One of the best reasons to have Bluetooth in a mobile phone is the possibility of using a wireless headset. However, many people are hesitant to pay $100 or more for a Bluetooth headset. Especially since many lower price phones are beginning to have Bluetooth as a standard feature, it is hard to justify paying more than half the cost of the phone just for a headset. Jabra, one of the leading companies in the mobile phone accessory market, has decided to enter the price-sensitive segment of the market with its first entry-level Bluetooth headset.

The BT110 is a lower cost, entry-level product. By eliminating the need for a rechargeable batter and AC adapter and keeping the design simple, Jabra has been able to lower the cost for the BT110. The BT110 uses the newer Mini-Gel earpieces, which are available in a choice of long or short extension into the ear.
The basic features of the BT110 are:

Bluetooth 1.2 compliant with backward compatibility
Bluetooth headset and hands-free profile
Up to 15 hours of talk time on one AAA battery
¾ ounce weight including battery
3” x 2 ½” x 1/2” size
Mini-Gel Earpiece
Automatic power-down function to save battery life
Voice-activated dialing
Yellow LED to indicate Bluetooth link, paring, and low battery

While the BT110 is very light-weight, it can still be a little heavy after wearing for more than a couple of hours. The curved ear loop is soft and flexible. Overall the BT110 is comfortable to wear, but difficult to put on with one hand. I always had to use two hands to insert the Mini-Gel into my ear and adjust the ear loop. The BT110 can be used on either the left or right ear by twisting the Mini-Gel.

Bluetooth pairing with the phone is simple. Each time a new battery is inserted into the BT110, it automatically enters discovery mode. Pressing the main button will put it into normal mode. The BT110 is simple to use. There are only two buttons. On the top there is a small volume button. The button will toggle up one level with each press. A press of the button at the highest volume will set the BT110 at the lowest volume. The main button is the Answer / End button which is located at the bottom of the battery chamber. This button is used to Power On, Power Off, Answer Call, and End Call.

The volume level of the BT110 is good, but not high enough for noisy environments. The Mini-Gel helps to give good audio quality and a secure fit.

The power shutdown feature is great for saving battery life by disconnecting from the phone. A press of the Answer button will reconnect with the phone in a few seconds. To save even more power, you can turn the BT110 off using the main button. Turning on the BT110 only takes about 5 seconds from button press to Bluetooth ready. Battery life is extremely good and very close to the 15 hours specification.

The maximum range for Bluetooth is 30 feet. Testing with the BT110 revealed an average range of 10-12 feet before the signal begins to breakup and you hear static. This may be due to the use of a standard AAA battery as the power source. I do not consider this a problem since most people do not typically get very far from their phone when they are talking, but if you like to “wander” away from your phone, you may want to consider one of Jabra’s more advanced models.

Overall, the BT110 is a very good basic Bluetooth headset. Comfortable, excellent battery life, easy to use, and light-weight, the BT110 is a great Bluetooth headset if you are considering your first wireless headset.

Pros
Easy to use
Comfortable
Low Price

Cons
Limited range
Limited volume adjustment

Rating: 7.5 out of 10 Stars.

-Harvey Lee
Technology Editor

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Product: Jabra BT110 Bluetooth Headset
Manufacturer: Jabra
Web Site: www.jabra.com
Category: Mobile / Hardware
Price: $69.99
Supported Devices:

Any mobile phone with Bluetooth
Features of headset will vary based on mobile phone capabilities