One Headset for both Phone and Music?

[maikii]

Since a Pocket PC Phone or Smartphone can play music files, as well as of course used as a phone, is there a headset available that can do both?

For instance, if one is riding a bicycle with headphones on listening to music, and the phone rings, it sure would be more convenient to answer the phone call with the same headphones, than have to stop and switch headphones. (Especialy if the weather is cold, and one is wearing a warm hat that covers the ears, ear muffs, etc! ;-) Take off the hat, take off the music headphones, put on the phone headset. By the time he's ready to take the call, the caller will have hung up.) :lol:

Doesn't seem like it would be hard to make. Of course, they would have to be stereo headphones, in both ears, with good sound for music. But of course a microphone too, for using with the phone. (Probably one wouldn't prefer a boom microphone, if one was using the headphones extensively for music, but just one of the inline microphones in the cord.)

Are there such headsets? Where can one find them?

[Jon Westfall]

Both the headset that came with my T-Mobile Pocket PC and my I-Mate (XDA II) have had this ability. If I'm listening to music and a call comes in, It lowers the volume on the music and rings, when I hit send/end on the headset, it answers that call.

Bluetooth headsets on the XDA II are a different story - phone only, no other volume is transmitted.

Regular "stock" headsets on both machines also work with a 2.5mm -> 3.5mm adapter. Only problem is since the microphone isn't included in the headset, you have to use the builtin mic on the phone, which can cause your friends to not hear you if the phone is buried in your gear.

Jon.

[maikii]

Both the headset that came with my T-Mobile Pocket PC and my I-Mate (XDA II) have had this ability. If I'm listening to music and a call comes in, It lowers the volume on the music and rings, when I hit send/end on the headset, it answers that call.
Jon.

Are there any generic headsets that work like that also? People who buy these phones might want something different than those that come with it--such as a different form factor (earbud vs. over-the-head vs, behind-the-ear vs. earloop, etc. etc.)

In my case I actually don't yet have such a combination device, although I may buy a Smartphone in upcoming months. But I had the problem described in my previous post riding a bicycle with warm headgear on, and having to change headsets while riding, to change between listening to music (on PPC) and speaking on my cell phone (separate devices in my case, currently.)

I thought it would be much easier to keep on one set of earphones, and just change which device they are plugged into, of course needing an adaptor to switch between the 3.5 and 2.5 jacks. You say that for the sound, one could just use such an adapter with any pair of headphones. But then, there is the problem of the lack of a microphone.

So, it occurred to me that they must make such multi-use headphones for multi-devices such as Pocket PC Phones and Palmphones and Smartphones. From your reply, it sounds like they come with those devices, only made for that particular device, and not sold separately? Or---are there such multi-use headsets that can be used with any standard 2.5 phone jack for telephones, and a standard 3.5 jack for music, using an adapter when necessary? One would think that even for these devices, one should be able to choose different headphones than those that came with the device.

Any ideas?

[Jon Westfall]

Both the headset that came with my T-Mobile Pocket PC and my I-Mate (XDA II) have had this ability. If I'm listening to music and a call comes in, It lowers the volume on the music and rings, when I hit send/end on the headset, it answers that call.
Jon.

Are there any generic headsets that work like that also? People who buy these phones might want something different than those that come with it--such as a different form factor (earbud vs. over-the-head vs, behind-the-ear vs. earloop, etc. etc.)

yes, as I posted :D, "stock", "generic" or even higher priced headphones all work, you simply need to buy the 2.5mm adapter for around $4 or so.

[maikii]

yes, as I posted :D, "stock", "generic" or even higher priced headphones all work, you simply need to buy the 2.5mm adapter for around $4 or so.

I mentioned that you posted that. To me, with no microphone, that DOES NOT WORK as a telephone headset. Great, to listen to the other person speaking, if they can't hear you! (No, they will not hear good from the microphone on the phone, as it's not likely to be close to the mouth when one is using a headset.) (Besides, when something is in the headset jack, I think that cuts off the phone's internal microphone anyhow.)

There should be better solutions for this.

There are headsets for PCs that do both--stereo for listening to music on the PC, have a microphone for telephony. The problem with using that with a portable phone though, is that PC headsets have two plugs, one for the PC's microphone jack, the other for the headset jack. That could be used with a portable music player, just use the headset plug (which is 3 1/2, no adapter needed), and leave the microphone jack dangling. But for a phone you would need both the microphone and headset connection, and they have to be integrated into one plug into one jack for both.

[Jon Westfall]

yes, as I posted :D, "stock", "generic" or even higher priced headphones all work, you simply need to buy the 2.5mm adapter for around $4 or so.

I mentioned that you posted that. To me, with no microphone, that DOES NOT WORK as a telephone headset. Great, to listen to the other person speaking, if they can't hear you! (No, they will not hear good from the microphone on the phone, as it's not likely to be close to the mouth when one is using a headset.) (Besides, when something is in the headset jack, I think that cuts off the phone's internal microphone anyhow.)

There should be better solutions for this.

There are headsets for PCs that do both--stereo for listening to music on the PC, have a microphone for telephony. The problem with using that with a portable phone though, is that PC headsets have two plugs, one for the PC's microphone jack, the other for the headset jack. That could be used with a portable music player, just use the headset plug (which is 3 1/2, no adapter needed), and leave the microphone jack dangling. But for a phone you would need both the microphone and headset connection, and they have to be integrated into one plug into one jack for both.

First of all, on both my i-mate and t-mobile pocket pc, plugging in a non-phones handsfree does NOT turn off the microphone. Also, the mics on these devices are very good (I've had it in a breast pocket and people hear me just fine). Just adding in more input.