Finally. Our first wireless stereo headset! It is available just in time for the holidays. If you use Skype more than 5 times a week, this headset will be your new best friend, I can guarantee it. I’ve been carrying my proto with me for the better part of this year, and it’s held up relatively well in my bag, taking many beatings. It sounds great, and works flawlessly. The range on FREETALK’s version is just over 35 feet. It will best the two other cordless options shown on this page. They are both based on Bluetooth… stop yawning, you’ll want to hear this.
People often ask how we compare to Bluetooth… often phrased as, “why wouldn’t I just use Bluetooth?” The few (powerful) reasons are:
- FREETALK requires no driver installations. Freetalk is plug & play. Plug it in, wait for Mac OS or Windows to recognize it, and about 20 seconds later you are off to the races.
- FREETALK achieves better than 30 feet of range. Our system’s wireless audio coding gives you a few more meters than BT can at the same transmit power. Just try it. You’ll get 35-40 feet in most conditions, and up to 60 feet in very clean RF interference & obstacle environments.
- FREETALK gives you high fidelity stereo audio & wideband voice!!! The Freetalk headset natively supports 48 kHz uncompressed stereo audio to the headset, and 16 kHz wideband voice from the headset’s mic…. wait for it… at the same time. Boom. (Gamers rejoice – use it for World of Warcraft, Ventrillo, you name it) You have to hear it to believe it. With BT, you’re required to use a different profile (A2DP), which does not support simultanous usage of the microphone, AND it compresses the hell out of the audio using a very crude compression scheme called SBC (sub-band coding). About as clean as 96 kbps mp3 in best cases.
- FREETALK costs less. Don’t even get me started.
Anyways, let’s hear about what you think. Check it out, and report back here. I’m pretty sure you’ll be asking straight-away, “why hasn’t this existed before?”
30 Comments
There is something missing in USB headset (wireless or not), these the possibility to merge audio output on both USB output and standard computer output. Skype can do that, but you have to go in option and that’s not obvious when you have some one on the phone. As a user I’d like to always have both audio active.
On skype but also in other applications.
On windows, i didn’t find a way to do it. Is there a solution.
Sounds great, although somebody at Skype told me the microphone was not using the same sampling rate as a Plantronics DSP-400, which I use now and is phenomenal. Specs below – can somebody comment?
Microphone Input
*
Mono, 16 bit, 48kHz data
*
Preset digital EX-6 bands mono
*
Mic gain stage >50dB range
*
Up to25dB noise rejection (hypercardiod response)
*
100Hz-10kHz frequency response
*
Electret condenser microphone with –38dVB/Pa sensitivity
Mine should arrive by the weekend, I’m excited because I was ready to give up on Bluetooth. After finally getting A2DP support in Leopard (latest Mac OS X), I still couldn’t get my Motorola S9 bluetooth stereo headset to work reliably. And as you said Bluetooth can’t use stereo and the mic at the same time. WTF were the Bluetooth designers thinking?
LTB Audio dudes… Q-Bean-U and Q-Bass-U
http://www.ltbaudio.com Skype it up!
I wish you would have let us know if these FINE headphones were available any where else BUT at http://us.accessories.skype.com/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayPage&Env=BASE&Locale=en_US&SiteID=skype&id=ProductDetailsPage&productID=82968200 for a little under $90.00 when all the goodies are added. (Tax, Shipping and putting their hands on it for the last time.) Maybe 90 bucks “IS” cheap for a set of head phones like this, but to this kid, I could sure spend it in a lot of places right now even tho I have to admit, I would love to have these at home right now! Thanks for your time and a fine article!!!
Sincerelt, Steve A. Rosa’
Can anyone comment on the security aspect of the FreeTalk wireless connection? This condern has always been the bane of BlueTooth – and I’m wondering if the superior audio quality of the Freetalk technology has also been achieved in conjunction with an improved ability to communicate without fear of eavesdroppers. Anyone know?
How to replace the battery in a free talk Wireless Stereo Headset anyone know if it’s possible. TIA
Does anyone know who actually makes the Freetalk Wireless Stereo Headset? On skype’s website is says there should be a “CD-ROM” in the box. I didn’t get one did anyone else get one?
Then above comment submitted by me (John Durocher) deleted the fact that I was told by Skype Help that Plantronics made the Freetalk Wireless Stereo Headset. When asked about the Headset Plantronics denied knowing anything about the it. Did anyone get the CD-ROM listed as being in the Headset box on the Skype Website? Does anyone know who made the Headset since that is who Skype says I must deal with but they don’t themselves seem to know who it is.
John. As point of clarification, I did not delete any info from your post.
Re Plantronics. Not correct. They do not build the Freetalk. The company is called InStore Solutions.
