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 Companies and institutions can now cut the cord, freeing employees in large and multi-building campus offices from being tied to their desks thanks to the new Plantronics Savi 430 wideband wireless headset and in doing so they can gain both flexibility and savings.

 The key is that the Plantronics Savi 430 is reportedly the first wireless PC headset with a DECT (News - Alert) USB adapter. DECT is a voice-dedicated frequency that is not compromised by interference from other wireless devices or Wi-Fi. The dedicated bandwidth ensures density issues do not impact audio quality. Its lightweight, noise-cancelling headset and the adapter provide brilliant audio and up to 300 feet of range. The USB adapter enables it to support softphone applications from partners including Avaya (News - Alert), Cisco, IBM, Microsoft, Shoretel and Skype, accessible via desktops, laptops and netbooks.

 The Plantronics set helps IT departments enhance user experiences by delivering full call control functions, such as remote call answer/end, for unified communications (UC) applications. It provides easy set-up with these applications, so IT departments will not be burdened by support requests, thereby saving time, hassle and expense.

 The Plantronics (News - Alert) Savi 430 is also handy for other employees, such as those working in factories or warehouse apartments where there is the risk of interference from multiple devices.

 Cindy Livingston, writing in Plantronics’ UC blog reports that cutting the cord i.e. going wireless enables firms to avoid assigning permanent desks and cubes, thereby cutting expenses. She reports that some companies have experienced related cost savings of 37 percent on real estate, 37 percent on workplace services and 60 percent on cabling.

 Using UC, “the need for a permanent desk with a wired phone line is essentially negated as the laptop allows voice calling, e-mail, IM, and conferencing,” Livingston writes. “Many companies are instead offering open collaborative workspaces across their campuses.”

 The caveat is in these open work environments is that there can be a potential bandwidth shortage as workers connect to the wireless network and use Bluetooth endpoint devices. The Savi 430 avoids that issue, she says, by using DECT.

 With firms looking to hire again, and with many of them acquiring or being acquired, which causes facilities shakeups, the Plantronics Savi 430, coupled with softphones also avoids the traditional phone-line-assignment headaches. Employees will stay connected no matter where they are in the buildings.

  “With the Savi 430, users can feel confident that their voice is being delivered clearly and naturally, whether they are on a Skype (News - Alert) call or WebEx meeting,” said Elizabeth Bastiaanse Hamren, vice president of Product Marketing at Plantronics. “And the one-step setup and advanced calling features on the headset make PC-based communications a more intuitive, familiar experience.”