Convergence hits headset market

By Leon Engelbrecht, ITWeb senior writer

Johannesburg, 31 Aug 2007

The global headset market is changing as convergence begins to bite and trends change. As a result, Jabra is now offering a new product category - the "multi-use" headset for use at one's desk, while roaming in the office, on the road or at home.

"People now want seamless mobility, a headset for all occasions," says Jabra regional sales and marketing manager Ahmed Elkalliny.

With the cost of Bluetooth devices declining, Elkalliny foresees rapid growth in the multi-use, multi-device headset market.

"Practically speaking, you don't have to take off your headset all day," he says of the devices that simultaneously connect users to their landlines, mobile phones and iPods.

Jabra Middle East and Africa channel market manager Hanny Hanna says multi-use amounts to "a new market for a new kind of work". He notes that SA's mobile workforce is increasing, with many professionals now working from coffee shops and the like. This is where they need communications devices that give them the privacy to make confidential calls via VOIP means, such as Skype.

Greg Darke, CEO of Jabra local partner Kathea Communications, adds that the South African workplace is finally starting to fragment in line with global trends. "Up to now, people have been chained to their desks. We see that changing, with people increasingly also working from home. The technology is there, if not the ability or mindset."

He explains that by "ability" he means the high cost of communications, as well as broadband speeds and caps. "3G adoption rates have been low, but the price is coming down," he says, adding this will boost uptake and make working online from home or a coffee shop through a virtual private network feasible and cost efficient - a point recently also made by Citrix country manager Nick Keene.

Speaking during the recent fuel strike about secure remote access to company systems and applications, Keene said South African business leaders were finally starting to talk about flexible work and investing in the required technology.

Darke says the local headset market is still growing. In the call centre environment, Jabra currently has 60 000 headsets installed, with 11 000 more set for delivery this year and a growth rate of 13% predicted.