Palm Wireless Headset Series 3

One of the best selling headsets for the Treo has been the Palm Wireless Headset, so it is not surprising that Palm has introduced a follow-up to that companion product. The Palm Wireless Headset Series 3 is the latest follow-up, offering a few improvements over the previous models.

As with other Palm products, the Palm Wireless Headset Series 3 comes neatly packaged with a host of accessories. The headset features 3 ear gels. Since the headset actually fits in your ear, these replacements would come in handy over time. The gels fit securely over the speaker. On the headset, there is a nifty diagram which points out the correct position of the ear gel depending on your ear preference (L,R). This is actually quite useful making it easy to use. If you find the headset does not have a snug fit, the kit also included an ear loop. During my testing, I found no need to utilize the ear loop. In fact, my previous experience with headsets such as the Jabra JX10, I found the ear gel to be easier to place on my ear when receiving a call. Either way, this set offered both options.

The Palm Wireless Headset Series 3 comes with a charging pocket and adapter. The headset snaps into place in the charging pocket with ease. It can also double as a holder of sorts, as it comes with a clip that you could feasibly attach to your shirt pocket. The adapter snaps to the bottom of the charging pocket and simply allows for connection of a power charger which is not included. Fortunately, the Palm Wireless Headset uses the same charger familiar to Treo and Centro owners. However, this requires a bit of power management skills for the owner. Most typical owners will charge their Treo overnight, so a spare charger is almost a must with this headset. If you are the type that believes the "glass is half full", then this set-up is perhaps nice for business travelers who do not want to carry multiple power adapters. The headset is rated at 5 hours talk-time and 70 hours standby. I did not conduct extensive tests on battery life, but had no major issues with battery drain during my usage.

Palm's wireless headset offers compatibility with the entire line of Palm Treo smartphones and the new Palm Centro. Pairing the device took seconds. Sound quality was great on both ends. Callers remarked that I sounded crystal clear and the volume was more than sufficient. The headset has volume adjustments on what I would call the front of the headset. Since they are beveled, it was easy to discern the buttons. I did find it was a bit difficult to select the buttons, while in my ear. Changing the volume requires you to press the '+' or '-' buttons and you have to push harder than I would have liked. I found the key was holding the headset and then depressing the buttons. The same problem exists for the Call Control button. Again, I would have preferred the buttons to be more touch sensitive or placed on the sides of the headset.

Priced at $69.95, the Palm Wireless Headset Series 3 offers great sound quality and works with the entire family of Palm smartphones including the Treo and Centro. I found it to be extremely lightweight and the included ear gels fit perfectly. The controls can be a bit clumsy to use while in your ear, as the headset requires you to depress harder than I would have liked to answer a call or adjust the volume, pushing the headset into your ear. The headset does not ship with a power adapter, requiring owners to utilize their existing Treo chargers. If you own multiple chargers and/or a car charger for your Treo, this would not be an issue. Business travelers might appreciate not having to lug multiple chargers on trips. The ability to charge via a USB connection would have been a nice addition.