How do I use a standard bluetooth headset with RC For Windows Softphone?

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edward-zohn asked Apr 25, '15 mark1222 commented Jun 17, '15

How do I use a standard bluetooth headset with RC For Windows Softphone?

I want to start using the softphone feature on RingCentral for Windows. I have a standard mobile phone Bluetooth headset - a Plantronics Explorer 395. What type of USB Bluetooth adapter do I need to pair with the headset for softphone use?

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Answer 1 · 2015-04-27T16:00:42Z

mike answered Apr 27, '15

H Edward, It appears that device is designed to work with cell phones, so I'm not sure if they make a USB adapter for PC use. You may want to contact the manufacturer to see if they make such a device. We do have a short list of recommended devices here: Recommended headsets and speakers

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Answer 2 · 2015-04-28T15:25:50Z

mark1222 answered Apr 28, '15

If you have a Mac or laptop, it has bluetooth capability. However,I did speak with Plantronics & Jabra & they both told me that the computer based bluetooth is not that great in terms of sound quality. They both offer a "UC" version of bluetooth headsets that is essentially a USB plugin to receive the bluetooth better. Alas, Ring Central does not support this technology.

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Answer 3 · 2015-04-28T15:38:21Z

edward-zohn answered Apr 28, '15 mark1222 commented May 16, '18

Thanks much for your replies.
So what's my best bet for using the softphone app with Windows - a USB handset such as a Plantronics Calisto 240: https://www.plantronics.com/us/product/calisto-240, or something else? Would any handset advertised as Skype-friendly work?
I really don't want to use a USB-connected gaming-type full headset in my home office, especially when my use of the softphone will be intermittent.
Thanks again.

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mark1222 commented · Jun 17, 2015 at 02:52 PM

Yes, but the advanced features are not available.

Remote answering being the primary feature not available. You must be in front of your computer and click answer on the soft phone in order to receive a call. I roam around the office a lot & like to be able to hear when a call comes in, receive a voice caller ID & then answer it remotely by pushing a headset button. The RingCentral soft phone does not utilize that capability commonly available on new state of the art headsets.

I have gone back to my old Linksys phone with a 10 year old Plantronics CS70NC headset & Lifter. A real workhorse, but not state of the art.

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mark1222 commented · Jun 08, 2015 at 01:41 PM

Ring Central needs to add some lines of code from Jabra & Plantronics to give headset control of the soft phone. There are many, many VOIP vendors that do provide this capability. Just not Ring Central. I am weighing the headache of changing vendors to get this capability.

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edward-zohn commented · Jun 08, 2015 at 02:08 PM

Mark,
Seems to me, as long as the computer recognizes my Plantronics 395 with a BT adapter, the RingCentral softphone app should be able to use it. After first posted, I bought a Kinivo BTD-400 BlueTooth USB adapter. With this, my Plantronics 395 hears all sounds which would have been directed to the speakers or wired headphones. I think the microphone part of the Plantronics 395 works on Windows as well. Shouldn't this be enough for the softphone app?

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