Kurt's Thoughts

I’m kinda over Bluetooth.  Seriously, I went ga-ga over Bluetooth for a long while and I’ve kind of realized that Bluetooth is really only good if you’re mobile.  Outside of that, if you’re at your desk… you really want a high quality, multi-purpose headset to do business calls on and other audio-related activities.

That’s where the Jabra BIZ 2400 Wired Headset comes in.  It’s Jabra’s new professional class wired headset.

I was a long time user of the GN Netcom 2000, which I figure is the early early early predecessor of the BIZ 24000 which is what Microsoft has standardized on for it’s field personnel (everyone at Microsoft has one) but I had no idea how much of an improvement they made in this technology… until I got this new headset.

(FULL DISCLOSURE:  I got this thing for free.  I didn’t ask for it or anything.  A Jabra rep found out I was using their old school tech – the GN 2000 – and upgraded my headset to this BIZ 2400.  I was under no obligation to blog about it, nor was any handshake deal made.  I’m just blogging about this because as a business minded geek – this thing is so cool.  When you hear about the level of detail that they improved the headset, you’ll understand what I mean.  It may sound like I’m shilling but I don’t really care… I honestly like this thing.)

FEATURES:

• BLOCK OUT ALL SURROUNDING NOISE
  This is a dual ear headset.  Big deal you say?  It is when you’re in a cubicle farm with 8 other folks talking at the same time.  This dual ear headset blocks out all the other conversations VERY NICELY.  Other people in the office may be bothered by my voice as I talk on concalls… but I sure as heck won’t hear their blathering because both ears are covered.  Additionally, if someone comes by that I don’t want to talk to, I simply hold my hand up as if I’m on call (even if I’m not)… and problem solved!
• CANCEL OUT SURROUNDING NOISE
  It’s got active noise cancellation on the microphone.  So just like traditional bluetooth headsets, surrounding background noise gets filtered out so nothing but your voice is transmitted to others.  Again, super important for folks that live in cubicle farms like myself.  (sob) 
• LISTEN TO CD QUALITY MUSIC
  Sure the headset’s great for high quality VOIP calls over Microsoft Lync, Windows Live Messenger, or Skype… but it’s also a high definition audio quality (80hz-16,000hz) headset for listening to my Zune Music catalog which is entirely in 192kbps ripped content.  A single headset for all my audio needs.  And it switches from my VOIP phone calls to my music and back and I don’t have to worry about “batteries” or anything because it’s USB connected.
• PLUG & PLAY
  No driver CD.  Everything comes off of Windows Update.  The USB connectivity is great and provides a pure digital signal instead of using my laptop’s audio/microphone ports.  Win.
• PLAY AROUND WITH THE BOOM MIKE
  This is gonna sound silly but it’s totally true:  People like to flip the boom mike around and swirl it around their ear.  The thing spins around and normally on the GN 2000, it stops at some point when spinning it and then you have to go the opposite direction.  This headset spins 360 degrees and keeps going.  It sounds dumb but it’s kinda important.  Having the boom mike stop was kinda frustrating and this 360 degree spin is like a new found freedom.
  360 degree boom mike rotation
• CONNECT TO YOUR CELL PHONE
  This is a trip.  The thing is Bluetooth-enabled.  It will pair with your cell phone so if you get an incoming call, even though the headset is USB connected to your PC for VOIP phone calls and music, it will also ring when you get a phone call on your cell phone… and you can pick up the call with ease.  Now THAT’S a good idea.
  (Requires downloading Jabra PC Suite from: http://www.jabra.com/na-us/support/Pages/JabraPCSuite.aspx_
• COMFORTABLE & SAFE
  Man, this thing is comfortable.  Way better than my GN 2000.  It’s got that soft leather padding around the ears that hug your head gently. 
  It’s also got this feature that I think is pretty cool:  If the audio level gets too high, it automatically levels it so you don’t damage your hearing.  It’s called “Intellitone” and it’s something that was installed because the audio levels that come in from other speakers on calls (and from MP3 files) vary so wildly that you kinda need the safeguard.

List price:  $219.  And for good reason.  This isn’t a play thing:  It’s a professional’s headset.  Go get one.  You won’t regret it.

WEB SITE:
http://www.jabra.com/na-us/headsetsolutions/Pages/JabraBIZ2400.aspx

DATASHEET:
http://www.jabra.com/pv_obj_cache/pv_obj_id_597EC15292EC50499BF448B1
B9D35D4B153A0200/filename/BIZ%202400%20FAQ%20LOWRES.pdf

SOFTWARE:
http://www.jabra.com/na-us/support/Pages/JabraPCSuite.aspx

SCORE #1
This is based on the following question:

Q: Please think about your overall satisfaction … Considering everything you know or have heard about the company, its products, its service, and support organization, would you say you are:
4 = Very Satisfied (VS)
3 = Somewhat Satisfied (SS)
2 = Somewhat Dissatisfied (SD)
1 = Very Dissatisfied (VD)

CALCULATION:
Score = (% of Very Satisfied) – (% of Somewhat Dissatisfied + % of Very Dissatisfied) + 100
(Range = 0-200, 200 being highest)

EXAMPLE:
Scores based on the following responses for all participants would be:

• 4, 4, 3, 3, 3 –> 40% VS, 60% SS –> NSAT = (40) – (0+0) + 100 = 140
• 4, 3, 3, 3 –> 25% VS, 75% SS –> NSAT = (25) – (0+0) + 100 = 125
• 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 –> 17% VS, 83% SS –> NSAT = (17) + (0+0) + 100= 117
• 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 –> 100% SS –> NSAT = (0) – (0+0) + 100 = 100
• 4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 1 > 17% VS, 50% SS, 17% SD, 17% VD –> (17) – (17+17) + 100 = 83

METRIC:
Our required value for score #1: 166
(In other words, even if all ratings are “Somewhat Satisfied”, the score would be 100, far below 166.)

—————————————————————————————-

SCORE #2
This is based on the average of 6 specific questions, multiplied by 10.  All questions are rated from 1-9, 9 being highest.

1. Invests time to understand the strategic priorities of my organization (*)
2. Works together with us to agree on a joint plan that addresses my organization’s top priorities (*)
3. Engages the right resources to deliver value to my organization, including using partners when needed (*)
4. Regularly seeks my organization’s feedback on ways to improve our working relationship (*)
5. Takes appropriate and timely action based on feedback I provide (*)
6. Provides information to help my organization optimize our technology infrastructure to maximize ROI (*)

CALCULATION:
Score = (Sum of all ratings)/6 x 100

EXAMPLE:

1. Invests time = 7
2. Works together = 7
3. Engages right resources = 8
4. Seeks feedback = 8
5. Takes action = 7
6. Provides information = 7

Score #2 = (7+7+8+8+7+7)/6 x 100= 73

METRIC:
Our required value for Score #2:  82
(Again, even if all scores are “8”, we only attain a score of 80, which is below the required score of 82.)