UPDATE (22/02/2009 9:34AM CET): I’ve also very thoroughly tested the headphones under the current (build 7000) of Windows 7, using the default Bluetooth support (all this done on an IBM Thinkpad T42p with the factory Bluetooth module and automatically installed BT driver).
I’ve encountered no problems with AVRCP-capable programs (the built-in WMP and, after enabling AVRCP by checking in the
Options / Preferences / Global Hotkeys / Enable default multimedia key support checkbox – note that, as of the current version of Videolan VLC doesn’t support AVRCP): everything worked. This is a great step from the Pulsar 590, which has the same problem with Windows 7 as with Symbian: resuming from the paused state simply doesn’t work. A big thumbs up to Plantronics for this – now, I can make use of my N95 (by far the best all-in-one multimedia handset right now in my opinion). (Note that, while the Voyager 855, Plantronics’ last-year model, is still incompatible with Symbian, it has no problems with resuming under Windows 7 – unlike its predecessor, the Pulsar 590.)
Two screenshots follow; the first shows the automatic driver installation for the BackBeat and the 590; the second shows the automatic, additional handsfree driver install after a reboot. Note that, after this, the Voyager 855’s drivers have also been automatically installed.
Finally, don’t forget I’ll still post a lot on these headphones after doing some thorough singal interference durability, battery life and handsfree usage tests.