Freepaq Reviews the Jabra BT800 Bluetooth Headset

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.freepaq.com/bons/affichetest.php?testid=166&langage=us&source=1' target='_blank'>http://www.freepaq.com/bons/affiche...age=us&source=1</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Jabra announced the BT800, a BlueTooth 1.2 headset with built-in vibrator and a 21 x 64 pixel LCD screen. This is a small revolution as, to my knowledge, there is no other BlueTooth headset that has an integrated LCD screen with blue backlighting. The same is true for the vibrator that allows the user to leave his or her GSM in their pocket."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ekkie_jabrabt800.jpg" /><br /><br />I wouldn't normally be too intrigued with a new BT headset, but there are some intriguing features here including the backlit LCD display (supporting Caller ID), the vibrate feature, the ability to cycle through your recently dialed numbers (and redial any of them directly from the headset), and the customization of headset ring tones. To be fair, the SonyEricsson HBH-660 also supported an LCD display which had once considered before settling on my current SE HBH-300. Anyway, check out the review and let us know if you own this model or have tried it.

[Jonathon Watkins]

I've got the Sony 660, but this highly featured Jabra looks just the thing to accompany a nice new HTC Universal. :wink:

[Ketsugi]

This looks excellent... now I have to figure out how to afford it...

[surur]

I bought this stupid device, and it just does not work with my phone (the very nice SE v800 3G phone). Too late I checked the website, which said it was incompatible! Since when were headsets compatible and incompatible!! I gave it to my wife, who put it in her pocket and has not used it since.

Ive checked the website again recently, and they now say its compatible. However they don't say what you have to do to make it work. As far as I know there is no updates available to the firmware so far. Also their support it crap. I sent them an e-mail ages ago, and I did not even get an automated reply.

I'm sorry, but I will have to warn people away from getting this device, until they fix it for everyone.

Surur

[mr_Ray]

Am I missing something obvious re: the LCD display? Surely if it's on the side of your head you can't read it?

If your hands are free enough to pull it out of your pocket, check the number, and put it on your hands are free enough to just use the phone? :?:

[DaleReeck]

I'm sorry, but I will have to warn people away from getting this device, until they fix it for everyone.
Surur

That's a little harsh, don't you think - saying that everyone should stay away from it until they fix it for phones most people will never use? If we did theat with everything, every device would be a niche device since most porducts have a list of things they don't work with.

As long as they publicly list the phones it doesn't work with, I see no problem. Plus, its flashable, so it's possilble to get it working with new phones in the future.

[Jorj Bauer]

Here's a problem. And it seems to be a common failing in bluetooth devices. This bluetooth device supports only one PIN number: 0000. This means that it effectively has no security: anyone with the knowledge to modify a bluetooth stack (which is admittedly a fairly high barrier to entry at the moment) can hijack your phone and/or headset wirelessly.

I just don't get it. Vendors think that Bluetooth itself has "security" because it frequency-hops across 79 channels. This only prevents casual eavesdropping; it doesn't actually offer any security whatsoever.

[DaleReeck]

Am I missing something obvious re: the LCD display? Surely if it's on the side of your head you can't read it?

If your hands are free enough to pull it out of your pocket, check the number, and put it on your hands are free enough to just use the phone? :?:

The idea is, you don't wear this headset 24/7. You keep your phone on your belt, car seat, bag or wharever you normally carry it. The headset is in a shirt pocket or whatever. The headset rings or vibrates, then you look to see who it is, then put it on to answer. Most people may not want it vibrating or ringing in their ear if they wear it all the time - though you can turn those features off. But the idea is, the headset is an extension of their phone, but much lighter and easier to manipulate than a phone IMO. The phone stays away and the headset "becomes the phone" esentially. That's the idea behind it.

