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BlueAnt's V1 is the world's first voice-controlled Bluetooth headset, allowing you to control most phone functions from the headset thanks to the integrated BlueGenie Voice Interface. Talk to it and it will reply, ask it for assistance and it will assist you in getting the right function. This amazingly small and lightweight headset eliminates the combinations of button pushes, button holds and flashing lights synonymous with advanced Bluetooth devices. One activation button provides you with total control of the V1's entire function menu system via an easy to use voice interface. 
Control your phone's functions--including answering and making call--with the BlueAnt V1. | No longer will you have to deal with lengthy or confusing button pressing to access functionality on your cell phone. Instead, the V1 can be controlled with simple phrases like "pair headset," "call home," "volume up" and "accept call." And BlueGenie's voice synthesis capability enables the V1 to speak back to you, letting you know device settings including successful pairing of the headset, battery power level, and more. With voice dial and call answering capabilities, drivers can keep their hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road. The V1 also incorporates dual microphones allowing for BlueAnt's patented Voice Isolation Technology, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) software solution that uses advanced techniques to separate the user's voice signal from all other sounds, enhancing and isolating all frequencies that affect voices coming into and out of the headset. This results in outstanding environmental noise reduction, echo cancellation and wind noise protection. The BlueAnt V1 works with Bluetooth version 2.1. Automatic reconnect also finds the last cell phone or device paired, and automatically reconnects. It includes several ear gels for an optimal in-ear fit, as well as an over-the-ear clip for added security. It also offers an innovative tie clip lets you attach the V1 headset to your shirt or cuff when not in use. Features
- Bluetooth 2.1
- Multi-function car and desk charger
- USB Charger
- Up to 6 hrs talk-time or 200 hrs standby
- 2 year replacement warranty
- Weighs under 0.5 ounces
- Measures 1.6 x 0.7 x 0.5 inches
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 Noise & Echo Canceling Really Works!! Dual Mics are Awesome! |
| Review Date: September 20, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Kaio, Santa Monica, CA |
This headset is amazing!! I bought this primarily for the noise and echo canceling feature and I have to say it works like a charm. I checked out other noise & echo canceling headsets like the Motorola H710 but it looks exactly like my H700 which in my opinion has big design flaws. Motorola should've done more to upgrade the headset's look and function. As it is, the 710 is just a boring retread. But what really sold me on the BlueAnt was the dual microphones.
I've done a lot of recording work and know how difficult it can be to eliminate ambient noise, so the concept of dual mics was a revolutionary idea that made total sense to me. Liken it to having two eyes - you can see everything with just one, but when you look with both eyes, there's more depth, clarity and accuracy with what you're seeing. Well, the same is true with hearing with two ears or a headset with two microphones. The two mics are the secret to the superior noise & echo canceling of this headset. But don't take my word for it, listen for yourself online.
I went to the manufacturer's website and watched a video showing a guy using the BlueAnt headset in action in a noisy bar. First they just showed the guy talking normally in the bar and you could hear all the ambient noise around him, and that alone was enough to give me a headache (a big reason why I hate places like that.) Then the guy picks up his cell phone and turns on his BlueAnt and they let you hear actual audio from the headset with just normal noise canceling on, and it cut the ambient noise in the bar drastically! Just on the normal setting! Then the guy turns on max noise canceling and the ambient noise all but disappears!! No kidding!! His voice did sound a bit tinnier as a result of all the filtering, but that's to be expected. You'd never use max canceling in normal situations, just in circumstances where you need to take a call in a noisy location and being heard is paramount. In any case, the video was quite impressive and a brilliant marketing move. So I'm wondering if it's just doctored in some way, but the dual mic concept has me sold and the video has me intrigued enough to try it out. I believe the guy in the video is using a Z9i and supposedly the V1 is even better at noise canceling which is why I chose it. The two headsets are identical other than color and that the V1 also has voice control.
At first, I was wondering if I needed voice control or not. I also wasn't clear if I could still use my phone's built in voice control with the V1, but the answer turns out to be YES, you can. You just give the voice command, phone commands, to access your phone's own voice commands. It's very simple and I like having the option to use either the headset or my phone's voice control. At first I thought it would be an either or, using one or the other. As it turns out, I find myself using both for different situations. And I absolutely love-Love-LOVE that you can ask the headset how much battery life is left! With no accurate visual indicators on most headsets, like the disappearing battery bars on cell phones that at least give you a clue where you're at, I was always trying to estimate how much I'd used my headset so I could figure out if I needed to recharge it or not. It's not good to overcharge things so I was always doing the math in my head. Now, all I have to do is ask, and the little genie in the headset tells me!! That alone is worth having the V1 over the Z9i in my opinion!
So overall, I have to say this is a pretty awesome headset. When I buy something new, I want it to actually be new, as in, the latest technology. I always check the item's description to see when it was first available on Amazon and don't buy when I see a product is a year old or more. Technology is changing everyday, so don't waste your money buying something new that isn't really new since it's been on the market over 12 months. It's already old, useless junk by then. The V1 is newly released so it's the latest technology and as a result, won't be obsolete for a while. This is a great headset and you won't be disappointed!
