Cisco Live, London, UK – 30^th January 2012 – Plantronics (NYSE:PLT) invites all Cisco Live™ 2012 attendees to stop by the Plantronics booth (#E66) to experience its award-winning Voyager™ PRO UC Bluetooth headset with Smart Sensor™ technology together with the Cisco Cius™ mobile collaboration device. Cisco Live! 2012 is being held at ICC London Excel in London from 30^th January – 3^rd February 2012.

As the business world has evolved and teams are more dispersed, mobile professionals frequently find themselves working across a variety of locations – whether in the car, at the home office, at the airport – and at all times of the day. This presents several challenges, including competing against background noise, and managing calls over multiple devices. Plantronics’ intelligent Voyager PRO UC offers a complete solution enabling mobile professionals to work smarter.

Plantronics and Cisco for an Optimum Collaboration Experience

The Voyager PRO UC with Cisco Cius enables business professionals to simply communicate and collaborate from anywhere and at anytime. Plantronics Smart Sensor™ technology in the Voyager PRO UC adds new seamless connectivity for mobile Cisco Cius users. Users can easily answer incoming calls from the Cisco Cius simply by putting the headset on their ear – no buttons to press, applications to open or voice commands required. To switch back to public calls users simply take the headset off and touch the Cius speakerphone button.

For video chat and video conferencing, the Voyager Pro UC brings an additional voice experience to Cisco Cius’ video capabilities for WebEx®, Cisco Jabber® and Cisco TelePresence®, delivering crystal clear audio quality to ensure every word is heard on both sides of a conversation.

The Voyager PRO UC makes it easier for mobile professionals to unify voice communications across softphone clients and smartphones and across multiple devices – calls can be transferred easily and automatically between the Cius, mobile phones and Cisco Bluetooth-enabled desk phones.

“These intuitive products simplify communications and redefine mobile productivity so business professionals on the go can quickly and easily get connected and get on with their work and life,” says Philip Vanhoutte, Plantronics’ SVP and EMEA managing director. “The next generation Voyager PRO UC helps people stay connected regardless of location or device. “When used together, the combined power of Cisco and Plantronics takes seamless communication one step further.”

“We are working closely together with Cisco to provide the optimum voice quality in the ‘elsewhere’ workspaces, whether that’s in the home office, in the car or at the airport.” says Joe Burton, chief technology officer and SVP of Engineering and Development at Plantronics “When used with the Voyager PRO UC headset, the Cisco Cius provides a premium collaboration experience for business professionals.”

Plantronics is attending Cisco Live 2012, which takes place at ICC London Excel in London from 30^th January – 3^rd February 2012. Come and see the combined power of the Voyager PRO UC and Cisco Cius in action.

Please visit http://www.plantronics.com/uk/product/voyager-pro-uc to learn more.

London, UK – 17^th January 2012 – A new study conducted by Plantronics (NYSE:PLT) and the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic reveals that office-based workers have seen significant reductions in back and shoulder pain by wearing a headset for calls.

In just 4 weeks, half of the participants who suffered neck ache and headaches at the start of the study (54% and 44% respectively) reported that they no longer experienced any pain. The study also showed a reduction in shoulder and upper back pain, with a decrease in the number of days during which they experienced the pain and their pain level.*

The demands of modern office working environments and practices can lead to increases in health problems at work, in particular back pain and musculoskeletal problems (including neck and shoulder pain) – which are commonly identified as being among the top three causes of long term sickness absence of European workers (1) – and costing approximately 2.5% of GDP (£13billion in the UK) each year in benefits, treatments and lost production (2).

Dr. Brian Hammond, CEO at National UK charity BackCare says “We see many office workers with acute neck and back problems which could have been prevented by taking simple measures at work – such as using a headset for calls and having ergonomic chairs and desks. This is a serious and preventable matter, by giving employees the right tools to support their daily tasks, everyone will benefit.”

“It’s clear from this study that small changes to the workplace, such as equipping all staff with a headset, creates a healthier working environment thereby reducing problems of sickness and absence.”  Norma Pearce EMEA HR Director at Plantronics comments “The call this New Year is to employers to embrace new technologies and products that will support their staff and business in the long-term.”

