Plantronics Introduces the Blacktop 500 Commercial Driver Headset

A lightweight and flexible Bluetooth headset designed for the long haul

SANTA CRUZ, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Commercial drivers navigate a myriad of obstacles while on the road but safely taking and placing phone calls should not be one of them. Plantronics (NYSE: PLT) has introduced a headset specifically designed to keep commercial drivers’ eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. The new Blacktop™ 500 Bluetooth® headset cancels road noise, stays comfortable all day, and lets drivers easily manage calls while complying with the federal law that bans handheld cellular phone use by commercial vehicle drivers.

“The Blacktop 500 pulls out all the stops when it comes to comfort, sound quality, noise cancellation and hands-free convenience, so that these driving pros can get the job done without missing a step.”

The Blacktop 500, the in-vehicle version of the award-winning Blackwire® 710 headset, is designed specifically for commercial drivers and truckers. To make an office headset work well in a semi-truck, Plantronics engineered the Blacktop 500 to cancel out road and engine noises that truckers incur on the road and added a convenient in-vehicle charging system. The Blacktop 500 features Plantronics’ Smart Sensor™ technology which detects when the headset is being worn and automatically routes the audio – both calls and media like iTunes and Pandora – from the mobile phone to the headset whenever it’s put on. An in-vehicle charging system delivers unlimited talk time while driving and the USB connection can also be used for Internet chat or movies while taking a break from being behind the wheel.

“Professional drivers, such as cabbies, delivery people and long-haul truckers, have to deal with incredibly challenging communications issues while on the road,” said Lori Langona, director of consumer marketing at Plantronics. “The Blacktop 500 pulls out all the stops when it comes to comfort, sound quality, noise cancellation and hands-free convenience, so that these driving pros can get the job done without missing a step.”

The Blacktop 500 features:

• Wind and noise cancelling microphone that cancels road noise
• Internal Smart Sensor technology for automatic call answer
• Easy Bluetooth controls for mute, power, call answer/end, and volume
• Flexible, adjustable and reinforced headband with a cushioned earpiece for all day comfort
• In-vehicle power charger
• Bluetooth v3.0 + A2DP for audio streaming
• Multipoint to connect to two Bluetooth devices
• Up to 10 hours of talk time and up to 10 days of standby time
• Headset battery meter for iOS devices

Pricing and Availability

The Blacktop 500 is available now for $129.99 MSRP at Plantronics.com, Amazon.com, BestBuy.com and select BestBuy stores, and RadioShack.com.

About Plantronics - Simply Smarter Communications™

Plantronics is a global leader in audio communications for businesses and consumers. We have pioneered new trends in audio technology for 50 years, creating innovative products that allow people to simply communicate. From unified communication solutions to Bluetooth® headsets, we deliver uncompromising quality, an ideal experience, and extraordinary service. Plantronics is used by every company in the Fortune 100, as well as 911 dispatch, air traffic control and the New York Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit www.plantronics.com or call [phone].

Plantronics, Blacktop, Blackwire, Simply Smarter Communications and Smart Sensor are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc. The Bluetooth trademark is owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of the mark by Plantronics, Inc. is under license. All other trademarks are the property of the respective owners.