Skype-friendly Bluetooth Headset

Monday, September 25, 2006

Soyo’s announced its latest Bluetooth compatible device: the FreeStyler HS11 Bluetooth Headset. One of the most publicized features is the easiness of the pairing of the device with Skype. Most recent headsets do not have this problem but some older products are not that Skype friendly so the FreeStyler HS11 is targeted for owners of old devices.

The FreeStyler HS11 supports the 1.2 version of the Bluetooth specification and the AVRCP profile. This means that the headset lets the user control remotely a compatible device during music playback and provides basic features like pause, rewind and fast-forward. Another feature of this hands-free headset is the possibility to pause the music when answering a phone call and automatically resume it once the chat is over.

According to the Soyo the FreeStyler HS11’s lithium-polymer battery provides up to six hours of continuous playback. To recharge the battery once it’s dead Soyo has included in the box a mini-USB 4-pin cable. Aesthetically the headset is nothing shattering and is available in only one color (white) but is adequate in the weight compartment (only 1.3 ounces).

The FreeStyler HS11 comes also with a stereo transmitter (TX10) that has a 3.5mm audio jack to connect it to sources that do not support wireless communication. One use for example is the possibility to hear to the audio signal coming from a TV or simply from an old hi-fi or a CD player.

The kit (the headsets plus the transmitter) has a suggested retail price of $179 that seems a bit high for what the headset offer. If the price will come down in the future this might be a good purchase though.