Glossary of Common Terms

Looking for quick, practical information on Bluetooth wireless headsets? Our Glossary explains many of the common terms and features related to Bluetooth headsets and the technology behind them.

Answer/End Call Button
The advantage of having a wireless Bluetooth headset is you do not need to grab your cellular phone out of your bag or pocket to start or end calls! All Bluetooth hands-free headsets feature a button that allows you to answer incoming calls and then end the call when you are done talking.

Auto-Redial
This feature allows the last number you phoned to be redialed directly from the wireless Bluetooth headset. Redial is particularly useful if your cellular phone drops a call; you can redial the number without having to dig out your phone.

Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a standard for transmitting data via a wireless connection. There are other standards that are commonly used as well. For example, your remote control talks to your TV and other electronic equipment via infrared. Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) is another standard for wireless connection that is used for local wireless networks. Bluetooth was launched in 1998 by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) of Ericsson, Toshiba, IBM, and Nokia. Bluetooth gets its name from the King of Denmark, Harald Blatand (A.D. 940 to 985). Bluetooth is a great standard because it frees people from having to carry proprietary cables with them to synch up data. Bluetooth lets cell phones use accessories without cords. For example, with a Bluetooth headset, theres no cable running from the cell phone to the headset.

Car-kit
Car-kits can mean two different things but both help you use your cell phone hands free. You can either buy a car with a factory-installed Bluetooth car kit or you could buy a portable Bluetooth car kit to help you use your cell phone in your car. Most car-kits focus on getting your cell phone as hands-free as possible. They’ll either place speakers and the microphone somewhere near your talking space, or they might use the stereo system to output the caller’s words. It is now common for car manufactures to include Bluetooth car kits which will help your cell phone synch up with hands-free accessories in the car (like an address book, voice activation service, or speakers to output the call).

Convertible
Convertible headsets offer the choice of two wearing styles, usually over-the-head for stability or over-the-ear for easy on/off convenience. These headsets can easily be "converted" from one style to the other in a few simple steps.

Earbud and In-the-Ear style
Earbud style describes a small, discreet headset with a speaker that fits in the ear and the microphone positioned along the cord.

Ear clip

Ear clip style slides behind your earlobe and over the top of your ear to snugly hold it in place. These are easy to put on with one hand and a very firm grip keeps the headset on your ear in the most extreme circumstances. Ear clips generally have limited obstruction when wearing eyeglasses however earrings will get in the way and may prevent it from clipping on correctly. Because of their uneven weight distribution, they tend to feel heavier the longer you wear it

Echo Cancellation:
This nifty feature works a little like noise-cancellation. Instead of canceling out ambient noise, it cancels out your own talking that you’ll hear back from the data stream between you and your caller. The reason why you’d hear your voice back has to do with how telephone calls are transmitted.

LCD Display (Caller ID Display)

Some wireless Bluetooth headsets offer an LCD screen to display caller ID as calls come in.

Noise-canceling
Noise canceling is an important feature for both cell phones and cell phone headsets. The problem with using cell phones while driving is the amount of ambient noise that surrounds the driver. Progress has been made with active noise-canceling which cuts out the unwanted noise (passive noise-cancellation is with headsets that block out outside noise by cushioning the ears). How the cell phone headset does this is it places another microphone ahead of your ears (feed-forward). This microphone picks up on ambient sounds and basically sends out an inverted sound signal which cancels the original sounds before it gets to your ears. If you’re going to use your cell phone in your car, then it’s important for you to get a good cell phone headset that does noise-canceling well.

Noise-canceling/Noise-filtering Ear Piece

Noise-cancellation technology helps improve the clarity of what you hear while using your Bluetooth wireless headset by filtering out background or road noise. The only thing you hear is what comes out of your Bluetooth headset's earpiece.

Noise-canceling/Noise-filtering Microphone
The same noise cancellation technology used in headphones and earpieces can also be applied to microphones. Background or road noise is greatly reduced so that the person you're talking with can hear your voice clearly. Noise-canceling refers to a microphone design that greatly reduces the transmission of background noise, enhancing headset sound quality. Noise-canceling headsets are especially effective for offices with employees in close proximity to one another. In mobile applications, noise-canceling microphones reduce background noise in cars, airports or on the street. Noise-filtering also reduces background noise only less effectively.

On-Line Indicator

This is the unique in-use indicator light that lets others know you are on the phone. No more interruptions!

On-the-ear/Over-the-ear/Behind-the-ear
On/Over/Behind-the-ear is used to describe headsets that have earloops or other devices to hook around the ear and hold headsets in place. The earpiece rests in or just outside your ear. Many models have controls built into the ear loop where other models have a simple ear loop and controls are built into the ear device.
These models are generally evenly weighted and comfortable for longer conversations. They are easy to put on with one hand and models with an ear insertion allow for great sound quality. Most models with these styles are easy to find the various function buttons with your fingertips while talking. Some models may feel bulky or heavy and may not be comfortable when wearing eyeglasses.

Over-the-head binaural
When it's important to help filter or screen out background sound, you should consider over-the-head binaural headsets. This style provides sound transmission to both ears.

Range
In theory, all Bluetooth Class 2 devices are designed to have a range of 10 meters - about 33 ft. However, this range can vary.

Ringer
Most hands-free Bluetooth headsets will beep or ring in the earpiece to indicate an incoming phone call. If you aren't wearing the Bluetooth headset, you probably won't hear the beep or ring. However, some Bluetooth headsets can also vibrate to indicate an incoming call. Your phone will still ring or vibrate as usual to indicate an incoming call.

Standby Time
Standby time is how long a device will hold up when on. Basically, you’re counting the time that a cell phone or cell phone headset will stay turned on, ready to answer a call before you have to recharge the battery. It doesn’t count the time that the cell phone is actually used, as in on a call. You have standby time because keeping a cell phone or headset on drains the battery.

Talk Time
Talk time is how long a cell phone or cell phone headset will hold up when in use. Basically, you’re counting the time that you can use a cell phone or cell phone headset in operation before you have to recharge the battery. This doesn’t mean that the cell phone or cell phone headset is just turned on, that’s Standby Time. The cell phone or headset has to be actually transmitting a call. Talk Time is much shorter than Standby Time because it takes a lot more work to actually transmit a call than it does to be on the ready.

Vibrating Call Alert
Some Bluetooth headsets can vibrate to discreetly alert you that a call is coming in.

Voice Activation:
Voice activation lets you dial your cell phone without having to punch in the numbers yourself. Your cell phone will basically let you tell it which numbers to dial. This is a nifty safety feature that helps make cell phone calls in cars, hands-free.

Voice Dialing
Using voice recognition technology, the Bluetooth headset can allow you to speak a phone number in order to dial. The technology is built into the wireless Bluetooth headset, so your cell phone doesn't need any special software or features.

Voice Tube

Headsets with a voice tube will have an extended straw like stick that goes from the ear piece to the person’s mouth.

Volume Control
Most hands-free Bluetooth headsets feature a volume control button to raise or lower the earpiece volume.

Wireless headset
Wireless headsets for your cell phone let you make hands-free cell phone calls. Using wireless technology, such as Bluetooth, helps limit the distraction of the cable that you’d have to deal with when making cell phone calls with a regular headset. Most Bluetooth headsets wrap around just one ear, enabling the driver to make cell phone calls and still have the other ear open to surrounding noise.

Work with computer or PDA
Many wireless Bluetooth headsets work with a computer, PDA or other Bluetooth devices, just as you would use a regular microphone or speaker.