Headsets may come in handy for drivers

Kazi Pervez, a manager at Best Buy South Bay in Dorchester, suggests that consumers look for cellphone headsets with noise-cancellation capability, which blocks out background sound. (DOMINIC CHAVEZ/GLOBE STAFF)

Nicholas Chernoff spends half the day with a Bluetooth-enabled headset firmly attached to his ear. Chernoff is a busy Boston district manager for RadioShack Corp. who oversees 47 stores.

His Bluetooth headset, which wirelessly connects an earpiece with a cellphone for hands-free conversation, allows him to talk to colleagues a lot easier when he's on the go. And since Chernoff still gets calls about business long after he's gone home for the day, his Motorola H850 enables him to speak comfortably while cradling his 5-month-old daughter, Maddison.

A lot more Massachusetts drivers may need a Bluetooth-enabled headset soon if the Bay State becomes the sixth state to mandate the use of hands-free technology when making calls while driving.

"We're all getting ready for that," Chernoff said.

Bluetooth wireless technology has been around for a decade and there have been more than 1.5 billion Bluetooth devices shipped, according to Cari Vincent, a spokesperson for Bluetooth technology. The technology can be used in mobile phones, cars, MP3 players, and cameras.

There's a wide variety of headsets - Chernoff says his stores carry about 15 different varieties - so there's literally something for everyone. He sells products that range from $39.99 to $129.99. They vary in size, shape, comfort level, sound quality, and battery life. Some are, in fact, blue. Others allow you to flip in the microphone, which makes it half the size and turns it off. In addition, your Bluetooth-enabled headset does not need to be the same brand as your cellphone.

Comfort is key. Some headsets fit inside the ear, but those who would find that annoying should consider ones that wrap around or attach to the top of the ear. Chernoff suggests that eyeglass wearers consider the Motorola H375, which has a thin wire that wraps around the ear.

The better headsets, of course, tend to have a longer battery life. Kazi Pervez, mobile manager at the Best Buy South Bay store in Dorchester, said he sells $12.99 headsets that use AAA-batteries. But most of the headsets come with a chargeable battery that allow you to talk for up to six hours without having to recharge. Recharging is typically a two-hour exercise. You might be able to use your car charger for your wireless headset as well.

Headset shoppers should also look for devices with a great noise-cancellation capability. Pervez recommends the Jawbone for $129.99 "because its noise-cancellation technology is far superior to any others," he said.

Pervez uses his headset - Motorola's H700 model - for his 75-minute commute and relishes the ability to block out traffic noise when he's chatting with friends and family. If your cellphone has voice-activated dialing, then you can use this function with your headset as well. Most of the newer cellphone models have voice-activation capabilities, Pervez said.

Both Chernoff and Pervez warn headsets users against wandering too far away from their cellphones. "The closer it is, the better the sound," added Chernoff, who recommends using your headset within a maximum of 15 to 20 feet of your cellphone.