Plantronics WG101 Savi Go MOC Convertible Bluetooth AUS

Overview of the Plantronics WG101 Savi Go MOC Convertible Bluetooth AUS

The Plantronics SAVI WG101 takes the fantastic WO100 and gives it a new direction, offering a headset that lets you switch easily between your computer and mobile phone (rather than computer and desk phone, as offered by the W0100).  Designed for people on the go, it comes with a choice of both over-the-ear and over-the-head wearing styles.

The Good

For those people after a specialised computer and Bluetooth headset, the news that Plantronics has released an offering from its much lauded SAVI range will be a cause for celebration. What you have here is a seriously well-built headset that occupies a unique niche. The dual functionality means you can take a call on your mobile phone, then jump on the PC and make a Skype call or use a softphone application without having to swap headsets. Because it is wireless, you can roam around the office freely while taking calls, and the noise cancelling feature means background noise is significantly reduced for clearer calls.

Despite its compact size, the SAVI WO 101 gives you a 9-hour talk time, so even heavy users won’t run out of juice.  The rapid recharging capability is also handy, since if you start running low it’s simply a matter of plugging it in over lunch to boost power levels for the rest of the day.

A little secret is… because the Plantronics SAVI WO 101 can connect to your computer it means that any music you have saved on your PC can also be listened to through the headset.  Having some personal music to listen to quietly and discreetly is a great little bonus for office-bound staff.  As soon as a call comes in and you pick it up, the music stops.  When you hang up on the call, simply touch the computer icon button on the base station and the music starts again.  How cool is that?

As a computer headset the Plantronics SAVI WO 101 connects easily via USB and can be used for everything from IP calls, IP soft phone applications and Skype, to Dragon Naturally Speaking 11 and other voice recognition software.  This is the way technology is moving and headsets like the SAVI range, the Sennheiser DW Office range and the Jabra Pro 9450 are ready for it when you are.   One headset for multiple office needs!

The Not-So-Good

The Plantronics WG101 employs Bluetooth wireless technology, which means range and sound quality are always going to be limited compared to DECT wireless headsets. That being said, the WG101 still performs adequately in these departments, though a model like the GN GO6470 knocks the socks off it and also works with your desk phone too. In our opinion, this makes the GN model a better buy.

The specialisation of the Plantronics WG101 is also its primary weakness, although it fits the mobile/computer niche very well, it cannot be used with your office desk phone – and we’re guessing you have one of those! Again, we recommend you save a few dollars and go with the GN GO6470 or the GN PRO9470 which will give the flexibility to use your headset with all 3 communication sources.

Like the Plantronics CS60 and WO100, the over-the-ear wearing style of the Plantronics WO 101 is one of the least comfortable headsets out there for all-day use.  If over-the-ear is your preferred wearing style, we recommend the far better CS70N or the SAVI WO200.  And if you prefer over-the-head then take a look at the Sennheiser DW Office, Jabra Pro 9450 , SAVI WO300 or DW Pro 1.  The latter 2 in particular were both designed with call centres in mind and can cop a beating and still bounce back.

The Verdict

The Plantronics WO 101 is great for computer and mobile calls, but there really is no need to restrict yourself to a headset that limits you to these 2 sources only. The GN GO 6470 and the GN PRO 9470 are both outstanding headsets and give you the option to use your headset with mobile, computer and desk phone, all for less money. In our opinion, that’s a no brainer!