Having the headset on, the phone rings, you take the phone out to see who it is, then you put it down and reach for the headset answer button is more cludgy IMO than what I described above. The headset rings, you see who it is, put the headset on and hit the answer button. Again, less cludgy IMO. The only real operation here is putting on the headset, which, for any headset, can sometimes be an adventure. But once you get the hang of it, putting on the headset is a quick one hand, two second operation.

[Bajan Cherry]

I love this! I want to buy this!! Good that I am in India, and it'd be a while before it hits our shores, and even then, it'd be double the price than in North America. So, I won't have to justify my impulse buying :D

[surur]

I'm sorry, but I will have to warn people away from getting this device, until they fix it for everyone.
Surur

That's a little harsh, don't you think - saying that everyone should stay away from it until they fix it for phones most people will never use? If we did theat with everything, every device would be a niche device since most porducts have a list of things they don't work with.

As long as they publicly list the phones it doesn't work with, I see no problem. Plus, its flashable, so it's possilble to get it working with new phones in the future.

You missed the part where they now say it works, but it doesn't, and how they don't provide support. I like the concept of this headset (make your phone the peripheral) which is why I bought it, but the execution leaves much to be desired.

Stories of poor support should give every buyer pause to think. I could be you at the other end of the non-existent support line after you buy it.

Surur

[DaleReeck]

I'm sorry, but I will have to warn people away from getting this device, until they fix it for everyone.
Surur

That's a little harsh, don't you think - saying that everyone should stay away from it until they fix it for phones most people will never use? If we did theat with everything, every device would be a niche device since most porducts have a list of things they don't work with.

As long as they publicly list the phones it doesn't work with, I see no problem. Plus, its flashable, so it's possilble to get it working with new phones in the future.

You missed the part where they now say it works, but it doesn't, and how they don't provide support. I like the concept of this headset (make your phone the peripheral) which is why I bought it, but the execution leaves much to be desired.

Stories of poor support should give every buyer pause to think. I could be you at the other end of the non-existent support line after you buy it.

Surur

He he :D What I said about products not working with each other goes for poor support too. If we dropped every product that had poor support, we'd have no toys to play with :)

[Raphael Salgado]

I got two of these devices and I must say it's a really nice unit. It works perfectly with my MPx220 and my V710, but the response time is too slow for my PDA2k - but, of course, it's the PDA2k that has the Bluetooth issues. Also, the ability to dial out is just awesome, but the PDA2k won't accept the number if you have a power-on password on your PDA2k - the BT800 will send the number into the password applet screen as if I was typing it!

Thanks for all the offers, this has been sold.
I happen to have won one and I'm offering it to anyone who wants to contribute to my daughters' college fund. $85 shipped sounds reasonable? It's brand new in the box, factory sealed.

Email me if interested. raphael143-at-msn.com. Thanks.

[that dan guy]

I am considering getting one of these and was wondering if it worked with the audiovox. I did not see it on the compatible list of phones.

thanks,

Danno

[Phillip Dyson]

A co-worker of mine had one briefly. He was using it with a XDA II and couldn't get the callerid to work.

We both found it to be too heavy for our tastes. He sent it back.

[surur]

http://www.jabra.com/JabraCMS/NA/EN/MainMenu/Products/ProductFinder.htm

Try here. They have revamped their website to make it even harder to find which headset works with which device.

Surur

[Pony99CA]

I gave it to my wife, who put it in her pocket and has not used it since.
If your wife literally hasn't used it, you can send it to me. I'll try it with my Motorola V710 (another user said it worked with the V710 even though the Product Finder you linked to didn't show it as supported). If I like it, I'll send you my Logitech HS02-V07 Mobile Freedom headset (which I like, by the way, even though it kind of looks like male genitalia). Maybe she or you can get some use out of it. :-)

Steve

[Pony99CA]

Here's a problem. And it seems to be a common failing in bluetooth devices. This bluetooth device supports only one PIN number: 0000. This means that it effectively has no security: anyone with the knowledge to modify a bluetooth stack (which is admittedly a fairly high barrier to entry at the moment) can hijack your phone and/or headset wirelessly.
I've wondered about that myself. Why have a pairing code if it's fixed? However, the devices I've used with fixed pairing codes have to actually be placed into pairing mode by the user, which should prevent nearby dirtbags from wirelessly bluejacking you. For example, here is how two of my devices work:

My Motorola V710 requires me to enter pairing mode via a menu and only stays in pairing mode for 60 seconds (so, technically, I suppose somebody could jump in before I entered my code).

