Question: what is a Bluetooth enabled smart-phone without a great Bluetooth headset to accompany it? Incomplete, I’d say, and lonely. After receiving my new Bluetooth enabled
BlackBerry 7150e I went searching for the perfect Bluetooth headset to complement it. The woman who orders such things for our department suggested the
Motorola HS850, and I readily agreed.
HS850 Headset
In The Box
• HS850 Headset
• AC Adapter
• Manual
• Warranty Information Card
The
Motorola HS850 is one of the new generations of Bluetooth headsets that support the Bluetooth v1.2 spec, whereas most headsets support v1.1 only. Motorola claims that when used with a v1.2 compatible phone, the
HS850 will be able to connect faster, use less battery power, and offer improved audio quality.
The black and oblong
HS820 is a handsome bit of craftsmanship. The small microphone/headset weighs less then 2 oz’s, and is so light I often forget it is attached to my ear even after hours of wearing it. The form-fitting ear-clip is fashioned with a soft rubber coating that makes it easy to slip the
HS850 over either ear even with glasses on. In the middle of the headset body is a single multi-function button that not only turns the unit on, but also serves to connect the
HS850 to the phone via Bluetooth. The button also can initiate and end phone calls. Surrounding this button is a large blue LED emblazoned with the famous
Motorola wings. The LED glow solid when the headset is in active use, and it blinks slowly when in standby.
The top and bottom of the unit house volume control buttons, while the front of the unit is fitted with a folding microphone that shuts the headset off when folded against the body. Unfolding the microphone arm turns the unit on. In the back of the
HS850 is where one plugs in the charger. It just so happens that the
Motorola V551 phone, which I also own, and the
HS850 share the same charger. Can you say instant spare?
Sound Quality
The sound quality of the
HS850 headset is stellar. I have not had those problems hearing the other party and I can hear just fine even at highway speeds in excess of 70 miles an hour. This despite the fact that my
Ford Freestyle is not the quietest beast speeds in excess of 65 miles per hour.
Since the
HS850 does have a boom microphone I was quite confident that I could make myself heard without shouting into the microphone; I was right. Overall, I have not had any complaints from the people I call. I make sure I speak in a nice auditable tone and I have been told that it as if I were speaking directly into the phone.
Charge & Talk Times
Out of the box
Motorola highly recommends you charge the
HS850 for two hours before first use. Afterwards you can use the unit to it full capacity.
Motorola claims up to 200 hours of standby time, and up to (8) hours of talk time; that is full two-thirds improvement over older models such as the
HS810. I am not a heavy phone user, however so I don’t even come close using up the charge. I only chare the headset every other day, or when I think it will need it. The blue LED will light when the
HS850 is charging and it will automatically stop charging when the battery is full. This helps prevent damage to the aforementioned battery.
Pairing
Pairing, the process of getting the headset to “speak” to a desired phone, is a bit tricky given the usual design, but it is documented in the quick reference guide. The procedure calls for pressing and holding the call button while the microphone is folded closed, and hence shut off. Once the unit is turned on one is call upon to quickly unfold the microphone boon; this puts the phone in discoverable mode. Communications pairing then proceeds normally; the
Motorola HS850 capable of pairing with up to eight compatible devices at once. Although the
HS850 is Bluetooth 1.2 compliant, it is Bluetooth v1.1 compatible as well.
Operation
The
HS850 is remarkably easy to use. Just unfold the microphone to turn the unit on and it automatically connects the headset to the phone; once it has been paired of course. The blue LED will blink slowly and then the Bluetooth symbol will show up on the phone. In my case the Bluetooth symbol is always present once enabled on the
BlackBerry 7150e; when the
HS850 is connected to it a small arrow points at the Bluetooth symbol on the color screen. Thereafter, I am connected; if you lose the connection because (out of range), the phone and the
HS850 will automatically resynchronize, once I come back in range.
Place the headset on your ear; set it and forget it. To place a call, press the multifunction button and say the name of the person you are calling if you are using voice activated calling. Alternatively, you can direct dial the number. If a call comes in, the headset will sound a tone; press the multifunction button to answer the call; press it again to end the call.
Conclusion
Small, extremely lightweight, attractive, and functional, the
HS850 fits my modest needs, and does it in style. The folding microphone design cleverly combines compactness with functionality for a novel, well-engineered and well-implemented package. I am now a part of the hip class of mobile phone users with a small blue LED blinking on my ear. The
HS850 is the perfect combination of technology, practicality, and simplicity; who could ask for anything more?
