Logitech Puts New Spin on Multimode Wireless Headsets for Open Office Environments

In a market saturated with audio headsets, Logitech believes it can fill a void with a new wireless headphone that office workers can use interchangeably between their mobile phones and PCs connected to online conferencing and meeting services.

The company this week is previewing its new Logitech Zone Wireless headset at the Google Cloud Next conference in San Francisco. Unlike its other headsets offered through retail and online sellers, the company is offering the Logitech Zone Wireless through commercial channel partners and on Amazon.com.

Logitech’s new headset is the company’s latest effort to extend its offerings in the commercial IT market. The company, which offers keyboards, mice and other peripherals including PC speakers, has placed greater focus on growing its commercial IT and conferencing business, since launching its Skype for Business room systems in partnership with Microsoft. Earlier this year, Logitech also previewed a new videoconferencing system controller called Tap, which the company is also providing though IT channel partners.

During a demo with Channel Partners prior to this week’s official launch, company officials pointed to  Logitech Zone Wireless’s focus on workers in open office environments, which are becoming increasingly more prevalent. Designed to let workers wear it comfortably all day, it enables them to connect to their mobile phones but quickly switch to a PC connected to Google Hangouts, Zoom conferencing or Microsoft’s Skype for Business and Teams.

Logitech’s Gregory Franc De Ferriere

“It’s really designed for the knowledge worker who spends the day collaborating, communicating and concentrating, and it’s really optimized for open office environments,” said Gregory Franc De Ferriere, head of products for Logitech’s business hearable products. De Ferriere emphasized that the Logitech Zone Wireless headset is not designed, or suited, for call centers or environments where there are significant numbers of users who can cause interference.

On the surface it appears like an ordinary high-end headset that includes a retractable microphone. But De Ferriere maintained that the device is comfortable enough to wear all day. He emphasized its noise-cancelling capability and ability to filter out background noise. It also includes an app called Logi Tune, that lets users manage their calls or video conferences,  listen to music and use its active noise cancelling capability to filter out ambient noise.

While users can pair the headset to their mobile phones, Logitech provides a separate wireless receiver that plugs into a USB port. Logitech recommends that approach because it’s easier to switch between mobile phones and PCs. “There are still challenges in terms of maintaining stable connections between Bluetooth headsets and PCs and desktops,” DeFerriere said. “Also, with…

…the USB dongle, it provides access to the integrations we have with Google Hangouts, Zoom and Skype for Business and Microsoft Teams.”

The Logitech Zone Wireless, which will ship later this month for $199.99, also supports wireless charging and works with any Qi-based charge, he said. A version called Logitech Zone Wireless Plus, priced at $249.99, will allow a single dongle to work with the headset as well as any Logitech keyboard and mouse combination, which the company believes will appeal to those who have PCs with a limited number of USB ports. The “plus” version is scheduled to ship in June.

In addition to its three primary conferencing partners, Logitech said the new headphones will work with Fuze, Unify, TrueConf and StarLeaf as well as BlueJeans, Cisco Webex and Jabber, and GoToMeeting.

In February, Logitech introduced its Tap device that facilitates one-touch calling. The device debuted in three versions, designed for Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Google Hangouts.