My Logitech headset requires me to hold a button down for 10 seconds before it can be paired with another device.

Once devices are paired, I think they use their Bluetooth IDs to recognize each other. The pairing PIN code is only used to confirm a pairing the first time, isn't it?

Are you saying that hackers can get into pairing mode wirelessly somehow? Or are you saying that they can spoof a Bluetooth ID and thereby pair with devices they weren't authorized to? The former seems unlikely and the latter wouldn't need the PIN anyway (if my understanding is correct).

Steve

[surur]

I gave it to my wife, who put it in her pocket and has not used it since.
If your wife literally hasn't used it, you can send it to me. I'll try it with my Motorola V710 (another user said it worked with the V710 even though the Product Finder you linked to didn't show it as supported). If I like it, I'll send you my Logitech HS02-V07 Mobile Freedom headset (which I like, by the way, even though it kind of looks like male genitalia). Maybe she or you can get some use out of it. :-)

Steve

Hey, that thing is gigantic! Does it vibrate too? :devilboy:

http://ak.buy.com/buy_assets/comp/bluetooth/headset.jpg

Anyway, no, she does not use it at all. £70 wasted, but when I upgrade to the MDA IV in a few months it might become useful again. In the mean time I'll just bide my time.

Surur

[mmidgley]

Here's a problem. And it seems to be a common failing in bluetooth devices. This bluetooth device supports only one PIN number: 0000. This means that it effectively has no security....
I just don't get it. Vendors think that Bluetooth itself has "security"...

The fact that the headset is locked to "0000" is a worthwhile simplification (I wouldn't want to use a one or two button interface to enter a four digit number). It is not a security risk because it relies on the phone to not always be set in the mode to accept new BT partners. My Motorola V551 has to be manually set in the "Find Me" mode and automatically ends the mode 30 or 60 seconds later. Problem solved.

m.

[Pony99CA]

Hey, that thing is gigantic! Does it vibrate too? :devilboy:
Actually, that image almost made me decide not to get the headset, but it had good reviews and the price (under $50) was reasonable. When you hold it in your hand, it doesn't look that big (maybe the model was fairly small).

As for vibration, sadly it lacks that feature. :-D

Steve

[Pony99CA]

The fact that the headset is locked to "0000" is a worthwhile simplification (I wouldn't want to use a one or two button interface to enter a four digit number). It is not a security risk because it relies on the phone to not always be set in the mode to accept new BT partners. My Motorola V551 has to be manually set in the "Find Me" mode and automatically ends the mode 30 or 60 seconds later. Problem solved.
No, problem not solved. The issue isn't about pairing with your phone, but with your headset. However, as a previous post of mine said, I suspect that most headsets have to be put into pairing mode (similar to the phone) in order to pair with another device.

Of course, if you can spoof Bluetooth IDs, you still may be able to work around that limitation. Even if PIN codes are used beyond the initial pairing, a known PIN code of 0000 would make it easier to bluejack the headset. (If somebody knows how and when PIN codes are used by the Bluetooth protocol, please let us know.)

As for the issue of entering a PIN code with one or two buttons, I was going to make that point but forgot to, so I'm glad you did.

Steve

[Freepaq]

I have added two more general picture on thhis review to have an idea of the size.....

[ricksfiona]

I'm a little upset that the device is not compatible with the iMate JAM/PDA2k devices... This was going to be my ideal combination.

At least it's compatible with my SE t610. I'll guess I'll have to wait for Jabra to fix this issue...