Plantronics has found that the amount of time spent on audio conference calls (3) is increasing, resulting in today’s office-based professional spending more hours on the phone than ever before. Coupled with increases in work intensity over the last two decades (4) across Europe, many businesses are facing problems of absenteeism as employees are taking time off work due to work-related stress and ill-health.

“Our study shows that workers wearing headsets reported a reduction in head, neck and shoulder symptoms – often caused by using a handset and cradling it between the neck and shoulder whilst multi-tasking on calls,” says Sharon Docherty, PhD, Researcher at the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic. “These observations support the use of headsets in an office environment where workers are routinely multi-tasking while speaking on the phone. For work routines that allow the user to get up and walk around in the office, this means increased health benefits from changing positions and being able to move the upper and lower body more freely– all whilst the user is still able to concentrate on the phone conversation.”

The health benefit of headsets are clear – there is a measureable risk for anyone using the phone for as little as two hours a day and by using a headset, phone-related problems can be reduced and even eradicated. Additionally, a wireless headset allows for fluid communications and actions and gives users a greater freedom of movement, meaning strenuous movement and unnatural postures, such as cradling the handset between neck and shoulder, and having to stretch to reach for things are eliminated. Participants are able to multi-task more effectively and in the study almost 60% admitted to finding the headset useful or very useful.

The health needs of the new over-50 work generation must also be considered in terms of ergonomic and acoustic requirements. The recent increase in the proportion of people over 55 planning to work beyond state pension age – from 40% to 71%(5) – means changes in the workplace need to be made to cope effectively with an ageing workforce. Learn how to get the best out of your working environment and work smarter here.

For more details please go to http://www.plantronics.com/uk/

London, UK – 11^th October 2011 – Plantronics (NYSE: PLT) today extended its family of Bluetooth® products with the launch of the Plantronics Voyager PRO HD Bluetooth® headset. Part of the award-winning Voyager PRO line[1], the Plantronics’ Voyager PRO HD is designed to make work and life easier for professionals on the go and is the first consumer headset that knows when you’re wearing it. Simply place it on your ear and Plantronics’ Smart Sensor™ technology automatically transfers calls to your headset. With world-class sensor and noise cancellation technology, combined with the ability to stream high-definition audio and superior comfort for an all day fit, the Voyager PRO HD is the smartest headset on the market.

Adding unparalleled convenience for the mobile professional, Plantronics InstantMeeting now connects you to conference calls from your iPhone, in addition to BlackBerry and Android phones, with just one touch. InstantMeeting scans your calendar, automatically inserts all phone numbers and passcodes, reminds you of your calls, and lets you notify participants if you are running late so you’ll never miss or be late to a meeting again.

“Together with the latest release of InstantMeeting, the Voyager PRO HD provides the ideal communication solution for busy business professionals on the move,” said Stuart Bradshaw, Plantronics EMEA Head of Consumer Marketing. “These intuitive products simplify communications and redefine mobile productivity so users can quickly and easily get connected and get on with their work and life.”

Smart sensor technology

Making and receiving calls is simpler with Smart Sensor technology in the Voyager PRO HD. The headset knows when you are wearing it so it cleverly routes calls to the headset when it’s on your ear and to the handset when it’s not. Voyager PRO HD also has a locking call mechanism when it is not worn to eliminate accidental calling, and you can answer incoming calls simply by putting the headset on your ear – no buttons to press, applications to open or voice commands required. Its enhanced voice alerts announce remaining talk time, connection status, battery-level and mute.

Myheadset™ app makes it easier

The Voyager PRO HD app, currently available in the Android Market, provides one-touch pairing and a sound check before you make that important call and also helps users familiarize themselves with the added functionality of the headset, such as streaming music. All the information usually found hidden inside the box is now on screen thanks to the app, such as a set-up guide and FAQs, meaning all support and guidance is at the tips of your fingers any time.

Superior sound quality

Like its predecessors, Voyager PRO HD boasts award-winning sound quality, noise cancellation, and three layers of wind noise reduction technology to ensure that your voice is heard clearly regardless of the sort of environment you’re in. Plantronics HD audio is for more than just answering calls, you can listen to music, follow GPS directions, or check social media platforms and email.

