Logitech launches Zone Wireless headsets to make the open office less distracting
Logitech is launching two wireless headsets to make the open office a little more suited to doing work.
Now the open office was the rage in recent years, but the reality is that it's hard to do work when everyone is talking in the new collaboration nirvana. Open office floor plans have been ridiculed before, but companies spent a lot of money revamping their facilities. Simply put, you're stuck with the open office until there's some new design fad.
As a guy who walks around Madison Square Park in New York to do meetings due to an open office floor plan, I was enticed when Logitech reached out with a device that could help me manage the insanity. I was thinking some motorcycle helmet-ish thing. Maybe an astronaut suit that could help me tune out terrible acoustics as well as the germs from the person next to me coughing up a lung.
Instead I got the Zone Wireless, which goes for $199, and Zone Wireless Plus, which will go for $249. "It is difficult to work but the open floor plan is not going away," said Wendy Spander, global communications manager for core products at Logitech. "Companies made the choice and are so deep into it that it makes sense to find the right solution for the pain points."
The gist of the Zone Wireless headsets from Logitech, which hasn't launched a headset for work in five years, was to create a headset that fits multiple roles, hop between devices, and help knowledge workers concentrate.
Logitech utilized its knowhow in gaming headsets as well as running gear from its Jaybird unit. Users of those devices will recognize some of the features in the companion apps. It is also worth noting that Logitech didn't set out to launch another unified communications headset. The Zone Wireless headset is aimed at the knowledge worker who must toggle between a mobile device, work PC, video calls, and then tune out with music.
Key things to know:
- Zone Wireless headsets come with Active Noise Cancellation that's activated via a button.
- The design revolves around making the headset seamless. There are some other nice touches with cabling and materials.
- Headset will charge via cable or any Qi compatible charger. Battery life is 14 hours with ANC on and 15 with it off.
- The companion app gives the user the ability to customize for sound as well as side noise, a setting that enables you to pick how much chatter you want to hear.
- Zone Wireless Plus has a unifying receiver that can connect to six peripherals such as mouse, keyboard, headset.