Special Headsets for Mission-Critical Uses
Unique New Products for Unique Purposes
You see headsets everywhere these days—;in the office, on the road, and in homes. However, you'll also find Plantronics® headsets in some of the most unexpected places thanks to a special group, which creates custom products for some very unique clients.
The Specials Group within Plantronics is uniquely set up to create some really custom headsets, from ultra-durable models to ones with highly specialized functionality. This group takes existing headsets and parts and modifies them to create brand new products in as little as 72 hours. That's right—;the Department of Defense (one of Plantronics long-term customers) can call in a request on Monday and have a newly designed headset by Thursday. No other headset manufacturer has a business unit that designs and builds custom units such as these.
You've probably seen these custom headsets without even thinking about it. NASA uses them. Military and civilian contractors use them. Pilots, emergency dispatch personnel, and all sorts of government agencies use them. And they're in ai
Not Just One Giant Step
This type of high-profile activity doesn't just happen overnight. In fact, it's over 40 years in the making. You remember the famous "One small step for man" speech? Yep, you guessed it—;transmitted through a Plantronics headset.
Helping someone walk on the moon isn't the only reason to trust Plantronics as the leading headset provider. Research is number one for us too. We understand that like finge
The Specials group taps into the best expertise in the industry. Its team members have worked with high profile customers for several decades. And they've been able to take advantage of new technologies as they become available. Since Special products are used in mission-critical situations and harsh environments, every part and mechanism is thoroughly tested. After all, when you're flying, isn't it reassuring to know that the headsets used by the air traffic controllers are as reliable as possible?
Specials in Action
Let's take a look at some of these special headsets. Take NASA, for example, who called on Plantronics for help with the communications system for the testing of experimental ai
On the Ground, in the Air, or at Sea
The most extreme headsets are the ones used outdoors. Imagine being on the flight line in freezing rain surrounded by jets. That's just a typical day for these folks. They not only need to communicate with the jets above them, they also need to hear what's going on around them. So they have a single-ear version of a ruggedized headset, and the microphone is waterproof to keep the moisture out. These units are practically indestructible.
Plantronics headsets are critical equipment for air traffic control too. In fact, Plantronics is the world leader in headsets for use on air traffic control systems, including the FAA.
If you've ever been curious to see what an emergency dispatch center looks like from the inside, visualize Plantronics Specials at work. 911 operators not only need to be quick on their feet, they need the right kind of equipment to send emergency crews to wherever they need to be…NOW. Their special headsets let them talk to callers on one channel, while switching effortlessly to another channel to call in the police or fire departments.
The Future
As new technologies evolve and new applications arise, Plantronics will continue to develop Specials for all sorts of purposes. And don't forget headsets for the visually impaired. Many organizations that employ visually impaired people are already using "talking terminals". They use headsets to hear information converted to speech from a computer in one ear, and hear the callers asking questions in the other. Wherever Specials are used, they'll be helping out in important ways. Special products are part of the reason that Plantronics continues to deliver world class customer satisfaction.