Stay onnected with your voice

With Vocalyst Voice and Text Services you can send and listen to email or text messages, post to Facebook and Twitter, or check the weather—hands-free. A one-year subscription to the cloud-based Vocalyst service is included with purchase of the Voyager PRO HD.

Pricing & Availability

The Voyager PRO HD is available for £89.99 / €99.99 from selected electronic retailers from October onwards. The Plantronics InstantMeeting app is available today in the Apple App Store  - http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/plantronics-instantmeeting/id465992873

London, UK, 29th September 2011 – Plantronics (NYSE: PLT) today extended its family of Bluetooth® products with the launch of the Plantronics Marque M155 Bluetooth® headset. Designed as the ideal companion for the iPhone and Android smartphone, the Marque is sleek, lightweight and easy to use. It is enabled with voice recognition so users can answer or ignore calls completely hands-free and is enriched with audio streaming capabilities which allow users to listen to music, GPS directions or email, whilst providing the great stereo quality that Plantronics customers depend on. Marque users can access all this through a free iPhone or Android app.

Plantronics is dedicated to helping smartphone users stay connected in work, life and play and is confident the Marque will simplify this transition. Smartphones, such as the iPhone, have seen impressive growth over the last few years and consumers have quickly come to depend on the all-in-one devices. Whether used as a phone, a diary, an email device, or all of the above, having a smartphone is now seen as not just smart, but a necessity. In fact, IHS Research* reports that by 2015, more than half of handsets in use will be smartphones.

“We have designed a headset that takes advantage of many smartphone features, such as listening to music and using apps,” said Stuart Bradshaw, Plantronics EMEA Head of Consumer Marketing “The Marque is Plantronics’ smallest headset, offering excellent sound quality in an amazingly lightweight design, to complement and simplify our busy lives”

MyHeadset™ App Makes It Easier

The Marque simplifies communicating for iPhone and Android smartphone users with an easy-to-use app, currently available in the Android Market and Apple App Store. The app provides one-touch pairing and a sound check before you make that important call and also helps users familiarize themselves with the added functionality of the headset, such as streaming music. The app also provides users with all information usually found hidden inside the box, such as a set-up guide and FAQs, meaning all support and guidance is at the tips of your fingers any time.  It even shows you the battery level of Marque on your iPhone screen.

Your Smartphone’s New Best Friend

The Marque is the ultimate companion to smartphones, with a sleek curved design that is available in either Jet Black or Arctic White for ultimate accessory co-ordination. Additionally the Marque comes with an innovative 2-in-1 USB charging cable, so users can conveniently charge their headset and smartphone together, with no need to carry around multiple charging adapters.

Pricing and Availability

Marque M155 is available for £49.99 at selected electronic retailers from late October.

*Source: IHS iSuppli, August 2011, Mobile Handset Market Tracker Report, http://www.isuppli.com/Mobile-and-Wireless-Communications/Pages/Low-End-Smartphones-Boost-Market-Growth.aspx

One-touch Conference Call Connections for Business Professionals

InstantMeeting™ Enterprise Edition is a one-click conference call connect solution which supports Microsoft® Office Outlook®, leading conferencing service providers as well as top smartphone brands. This tool allows today’s busy professional the most convenient way to join a conference call from their PC or mobile device.

 “Modern professionals spend an increasing amount of time in meetings, specifically conference calls. InstantMeeting enables quick, intuitive conference call access so business professionals can focus on the task at hand: communication and collaboration,” said Gunjan Bhow, vice president and general manager of New Ventures at Plantronics. “Our ultimate goal is to enable people to communicate with one another naturally and with minimal barriers, regardless of the devices, platforms and tools being used.”

Plantronics InstantMeeting™ eliminates the frustration and time lost when trying to dial-in to a conference call, a cumbersome process that requires entering a myriad of numbers, ID codes and passwords, and # and * signs. It automatically syncs conference dial-in numbers from leading providers, requiring no advanced setup of access codes and calendars, enabling you to join conference calls with one touch. Visit the Instant Meeting website to find out more. http://instantmeeting.plantronics.com

 Industry-first Complete UC Toolkit: Global launch

Plantronics has enhanced its popular UC Toolkit to include support for over ten languages, including French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Brazilian Portuguese. This unique online resource for IT professionals delivers real-world best practices, tools, and guidelines for successful UC Audio endpoint roll-out and adoption. Leading consulting players like Futurecom Business Solutions will integrate Plantronics’ UC Toolkit as part of its portfolio, enabling businesses across EMEA to successfully implement UC solutions with this valuable tool.

