4-page Case Study - Posted 10/12/2007

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GN Netcom

Integrated Headsets by Global Leader Enhance Mobility, Flexibility, and Productivity

Founded in Denmark in 1869, GN is a leader in headset solutions, producing headset designs and innovations through its Jabra brand. GN worked with Microsoft to develop three headsets specifically designed to enhance the voice over IP (VoIP) capabilities of Microsoft® Office Communicator 2007. The VoIP features give customers the ability to receive, make, and manage voice calls using Office Communicator 2007. These plug-and-play headsets provide wideband audio that is superior in clarity and quality to traditional telephony. They can be used with existing business applications and are available in corded and wireless options. Customers will gain increased mobility, flexibility, and productivity from the hands-free enhanced capabilities offered by the Jabra headsets in combination with Office Communicator 2007.

Situation

What makes the Jabra headsets truly optimized for Office Communicator 2007 is that they conform to Microsoft wideband audio and are plug-and-play. No one has to install software to take advantage of the headsets. Bill Orlansky Director of Marketing GN

Microsoft® Office Communications Server 2007 offers voice capabilities using voice over IP (VoIP). GN had the knowledge to enhance the VoIP experience and wanted to be a part of the customer solution. “If anyone can bring VoIP to the mainstream, Microsoft is going to be the one to do it. We wanted to partner with Microsoft on this technology, no question about that,” says Bill Orlansky, Director of Marketing at GN.

Customers want voice communications solutions that offer mobility, reliability, and confidentiality. They want plug-and-play options for easy installation. They want to hear better during their telephone conversations. And they do not want to spend time loading software onto their computers. In essence, they want the tools to do their jobs better, and they want those tools to work seamlessly.

Solution

GN started working with Microsoft in March 2006 to develop headsets that would be optimized for Office Communicator 2007 and qualified by Microsoft. Office Communicator 2007 makes it possible for users to make, receive, and manage voice calls on their computer. It provides easy access to capabilities such as presence, instant messaging, and one-to-one or multiparty video, audio, and Web conferencing. The Jabra headsets, fully integrated with Office Communicator 2007, are hands-free devices that help people be more productive. They provide high-quality sound and call clarity, and they are durable, easy to set up, and simple to use. Working with Microsoft, GN built three dedicated headsets:

• The wireless headsets allow me to always maintain the call. If I want to print something, use the fax, or get up to shut my office door, I can do it easily. Bill Orlansky Director of Marketing GN

  Jabra GN2000 USB. An ergonomic wired solution for professional use. It features binaural earpieces and an extended boom arm with a microphone to reduce noise interference. And because this is a plug-and-play headset, it requires no additional software.
• Jabra GN9330 USB. A wireless headset that offers true wideband audio. Its 6.8kHz bandwidth is twice the bandwidth of conventional telephony, and it features noise-canceling microphone technology. It also features digital encryption, ensuring that conversations remain private. It has a range of up to 200 feet and six hours of battery charge time. It is also plug-and-play, offering the customer a seamless installation experience.
• Jabra GN9350. A wireless headset that can be used in both a traditional and a PC-based telephone environment. It also offers twice the audio bandwidth of conventional telephony for crystal-clear sound, digital encryption for confidentiality, and a range of up to 300 feet for mobility. The plug-and-play device weighs less than an ounce and has multiconferencing capabilities.

Benefits

The strategic relationship between Microsoft and GN has provided many benefits to VoIP customers requiring a hands-free solution. Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator 2007 offer VoIP in an integrated Windows® environment, providing instant communications and ease of use to customers. GN goes one step further by creating dedicated headsets that offer plug-and-play simplicity, customer mobility, and crystal-clear sound.

One customer said the headset allowed him to stay productive even while away from the office because the noise-canceling features combined with keen audio always allowed him to communicate. Bill Orlansky Director of Marketing GN

Delivers Seamless Integration

All three headsets are designed with firmware allowing Office Communicator 2007 to recognize the headset and vice-versa. Commands are sent back and forth automatically, resulting in a seamless start- up experience. “What makes the Jabra headsets truly optimized for Office Communicator 2007 is that they conform to Microsoft wideband audio specifications and are plug-and-play. No one has to install software to take advantage of the headsets,” says Orlansky.

Provides Increased Mobility

All three Jabra headsets extend the value of Office Communicator 2007 by giving users the ability to be hands-free while using VoIP. The ergonomically comfortable solutions also help increase productivity. The wireless 9300 series headsets extend this productivity further by providing mobility. “The wireless headsets allow me to always maintain the call. If I want to print something, use the fax, or get up to shut my office door, I can do it easily,” says Orlansky.

Users can also answer or mute calls from anywhere. “If you are waiting for a critical customer call and it comes in on your computer while you are away from your desk—say, at the espresso machine-—an internal ring tone in the headset allows you to answer the call, mute it, finish making your coffee, and then continue your conversation as if you were sitting at your desk the entire time,” says Jesper Petersen, Product Administration Specialist at GN. These features are Office Communicator 2007–specific.

Improves Audio Quality

All Jabra headsets conform to Microsoft wideband audio specifications for Office Communicator 2007. Wideband audio provides much richer tones, deeper base, and higher treble to deliver better sound. “One customer said the headset allowed him to stay productive even while away from the office because the noise-canceling features combined with keen audio always allowed him to communicate,” says Orlansky. “Another customer said it was perfect for loud airports. He got a much cleaner sound than he would with a mobile phone, allowing him to run meetings and important client calls effectively,” says Orlansky.

Extends Conferencing Ability

Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator 2007 provide multiparty audio, video, and Web conferencing. The Jabra 9350 wireless headset integrates with this functionality and provides multiconferencing abilities. “Multiple headsets can log into the same base, producing an instantaneous conference from one unit,” says Petersen.

Increases Productivity

The combination of Office Communications Server 2007, Office Communicator 2007, and Jabra headsets has provided an integrated solution to customers. It gives them increased mobility and greater productivity. “I’ve received a lot of customer feedback saying that the headsets consistently provide the best voice-quality experience. This strategic relationship has produced products that truly benefit the end user,” says Orlansky.

For More Information

For more information about Microsoft products and services, call the Microsoft Sales Information Center at (800) 426-9400. In Canada, call the Microsoft Canada Information Centre at (877) 568-2495. Customers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can reach Microsoft text telephone (TTY/TDD) services at (800) 892-5234 in the United States or (905) 568-9641 in Canada. Outside the 50 United States and Canada, please contact your local Microsoft subsidiary. To access information using the World Wide Web, go to:
www.microsoft.com

For more information about GN A/S products and services, call +45 45 75 00 00 or visit the Web site at:
www.gn.com

For more information about Jabra headsets for Microsoft Office Communicator 2007, visit the Web site at:
www.jabra.com/microsoft

Unified Communications

Unified communications bridge the gap between telephony and computing to deliver real-time messaging, voice, and conferencing to the desktop environment. For more information, go to:
www.microsoft.com/uc

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.

Document published October 2007