Jabra Bets Simpler is Better with BT2080 Bluetooth Headset

Jabra's new BT2080 Bluetooth headset is just the basics - on, off, volume, and status - and maybe just the thing for first-time headset users.

Headset maker Jabra has been known to cater to the high end of the headset market, offering earpieces and gizmos with bells and whistles galore…and which, to the uninitiated, probably seem like blinky props from a sci-fi convention. So, just to shake things up a little, Jabra is zagging the other way with its forthcoming BT2080 headset, which the company is billing as its most user-friendly headset to date. It’s just the basics, with an emphasis on ease-of-use and straightforward operation.

The BT2080 will feature Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity (actually a first for a Jabra device) so it can pair up with compatible phones with no PIN code required, along with a dedicated on/off switch on the back of the headset where it won’t be confused with other controls. The side of the headset features a simple volume control, and new StatusDisplay LED indicators give the unit’s status at a glance, including multi-colored lights that show the headset’s battery level and Bluetooth status.

The BT2080 can either be worn in-ear with a Jabra Eargel (the unit weighs 2.8 ounces), or over the ear with an ear hook, and supports up to 6 hours of talk time or 8 days of standby on a single charge—users can charge it up via microUSB.

The BT2080 should be available in July for a suggested price of $39.99.