“Extending the UC Toolkit to the global community reflects Plantronics’ ongoing efforts to develop and deliver products and services designed to help businesses maximize efficiencies through simply smarter communications,” says Philip Vanhoutte, SVP and EMEA Managing Director, Plantronics. “Globalization of the UC Toolkit puts information, insights, and valuable tools directly into the hands of IT departments, ensuring they’re able to easily choose the very best UC audio device to suit their employee’s needs, accelerate user adoption, and meet their overall business requirements. Together with our partnership with FutureCom businesses will be able to successfully implement UC and enjoy the benefits that go with it.”

Plantronics rounds off its comprehensive UC product portfolio with a UC version of its Calisto® 800 Series, a multi-device SmartSpeaker phone, which unifies the mobile phone, landline and PC-based softphones, as well as a SmartSwitch solution: the MDA200™ headset communications hub – the first and only solution that enables one USB headset to work across multiple devices.

Pricing and Availability

The Calisto 800 Series UC version is available early November. For pricing please click here. The MDA200 is available early November and has an RRP of £89. Plantronics InstantMeeting Enterprise Edition will be available Autumn 2011. Meanwhile, the mobile version of InstantMeeting, including a demo version is available now at http://instantmeeting.plantronics.com/downloads.php. The trial version provides 20 free initiations to conference calls. For a demo of how the application works, please visit http://www.plantronics.com/instantmeeting

IFA, Berlin, Germany – 2^nd September 2011 – Plantronics (NYSE: PLT) today extended its family of Bluetooth® products with the launch of the Plantronics M1100™ Bluetooth® headset. Designed for the busy mobile professional and social networker, the M1100 enables users to lead a smarter lifestyle by letting them simply communicate on the move, regardless of their device or location. The M1100’s sophisticated voice recognition allows users to connect to the new cloud-based voice service Plantronics Vocalyst™. This is the first and only headset-integrated voice service on the market that is available in a range of languages, which offers an unbeatable hands-free user experience, letting users stay connected and be productive no matter where they are.

“In today’s online world, we want to be connected wherever we are. Whether it’s to reply to an email or post an update on Facebook, we require solutions that simplify this ability to multi-task, wherever we are and at anytime of the day” said Stuart Bradshaw, Plantronics EMEA Head of Consumer Marketing “By including multi-lingual voice recognition in the M1100 and then adding the Vocalyst voice-and-text service, users are able to switch between calls, music and productivity apps such as SMS and emails simply by using the power of their voice.”

Simply smarter communications™

Vocalyst™ – online voice service

The M1100 is the first headset to integrate Plantronics Vocalyst. Simply by pressing the dedicated voice button to “Call Vocalyst”, users can:

• Send and listen to emails and text messages*
• Record and listen to reminders,
• Post audio messages to Twitter and Facebook and listen to their streams,
• Update Evernote® to easily capture moments and ideas with their voice,
• Listen to their calendar and add appointments**
• Listen to the latest local news, finance, sports and weather reports.

The Plantronics Vocalyst service is free for a full year (value – £24.99 / €24.99) for Plantronics’ M1100 customers and is available in UK English, French, German and Spanish. Compatible with any phone, users can choose their language, country and activate Vocalyst with a few simple steps at www.plantronics.com/myheadset.

Android™ and BlackBerry® smartphone users can also download the Plantronics Vocalyst application at their respective app stores. The apps provide hands-free listening to text messages and custom configurations for added convenience, such as an auto-responder for incoming text messages (“I’m currently driving and will return your message shortly.”)

Simply Smarter Communications™

Smart voice commands & alerts

The Plantronics M1100 features convenient voice commands and extensive voice alerts, users can answer or ignore an incoming call by simply saying, “Answer” or “Ignore”, call out by using “Redial” and asking “Am I connected?” to see which devices are ready for use. The Plantronics M1100 also includes whispered voice alerts for low battery, lost connection, remaining talk time and more.  More product details here.

