A Brief History of the Wireless Headset

Did you know there are some 82 million office workers in the USA that use the telephone and that an International Study has nearly 50% spending more time on the phone than 5 years ago?

About 50 million don’t use a headset, despite some 31 million suggested they were interested in getting their first one.

I imagine the figures would be comparable per capita in Australia.

Wireless headsets are used by only 1%.

Let’s go back to the discovery of the headset then fill in some blanks about the development of wireless headset, up to the present.

The original headset is attributed to Nathaniel Baldwin in 1910. As an inventor of many “electric” products, This product got a lift from a US Navy order, just before WW1 and then the growth of radio during the “roaring 20′s”.

In all fairness it should probably have been called a headphone as it probably consisted of earphones only, and not a microphone.

Wireless microphones were first and introduced in 1951, consisting of a microphone and transmitter that allowed the wearer complete freedom to talk and even sing, (My Fair Lady ) unencumbered by wires.

In 1961 two former pilots started Plantronics, a company founded to fulfill the need for the design and manufacture of light ,mission critical headsets embraced by NASA. The need for a fully portable, in the space suit, two way communication system instantly became evident and credit is given to Astronaut “Wally” Schirra for getting the ball rolling . Previously, when “Gus ” Grissom had to abandon his capsule after landing in the ocean, his communication system went down with the ship.

On October 3 1962, Shirra wore the first Plantronics headset in outer space.

In July 1969, Neil Armstrong ‘s famous words came from a somewhat comparable Plantronics wireless headset system.

Although not the first with the business critical product, Plantronics introduced a first generation telephone wireless headset system in March, 2003 and have continued to provide continuous product improvement ever since.

The Wireless Headset business in its infancy. Mobility, comfort, convenience, and affordability: what else is required for sustainability and growth with a product?

To see our range of Plantronics Wireless headsets click here