Ericsson's HBH-10 Bluetooth wireless headset is not cheap, but with reasonable battery life and good sound quality, it is much more convenient than connecting with cables.

The Ericsson HBH-10 headset and DBA-10 phone adapter are among the first products to use Bluetooth local wireless technology. Used together, they form a wireless hands-free headset for use with a range of Ericsson mobile handsets. However, each can also be used with other Bluetooth-enabled devices, so long as they adhere to the latest Bluetooth 1.1 specification. For example, the DBA-10 adapter can be used to link a phone to a Bluetooth-enabled PC or handheld, perhaps to provide Internet connectivity or to synchronise address book information.

Pros and Cons Pros Among the first Bluetooth wireless headsets primarily for use with portable phones, the HBH-10 provides crisp, clear sound and reasonable battery life The DBA-10 adapter can be used to upgrade some Ericsson phones that do not have a Bluetooth interface Easy to setup Wireless connection to a mobile phone is more convenient than a wired headset Good sound quality Cons Extra battery consumption Verdict Among the first Bluetooth wireless headsets primarily for use with portable phones, the HBH-10 provides crisp, clear sound and reasonable battery life. The DBA-10 adapter can be used to upgrade some Ericsson phones that do not have a Bluetooth interface.

Such wireless connections may provide a welcome alternative to tangled cables or awkwardly positioned devices when using an infrared interface. In IT Week Labs we found that the initial set-up was quick and simple, though we did need to refer to the manual when configuring the two devices to work together. Before the headset can be used with a particular phone, a pairing must be set up with the adapter. Having plugged the DBA-10 unit onto the base of a phone, a menu option on the phone is selected and a switch on the headset is pressed. When this is done, the phone automatically transfers sound to and from the headset when necessary. In all, it took about 10 minutes to install and configure our review system.

The headset has one multifunction control switch. Holding the switch down for a few seconds switches the unit on and off. Sliding the switch up and down adjusts the volume, and pressing the switch at other times will either answer an incoming call or accesses the phone's voice dialling function.

While usability was generally good, we found that we were sometimes unable to speak to callers, even though we could hear them on the line. We found that switching the phone off and then on again fixed the problem. We also found that the compatibility between the DBA-10 adapter and an Ericsson phone cannot be taken for granted. While the adapter works with seven of the relatively new Ericsson GSM handsets, it cannot be used with the Ericsson R380 smartphone.

The HBH-10 headset unit is supplied with a cradle for recharging its batteries, plus a travel pouch and clip-on holster for carrying the headset. With moderate use of the phone, we found the headset battery needed recharging every other day. The DBA-10 adapter draws its power from the phone. Software for PCs running Windows is provided to allow the PC to use the phone as a modem, and to synchronise data between the two devices.

Priced at AU$557 for the pair, this is clearly more expensive than a conventional hands-free kit, which typically costs around AU$50. The DBA-10 and HBH-10 can be purchased as seperate units for AU$299 and AU$335 respectively.

We found that the HBH-10's sound quality was fine. Most people who saw the unit said they found the blinking green light mounted near the headset microphone to be an unnecessary trimming.

Ericsson Bluetooth HBH-10 wireless headset & DBA-10 phone adapter
Company:Ericsson Australia
Price:AU$557
Distributor:Ericsson Australia
Phone:1300 650 050

Copyright © 2009 CBS Interactive, a CBS Company. All Rights Reserved.
ZDNET is a registered service mark of CBS Interactive. ZDNET Logo is a service mark of CBS Interactive.