 Pricing & Availability

The Plantronics M1100 has a retail price of €79.99 / £69.99 and is available now from all Plantronics retailers.  For more information, please visit: www.plantronics.com.

- ends –

* Sends email and SMS as audio files. To send as text (voice to text service) need to upgrade to Vocalyst Pro version (currently only available in English, French and Spanish). Vocalyst Pro is €3.50 pcm.

** Only available with Vocalyst Pro version.

Plantronics was the first headset in outer space, when the MS50 was used on the Mercury mission, then Plantronics made history when Neil Armstrong used his Plantronics headset on the moon. Back on earth, Plantronics invented the first call center headset in 1983 and by the ’90s, our products were transforming the business environment as office workers everywhere adopted Plantronics ultra-lightweight, in-the-ear models. And by century’s end, we were perfecting headsets for multimedia, gaming and Internet telephony. Since 2000, Plantronics has simply created one revolution after another, in call clarity, noise reduction and ingenious ergonomics. In 2005, it was the Discovery 640. Its sleek design and amazingly clear audio helped Bluetooth headsets go mainstream. And the epitome of design and headset technology launched in 2009 with the award-winning Voyager PRO.

Now we see an evolution towards a future way of work where legacy office hierarchies and fixed work locations are gradually disappearing; where ‘virtual’ presence and a new armoury of communication and collaboration tools take creative and know-how work to a new level of productivity. This method of working demands Unified Communications, in which phones (hard, soft, mobile) instant messaging, conferencing and video chat can be seamlessly connected. Plantronics’ Unified Communications portfolio offers a broad range of solutions for all working styles and in environments as diverse as the corporate campus and busy airport, with clear, high-quality, reliable audio and world class technical support.

Plantronics in Africa

Telecommunications is one of the fastest growing industries in Africa. As African telecommunications infrastructure deployment accelerates, telecommunications will become even more relevant to the continent’s business success. In particular, it is likely that bandwidth hungry communication technologies such as Unified Communications will see rapid take up in Africa in the medium term.

Plantronics has worked with a Business Partner in South Africa for more than two decades. This partner is Headset Solutions, with offices in Capetown and Johannesburg.

In order to ensure that Plantronics is truly a part of the telecommunications revolution happening on the continent, both Plantronics and Headset Solutions are in the process of implementing significant change for growth.

Philip Vanhoutte, Plantronics Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Europe, Middle East & Africa says:

“We in Plantronics have always worked shoulder to shoulder with our Unified Communications channel partners to ensure we bring the very best audio experience to the Enterprise. We see major potential for very significant Unified Communications deployments in Africa and the Middle East and in order to work more closely with our Unified Communications channel partners and their Enterprise clients in the region Plantronics has recruited onto its staff Mr Duncan Barnes, a Unified Communications expert based in South Africa. Duncan has worked in the IT industry since 1995 and has first-hand experience working at Microsoft WECA (West East Central Africa) as an Account manager looking after South East Africa.  Duncan has also worked with DELL South Africa and more recently with Headset Solutions, the Plantronics Business Partner. We believe that moving forward Duncan will be a great asset for us and we look forward to having him on the expanding Plantronics Unified Communications team.”

Duncan Barnes starts his Plantronics career on July 16^th, and will report to the Plantronics General Manager responsible for M East, E Europe and Africa, Mr Howard Shenton.

Headset Solutions has also been expanding its organisation, and has recently recruited a new Managing Director, Mr. Sven Kaulbach. Sven completed his MBA in Germany and South Africa and for the last 8 years has worked as Managing Director for leading high-tech companies in Europe, Asia and Africa.

London – June 22nd, 20011 – Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) is the first headset company to be certified for TCO Certified Headsets 2. The new certification, launched today, is awarded to headsets that are designed for maximum performance, usability and have minimal environmental impact. It builds on the foundations of the existing TCO’07 certification programme with emphasis on sustainability, environmental compliance and corporate social responsibility. Headsets that are TCO Certified are third party tested for low emissions, superior sound quality and high durability.

The first headset to receive the new TCO certification is Plantronics Savi® 740, the lightest DECT™ headset on the market, allowing the office professional to manage calls coming in from a PC, desk phone, or mobile phone; seamlessly switching between all three as required. It provides the user with up to120 metres roaming range, and the three headset wearing styles: over the ear, over the head, and behind the neck give users a variety of options for maximum long-term comfort and flexibility.

