Egham (October 27th, 2005) – Jabra, a leading brand of hands-free communication products for the mobile consumer market, today announced the release of the Jabra BT500, the next generation of the world’s best-selling Bluetooth headset. Continuing the success of Jabra’s award winning Behind-The-Ear (BTE) design, the Jabra BT500 Bluetooth headset has a new modern design, improved audio performance and added controls that make it even more stylish, convenient and easy to use than the first generation. Added features include a mute function, a single Bluetooth pairing button and multi-coloured LEDs.

One of the thinnest BTE headsets in the industry, the Jabra BT500, weighs just 19 grams and is 20 per cent lighter and 30 per cent slimmer than the previous BTE generation. It has a lightweight ultra-slim body and a new sleek chrome microphone boom arm that curves from behind the ear along the jaw line providing the ultimate in discreet Bluetooth headset design and comfort. The headset offers up to eight hours of talk time and 240 hours of standby time, making it ideal for use throughout the entire day.

In addition to its new design, the Jabra BT500 features architectural improvements that provide a more stable wireless link between the headset and the mobile phone. With improved antenna design, the Jabra BT500 also offers increased audio performance and less interference so conversations are clear and uninterrupted. The Jabra BT500 comes with Jabra MiniGels that fit comfortably in the ear to ensure superior sound quality.

Overall ease of use has been improved with intuitive features including a one-touch pairing button for simple connectivity, as well as multi-coloured LEDs that light up to indicate connection and battery charging status. A mute function lets users temporarily silence the microphone to speak with someone else or block out a sudden obtrusive sound.

Users also have the option of charging from an AC adaptor or directly from a PC via a USB adapter. Either way, the new Jabra BT500 recharges in just two hours.

“With the release of the Jabra BT500, we are addressing customer requirements for a thinner and lighter headset that also incorporates some of the most up-to-date headset features,” said Niels-Henrik Valentin Knudsen, Jabra senior product manager. “The Jabra BT500 is the natural extension of the Jabra BTE range, providing a stylish new look combined with increased functionality and technical enhancements that make it the perfect choice for busy professionals and those who require a high-performance headset that looks and feels great.”

The Jabra BT500 supports Bluetooth 1.2 and 1.1 Bluetooth-enabled devices including headset and hands-free profiles. With Bluetooth 1.2, the headset offers additional performance enhancements such as improved audio quality through decreased interference and faster connectivity. The Jabra BT500 can be paired with up to eight devices, such as a mobile phone, smart phone or PC so users can easily switch between devices.

The first generation of Jabra BTE headsets was introduced in 2002. The contour, comfort and excellent sound quality provided by the original Jabra BTE design has contributed to Jabra becoming one of the most distinguished and popular Bluetooth headset designs in the industry. The Jabra BTE headsets have achieved international recognition with industry awards received from iF design, reddot, T3, Mobile Choice and Auto Express magazines. The popular Jabra BTE range includes the Jabra BT200, BT205, BT250, and BT250v Bluetooth headsets.

Jabra BT500 in summary

· Weighs only 19 grams (0.67 oz)
· One-touch pairing button and mute function
· Direct charging from a PC via USB cable
· Bluetooth link and battery status indication via LED
· Up to 8 hours talk time and 240 hours standby time
· Voice dial, call hold/call wait, last number re-dial, reject call*
· Bluetooth 1.2 supporting headset and hands-free profile
*Subject to phone and/or network type

Pricing and Availability

The Jabra BT500 is now shipping and will soon be widely available at select retail outlets across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. RRP: £79.99.