'Sleeker' Motorola wireless ear device unveiled
A sexy ear device? Move over, Razr.
Motorola Inc. is aiming to make its newest Bluetooth-enabled headset the latest must-have for your mobile phone this holiday season.
Motorola Tuesday unveiled the MotoPure H12, its first wireless ear device designed to eliminate most background noise using its new CrystalTalk technology.
MotoPure is smaller, sleeker and thinner than other headsets and offers a custom fit with inter-changeable pieces. It is expected to be sold this week exclusively through AT&T for $99 with a mail-in rebate. The device later will sell for $119.99 through Motorola's online store and other outlets.
Motorola offers a lot of good technology with voice and sound compression, said analyst Mark McKechnie of American Technology Research in San Francisco.
"But a neat ear piece isn't going to turn around Motorola," said McKechnie, formerly of Arlington Heights. "It's like getting a new water boy for the Bears."
The Schaumburg-based communications company is counting on this new product to be a hot seller for the holiday gift-giving season, said Jason Few, corporate vice president and general manager of Motorola's Companion Products in Libertyville.
"Noise reduction was the most important feature from customers who purchased a headset," Few said.
The device is compatible with about 200 Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and offers 5.5 hours of talk time and 8 days of standby.
But Motorola's newest product isn't the only one available.
Elk Grove Village-based Etymotic Research Inc., for example, offers the EtyCom headset that works both with your mobile phone or Skype Internet calls. The noise-canceling headset costs $49 and the VoIP adapter is $3. They're available at www.etymotic.com/ephp/er22.aspx.
But that won't stop Motorola.
"The H12's premier audio technology, design and style make it a premium hands-free solution that helps 'silence the noise' for on-the-go consumers and marks Motorola's innovation and expertise that have driven the company's growth and global leadership in the Bluetooth accessories market," said Few.