FYI. There is no required CD-ROM. I believe at one point the plan was to offer this product in brick and mortar stores, and they were planning to include a CD-ROM that had Skype Software on it so consumers could install it. You are not missing anything.
I was told by Skype help that Plantronics (and I was given this number to call 800-544-4660) made the Freetalk Stereo Wireless Headset, and I said so in my first post, that is a fact. If you say the that “there is no required CD-ROM” then you should modify the information on your Skype store’s website where it clearly lists a CD-ROM as one of the things under the heading “What’s in the box:” in the description of the Headset, take a look.
I don’t control what is said on the Skype store, nor what their customer support staff say to you on the phone. Unfortunate, but true. Skype.com is the retail outlet in this case.
I do know that In Store Solutions sources the headset directly from our manufacturing partner (and direct customer), who I know is *not* Plantronics.
I realize this is confusing for consumers, even more so when the retail outlet is feeding you incorrect information.
John. Again, I don’t edit or delete comments. So you are wrong if you think you mentioned something before and you think it was deleted. I also just checked the moderation queue, and it is empty.
I just don’t want people to think I am selectively changing comments in any way. I will only make corrections or counter arguments via my own comments.
OK, thank you for you help.
Doe’s anybody know if there will be problems if a group of 10 persons use this Freetalk wireless stereo headset simultaneously. How many channels are there?
I think max can only do 3 persons at the same time. If more people uses it at the same time, the wireless wlan will fail
foresight is assuming freetalk uses 1/3 of spectrum. in fact it only uses 1/40th. however, there are other systems to share spectrum with, and it depends how close your 10 people are to each other and their PCs. In controlled conditions, we’ve seen greater than 18 links coexisting… practically speaking, in a small office, with a wifi network, you probably can get 6 to 10 freetalks working at once.
How do you know my email address?
I cannot seem to find anay comments from people who actually use this. Do you love it? I need to purchase a headset for work and I’d like to try a wireless….
Give me your feedback!!!
This headset rocked for the first month. Ive purchased 2 of them for me and a buddy. Now the headset SUCKS. it turns on then shuts off automatically. it does that for both headsets. whats funny is that they both went out around the same time within days of eachother
I’ve read enough, and will pass on the headset.
A word of advice: Don’t feud. It belittles you.
Paul, I’m sorry… you witnessed a feud? I missed that. John Durocher and I were having a meaningful exchange that was important due to incorrect information given to him by parties I know to be in error. I was merely clarifying that point, and making the point that I never delete comments here unless they are ads for porn or strange health supplements.
Also, I understand you will pass on the Freetalk… you might try out the “Logitech Clearchat PC Wireless”. It seems to get fewer quality complaints than the Freetalk admittedly does throughout this site and others.
I just got a pair of these. Why do they start beeping three times over and over and over again? To get them to stop, I had to shut them off. And now every time I turn them one again, the beep-beep-beep (pause) beep-beep-beeping starts again.
They should be about fully charged, so I don’t think it is a low charge indicator. And nobody was calling me.
They did it while being charged, too, fortunately stopped after 10 minutes or so.
Can anyone advise OR give me a clue of how I can get customer support for these? (The box says they were “proudly manufacturered by instoresolutions.”)
Mine are beeping like crazy too, tried 2 different pairs. no clue as to why it beeps, freaking annoying while your using them because the beeps are at full volume and hurt your ears.
yea mine are beeping now to it is driving me crazy how do i make them stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if any one knows email me at mxmanion@yahoo.com
I just bought a wireless headset from ISS for Skype use.
The instructions keep referring to “pairing” but I find no “pair” function on the headset. I do find a “link” function. Is that the same thing?
I would appreciate someone talking me through how this item works. I find the European written instructions to be lacking in communication skills.
Regarding Skype, do I need to keep the computer on at all times to use it? Must I use the keypad on Skype to dial numbers? I currently have Lingo and use a phone that I can put on my belt and be maneuverable. I don’t like being tied to the computer even with the wireless headset in terms of dialing numbers. Should I buy a Skype phone? I think a modem is required. Does that come with a Skype phone?
Please email me directly with answers please. I am not very familiar with how these forums work and how to regularly access them.
Thanks.
swg
Purchased FreeTalk wireless about 3 months ago. Three days ago severe feedback including breathing & ambient noise began. Able to use but feedback was so severe as to render unusable.
Now both mic & speakers do not work.
OS Windows 7 Ultimate.
Sent message to Skype (from whom purchased). No response thus far.
I shall appreciate your help in resolving issue
I have had the Freetalk Headset for about 3 months. It has started beeping at me and turning off automatically. I turn it on and it turns off again in a few seconds. They are of no use to me if I cannot keep them on! I have emailed Skype (this is where I purchased them) with no response. Has anyone else solved their similiar problems?
Andrea,
You should try the manufacturer at: http://www.instoresolutions.com/contactus
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