How to Choose the Right Headset to Enhance your Work at Home Phone Job.

So, you're ahead of the game, sporting a nifty internet phone with advanced VoIP technology for your home-based business or slick work at home job. Sure, you brag to your friends about the unlimited long distance, flat rate and all, and the cool features that only voice over broadband can offer…but what about the must-have accessories that make VOIP super easy to use?

To really get cooking with VOIP, you should invest in a quality headset and microphone. When you’re able to work hands free while on the phone, you get much more accomplished, either by typing at your keyboard, writing notes, or doing chores. Plus, you look cool. (As if working at home wasn’t cool enough.)

Headsets for VOIP come in two types. One type plugs into a regular telephone, and the other connects to a PC or Mac. The type you need depends on what kind of VOIP service you have.

Telephone Headsets

Regular telephone headsets are in fact nothing new, and you need one if the VOIP internet phone service you’re using is a monthly plan from a national or regional VOIP broadband phone provider. These monthly flat rate plans let you use your regular phone with the service.

The broadband phone provider ships you a VOIP phone adaptor which plugs into your phone and into your high speed internet router. A telephone headset simply plugs into the port that normally connects the handset. This type of headset is not connected to your computer at all. When a call comes in, you answer on your headset by pressing speakerphone button. The only caution here is to ensure that your phone is headset compatible. Most entry-level $40 business phones are, but some basic style residential phones may not be.

Computer Headsets

A computer headsets is required if your VOIP service provides a softphone—a piece of software that runs on your PC or Mac and transforms it into a full-fledged telephone. For example, the monthly unlimited long distance plan from Voip.com includes a softphone. Other softphones, such as Skype and GizmoProject you can download and use for free.

Computer headsets plug into your computer either through your USB port (one cable that controls both microphone and speakers), or through analog ports (two cables—one for audio-in and one for audio-out).

Benefits of USB headsets are:

Crisper sound quality
Fewer cords, less fuss
Can be wireless with a wireless USB/Bluetooth adaptor

Benefits of analog headsets are:

Inexpensive
Readily available
Excellent sound if your sound card is also good quality

Wireless vs. Corded Headsets

Once you know what type of headset you need based on your VOIP service, the fun part begins. Wireless headsets let you roam about your office or house untethered while still making and receiving calls. Wired headsets are more conventional but less expensive.

You can find wireless headsets both for your regular phone or for your computer. BUT be warned that they aren’t interchangeable. For example, you can’t use a wireless computer headset with your regular phone connected to a VOIP serviced.

Wireless headsets that connect to your phone are powered by a battery either built into the earpiece itself, or located in a belt pack. The advantage of wearing the battery around your waist is that you get a heavier, more powerful battery, hence a longer talk-time before recharging. However, new battery technology makes the lightweight models like the Plantronics CS55 extremely popular, with 10 hours of talk time.

Wireless computer headsets connect to your computer through wireless USB adaptor or through Bluetooth, a common wireless technology already built into newer model computers.

Mono and Stereo Headsets

Basically, do you want to hear in one ear or in both ears? Mono headsets have only one ear piece and a microphone boom for talking leaving the other ear free. Stereo headsets have two earpieces. It comes down to personal preference.

Headset Comfort

If you work at home and use the phone often, this is probably the most important factor in choosing a headset, although initially you probably wouldn’t think so. But consider this. If you opt of a state-of-the art wireless PC headset that makes your ears hurt or if you can hear yourself breathing into the mic, you just won’t use it.

Earphones, or headphones are traditional headsets where the ear piece fits over the whole of the ear. Manufacturers offer different sizes and types of padding. You’ll just have to try a few on and see which ones you like best. Some headsets sit atop the head while others loop behind the ears and around the back of the head.

Earbuds are earpieces that fit right inside the ear. Again, these are available in different sizes so you should try a few to make sure they don’t hurt your ears.

Best Selling Headsets

Wireless Telephone Headset: Plantronics CS55 Wireless Convertible Headset

10-hour continuous talk time
Battery in the earpiece
Up to 300-ft. range

Corded Telephone Headset: Plantronics SupraPlus H251N Headset with M22 Amplifier

Noise-canceling microphone
Easy installation and use
Superior sound quality

Wireless Computer Headset: Plantronics CS50-USB Wireless Headset System

8-hour continuous talk time
Battery in the earpiece
Ideal for VOIP softphones
200-foot range

Corded Computer Headset: Plantronics .Audio 550 DSP Ultimate Performance Headset

Speech recognition & noise-canceling microphone
Adjustable boom for easy placement
Cushioned earpods cover both ears
Ideal for VOIP softphones

Leanne Tremblay is a freelance writer and publisher of www.quickstartvoip.com, a site all about the wonders of internet phone service, free video phone services, and internet phone hardware for the home office.