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Makes my existing headset seem antique
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| Review Date: September 3, 2008 |
| Reviewer: James C., California, USA |
Had about about 5 days now and I can say this is a BIG STEP forward over my previous headsets.
It takes a little getting use to but once you do the voice commands and all the helpful voice prompts make it so much more user friendly and accessible. It walks you through the pairing process by talking to you, then you can just say "Teach Me" a few times and it lets you practice the commands. They start to stick after 3 or 4 times of this. You can always ask it "What Can I Say" if you forget. You can do this all while driving, nothing you have to read and memorize the user guide for. Recognition accuracy seems good if you use the commands it asks you to use. Doesn't seem to work if you say "Battery" instead of "Check Battery"
I got extremely annoyed when trying to make calls with my old headset only to find out it had lost its connection and could not get it reconnected when driving. This thing tells you when its connected, and you just have to ask it "Am I connected" if you are unsure which will cause it to connect if it isn't already. 10x easier than having to stop and fiddle with buttons. Redial, Call Back are particularly useful voice commands as I seem to drop calls frequently and this makes it easy to reconnect quickly. I put my wife cell as "Call Favorite" and home # as "Call Home" so makes this much easier and quicker than using voice dial on phone for those 2 numbers which are half my calls. I haven't bothered to setup all the speed dial voice commands yet as I'm not sure I could remember the numbers. You can start Dial by name on your phone with a certain command, "Phone Commands" I believe.
The audible Caller ID and handsfree voice answer or ignore is pretty cool too. It is Caller ID by number but if its your closest friends or family it will save you from looking at the phone when driving when getting a call.. If you don't recognize the number then you still have to look at your phone display to see whose calling.
Be aware though the voice commands don't do everything. You still have to end calls by double clicking and can't say hangup or end call. I guess it can't try to listen to your commands during a call.
As for call quality, so far no complaints but I mainly use it in a car and can't speak to how it performs in crowd noise or a restaurant..
They give you foam tips and rubber tips. The foam tips blocked out a little too much ambient noise for me so use the old standard rubber ones. |
BlueAnt V1 - AWESOME!!!!
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| Review Date: September 8, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Christine, Ames Iowa |
My husband wanted me to start using one of those little headsets while driving so I wouldn't wreck the car while talking on the phone. I was reluctant so he went and bought me the little headset from BlueAnt that has the speech recognition.
I was surprised that I didn't have to train it and more surprised at how well it worked!! I have tried to use speech recognition on my RAZR and it required training and then didn't work more then half the time, but this WORKS!!!! Being able to just "call home", "callback" and "redial" were a huge help in the car. It really is a little genie in my ear :)
Using the speech recognition for pairing to my RAZR was also really smooth - I just had to tell it that I wanted to pair and it literally told me how to do it and what to do. I tried using my husband's headset but could never figure out how to get it to work with my phone so I just didn't use it, but BlueAnt has really solved that with this one! Oh and for the guy that couldn't get the caller ID thing to work, I was told that by putting the RAZR in vibrate mode, the Caller ID does in fact come across to and is spoken by the headset before it prompts you for voice answer. Sure enough this did the trick and it works great.
Finally, a headset that works for me!!
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my new Borg accessory of choice
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| Review Date: September 6, 2008 |
| Reviewer: mousekiller, Boulder, CO |
My old bluetooth headset was disintegrating, and just in the nick of time, I received this one as a gift. You charge it up, turn it on, and it walks you through the pairing and usage. The speech recognition was reliable, and -- other than feeling like an idiot talking to my headset -- makes interaction with the device easy. As a bluetooth headset, the sound quality is great in both directions. In fact, it's the first headset I've own whose volume can be turned up too loud.
The headset promises voice interactions to avoid having to interpret blinking, colored lights and to avoid having to press complicated sequences of buttons, but for some reason, the headset still has all of these impossible-to-remember codes. Fortunately, you don't need to remember them for the most part thanks to the speech interaction.
My one gripe is that I don't automatically route calls to the headset. If I want to pick up the call on the headset, the V1 requires that you press two buttons on the headset simultaneously. This is just about impossible to do without taking your hands off the wheel. I guess it's time to rethink auto-route. |
Great for the new user
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| Review Date: September 9, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Tom Bombadil, |
What a difference voice control makes on a headset! I'm a novice user and pairing with my cell phone was a snap with the voice prompt guidance. It's great to be able to make calls to my most frequent numbers by just saying "call home", "call favorite", "call office".
Being able to ask the headset for connection status and battery level gives me a sense of security that I'm not talking to a dead headset. The V1's styling and comfort are top notch and the audio is clear.
BlueGenie voice control takes all the mystery out of using the BlueAnt headset. I'm an instant fan ! |
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