HEADSETS have traditionally been used by telemarketers and online gamers.
But more companies here, like home-grown technology start-up Light10 Industries, are starting to use headsets in the office instead of just relying on desk phones.
The reason? The headsets increase productivity by helping employees be more efficient because the devices free their hands from holding on to the phones.
Global headset companies told my paper that they expect more corporations in Singapore to use headsets in the future.
Danish firm GN Netcom, which markets the Jabra brand of headsets, said its base of corporate customers here has more than doubled in the first quarter of this year, compared to the same period last year. It expects the number to continue rising.
American company Plantronics said that compared to five years ago, there are now more firms in Singapore, especially multinational companies, that buy headsets for corporate use.
Ms Susan Hansen, its vice-president of Asia-Pacific sales and marketing, said the headsets can help employees to multitask and improve productivity.
Mr Ralph Ede, GN Netcom's regional managing director for South Asia, added that using headsets prevents body aches arising from cradling a phone receiver between the head and the shoulder.
Headsets can also help a company to reduce travelling costs incurred for meetings and business.
'This is possible as headsets facilitate and improve the conferencing experience through the phone and the Internet,' he said.
As for Light10, headsets have become indispensable since it started work on projects two months ago requiring daily Internet teleconferences.
The firm's chief executive, Mr Jerry Tan, said the six-man operations team needed to refer to meeting documents, take notes, send e-mail and still be on their conference calls to get the work done.
'To help them do this more effectively, it was vital to free their hands by equipping them with headsets,' he said.
A global study by consulting firm Frost and Sullivan, published last October, said office headset sales worldwide would grow from 2011 to 2014.
It said Singapore is one of the countries to lead growth in the Asia-Pacific region, thanks to factors like the widespread use of Internet telephone-based systems.
