Plantronics Pairs Industry's First VoIP-Optimized Bluetooth Headset with Microsoft Unified Communications Platform


Plantronics Voyager 510-USB Headset System Enables Instant Wireless VoIP Connectivity to PC-Based Telephony for Use With New Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Communicator 2007

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., June 26 / -- Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE:PLT) today announced that its Plantronics Voyager(TM) 510-USB, the first Bluetooth® headset system optimized for Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) connections, will support the integration and use of call management capabilities to be featured in the new Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 and Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007.

The strategic relationship formed between Microsoft and Plantronics will enable the two companies to jointly develop new innovative unified communications devices that provide professionals with superior voice and data integration enabling unified communications across the enterprise.

"Plantronics and Microsoft teamed together because we share a vision for creating the next generation of unified communications solutions that will make office communications integrated, intuitive and real-time," said Chuck Yort, vice president of Business Solutions at Plantronics. "This initiative is consistent with Plantronics' long-range strategic view to make voice solutions more deeply embedded and valuable across the entire enterprise workflow and communication process."

"Microsoft's vision for unified communications enables people to find and collaborate with co-workers right from the applications they use most to more effectively get business done," said Eric Swift, senior director of product management for the Unified Communications Group at Microsoft Corp. "Plantronics is playing a significant role in the development of voice and VoIP peripheral solutions using Office Communicator 2007 and our unified communications platform. Through our cooperative efforts and the integration of the Plantronics Voyager 510-USB Bluetooth headset system with Communicator 2007, Plantronics is adding significant value to PC-based enterprise communications and enabling businesses to better connect people, information and business processes."

The Plantronics Voyager 510-USB marks the first step towards this joint vision, supporting instant VoIP connectivity and extending the reach of the network via a wireless Bluetooth headset. The Voyager 510-USB will support the enhanced instant messaging (IM) capabilities of Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 by enabling professionals to instantly place hands-free VoIP calls through a PC.

Office Communicator 2007 on the PC brings voice capabilities to enhanced IM and presence awareness, integrated telephony, VoIP, and real-time elements of conferencing and unified communications.

An extension of Plantronics' VoIP product portfolio, the Plantronics Voyager 510-USB features the award-winning Voyager 510 headset and includes a plug-and-play Bluetooth USB adapter that simplifies setup and use. Plantronics' exclusive multipoint technology allows users to switch between multiple Bluetooth enabled devices, including softphones and mobile phones, with the touch of a button. The Voyager 510-USB also includes Plantronics' PerSonoCall® software which enables users to wirelessly answer/end PC telephony calls while roaming in the office. By "cutting the cord" between the PC and headset, professionals will have the freedom to roam within their offices, talk between conference rooms or at the printer, and be completely hands free to multi-task and collaborate more effectively. PerSonoCall will be fully integrated with the new Communicator 2007 and include wireless call control in the near future.

For more information about the Plantronics Voyager 510-USB, visit: http://plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/productName/Voyager510USB.

About Plantronics

In 1969, a Plantronics headset carried the historic first words from the moon: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Since then, Plantronics has become the headset of choice for mission-critical applications such as air traffic control, 911 dispatch, and the New York Stock Exchange. Today, this history of Sound Innovation(TM) is the basis for every product we build for the office, contact center, personal mobile, entertainment and residential markets. The Plantronics family of brands includes Plantronics, Altec Lansing, Clarity, and Volume Logic. For more information, go to www.plantronics.com or call (800) 544-4660.

NOTE: Altec Lansing, .Audio, Clarity, PerSonoCall, Plantronics, Plantronics Voyager, Sound Innovation, and Volume Logic are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc. The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Plantronics, Inc. is under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

All product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

(i) Recent testing of the new Plantronics Voyager 510 headset by the National Analysis Center, a leading independent testing lab for the wireless phone industry, found that "the Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth headset supports an innovative boom microphone design to greatly minimizes the effects of wind noise. A high level of customer satisfaction should be realized due to the exceptional audio quality along with the ability to use the headset in outdoor windy conditions." For its superior wind noise performance, the National Analysis Center awarded Voyager 510 with its "Innovation" award.

Source: Plantronics, Inc.

CONTACT:
Dave Hanon,
Waggener Edstrom,
+1-425-638-7000,
daveh@waggeneredstrom.com

Web site: www.plantronics.com/

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