the low price of the
product: the headset and a mercifully small charger are included with a brief glossy manual, but no case is provided. Thankfully, the headset seems extremely sturdy, and comfortable enough to wear for extended periods, so no protection should be required. The brevity of the manual proved no obstacle to its comprehensiveness, and WNI deserve credit for clarifying what could prove for some to be a baffling technology.
Pairing with a Sony Ericsson T68i proved quick and painless, after which calls could soon be placed and received with impunity. Call quality is good, with little loss of signal up to about 6 or seven metres even in real-world conditions. The volume control provides a beep as feedback, and at its loudest setting the H1010 is surprisingly aggressive: it should more than handle noisy environments. Battery life also met expectations, with durations approaching the quoted time nearly matched on a full charge.
Availability
The Wireless Networks Inc H1010 Bluetooth Headset is available now for a recommended price of $99 USD.
Conclusion
Nothing really screams for attention from this headset. It’s not the smallest, nor the lightest, and nor does it have any tricks up its sleeve in terms of specifications. However, what it claims to do it does well, with no surprises to mar its sturdy performance. Furthermore, at its low price point it doesn’t skimp on quality and should be a welcome addition to the marketplace.
- What's positive: Documentation, sturdy, comfortable, low price
- What's negative: Doesn’t stand out from the crowd
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Price and availability
The will start selling for TBA () in December 1969.
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