Plantronics was the first headset company to achieve the initial TCO certification – TCO’07 – in March 2007 and currently over 100 Plantronics headsets carry the TCO ’07 label – this is twice as many as any other headset manufacturer. Now all new Plantronics headsets, launched earlier this month, including those in the Savi 700 Series, Savi 400 Series, CS500™ Series as well as the Blackwire® 435 are currently undergoing assessment for the new TCO Certified Headsets 2 and within the next year all of Plantronics products will undergo the necessary tests to comply with the latest requirements.

Philip Vanhoutte, SVP and EMEA Managing Director of Plantronics, comments “We are delighted and very proud to have been awarded the new latest TCO certification, this endorsement is a true independent testament to our drive to design and manufacturer products of the highest quality.”

Sören Enholm, CEO at TCO Development, says “To achieve the new TCO Certified Headsets 2 companies need to demonstrate a commitment to sustainable practices across the business as a whole alongside fulfilling our environmental and ergonomic requirements for the products themselves. Plantronics shows a dedicated commitment to maintaining environmentally responsible processes and succeeds in developing products that are both ergonomically, acoustically and environmentally sound.”

Availability

Plantronics Savi 700 series is priced from £261 to £289 ex VAT, depending on headset wearing style and is available from June 2011 through Plantronics authorised retailers. For more information about all the new headset systems, the various configurations available to customers, and pricing, please click here

Swindon, UK – 7th June 2011 – Plantronics (NYSE: PLT) today celebrates its 50th anniversary with the official opening of its new Simply Smarter offices in Swindon, UK. Plantronics’ CEO, Ken Kannappan and Philip Vanhoutte, SVP and EMEA Managing Director will host a live web event announcing Plantronics’ vision for successful flexible working, sharing how innovation can drive business efficiency. They will unveil a host of products designed to address new work styles and simplify workplace communications.

The New Vision: Simply Smarter Office

New Work Zones – Find Your Space

Plantronics’ redesign of its current UK facilities was born out of an aspiration to create a more effective working environment, in which staff were more comfortable and more productive. Together with strategic guidance from independent workplace effectiveness strategists Leesman, Plantronics has developed an innovative office environment with a series of different working spaces designed to support a range of identified working styles and activities.

“The Leesman Index survey was the starting point and enabled Plantronics to get a detailed insight and analysis of its employees’ satisfaction and engagement with the workplace” says Tim Oldman, CEO of Leesman, “This was the foundation on which Plantronics has designed and created an effective and innovative workspace that responds to employees’ needs and supports their productivity.”

“Our new office design allows employees to work where and when they are most productive, cost-effective and environmentally respectful” says Philip Vanhoutte, SVP and EMEA Managing Director, Plantronics “We have divided our workspace into four zones: Concentrate for focused, individual work, Collaborate, for stimulating group sessions, Contemplate, for recharging batteries and reenergizing and Communicate, for collaborating with others either virtually or face-to-face.”

Simply Smarter Communications™

Smarter Working Tools

The new products include the Savi® 740, Plantronics’ first headset that connects to a deskphone, mobile phone and computer to streamline communications.  Also new with the Savi 740 is a more versatile streamlined style – office-based business professionals can wear this headset over the head with a headband, using the ear loop, or behind the head with a neckband which provides webcam friendly options for video conference calls.

“The traditional office environment is evolving,” says Philip Vanhoutte, SVP and EMEA Managing Director, Plantronics “Office-based business professionals need the right tools to suit their needs and increase productivity, foster innovation and improve collaboration. We believe that the products we are announcing today give people the freedom to work more effectively and efficiently, letting them simply communicate regardless of their location or device.”

Plantronics products deliver intelligent integration with the leading unified communications platforms from Avaya®, Cisco®, IBM® and Microsoft®, and simplifying deployments for both IT departments and end users alike.

Simply Smarter Communications™

New Skills for a New Way of Working

Plantronics has supported these workplace changes, with its own internal interactive e-Learning programme, created in conjunction with leading virtual workplace consultancy and training provider E-Work.com. The training which will ensure that all employees are equipped with the right knowledge, tools, resources and confidence to work and collaborate successfully from wherever may be.

The live web event will take place at 11:00 a.m. BST* on Tuesday 7th June. Ken Kannappan and Philip Vanhoutte will also be joined by Tim Oldman and Gita Katbamna, Director of Workplace Change at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), who will share insight into the benefits of workplace change and the effectiveness of it in creating a more agile, dynamic and responsive workforce with improved performance.

The web event can be viewed here.

Additional information on the Plantronics product announcement can be viewed here.

London, UK – 7th June 2011 – Plantronics (NYSE: PLT) today announced an expanded portfolio of simply smarter communications solutions designed to support today’s new ways of working and flexible working environments. The new offerings – the Savi® 700 series, Savi 440, Blackwire® 435, and CS500™ series – deliver intelligent technology with elegant design for office-based business professionals who interact with a mobile phone, softphone, and a desk phone, or need to switch between all three.

Delivering a host of benefits to the office professional by connecting to multiple devices and allowing workers to multi-task throughout the course of a phone call, this enables fluid communications, actions and increasing productivity. The intelligent wireless capabilities mean users can move away from their desks and around the office, without missing any calls. The new products create a more comfortable and healthy working environment as awkward and unnatural postures, often experienced whilst cradling a telephone handset between neck and shoulder, are eliminated.  The sleek and discreet wearing styles give a professional image to colleagues and clients, whether meetings are in-person or via webcam. Additionally, IT departments now have the ability to procure one device and achieve forward compatibility, ensuring increased efficiency and cost savings over time.

“In today’s business environment, work is not just a place; people are mobile both in and outside the office,” comments Richard Rogers, Plantronics’ Head of EMEA B2B Marketing. “The products we’re announcing today give mobile workers the same freedom, flexibility, and wearability that users of our leading Bluetooth® devices have enjoyed for years, with the added bonus that they integrate with the industry’s most popular Unified Communications platforms, enabling even stronger productivity gains.”

In addition, Plantronics announced the latest release of its popular UC Toolkit – a set of online assets that help IT departments plan, adopt, deploy, and advance Unified Communications in their enterprises. The UC Toolkit is available for Avaya®, Cisco®, Microsoft®, and IBM® Unified Communications platforms.

Plantronics’ New Product Offerings

Savi 700 Series

The Savi 700 series is a headset system that allows the office professional to manage calls coming in from a PC, desk phone, or mobile phone; seamlessly switching between all three as required. It features the lightest wireless DECT™ headset on the market, provides the user with a generous 120 metres roaming range, and auto-answers when the headset is picked up from the cradle. A hot swappable battery allows unlimited talk time, the noise-cancelling microphone ensures crisp communication and three headset wearing styles: over the ear, over the head, and behind the neck give users have a variety of options.

Savi 440

The Savi 440 is a USB wireless headset system that can manage PC calls up to 120 metres away. Mirroring the Savi 700 series, the Savi 440 also features the market’s lightest wireless DECT headset, and an included dongle allows for call connectivity through a PC anywhere there’s an Internet connection. Additionally, a hot swappable battery gives users unlimited talk time capability.

Blackwire 435

The Blackwire 435 is a USB corded headset featuring a sleek and portable design that makes it extremely discreet and web-cam friendly. It also easily converts from a mono to stereo wearing-style for maximum flexibility and convenience and can be worn either over the ear or behind the neck.

CS500 Series

The CS500 is a wireless headset system for desktop telephones. Featuring an updated design and the lightest wireless DECT headset on the market, the CS500 system allows users to roam and talk up to 120 metres away from the base unit; convertible wearing styles ensure optimal comfort.

The UC Toolkit

This online resource of best practices documentation houses FAQs, whitepapers, training materials, survey templates, wireless assessments, and more, making it easy for IT managers to test their UC assumptions. The UC Toolkit can be accessed at www.plantronics.com/UCToolkit.

Pricing and Availability

-       Savi 700 series is priced from £261 to £289 ex VAT, depending on headset wearing style and is available in June 2011.

-       Savi 440 is £199 ex VAT and available in May 2011.

-       Blackwire 435 is £79 ex VAT and available in July 2011.

-       CS500 series is available from September 2011. Pricing details will be announced closer to the general availability of the product.