Office workers who need to take notes, use their computers or perform other tasks while talking on the telephone often place the phone receiver between the ear and the shoulder. A new, low-cost line of telephone headsets -- called Practica -- can help avoid this uncomfortable and inefficient position.

Workers who use telephone headsets instead of hand-held receivers can increase their productivity as much as 43 percent while reducing stress in the neck, upper back and shoulder muscles by as much as 41 percent, according to research conducted for the manufacturer.
The new light-weight headsets allow people to take notes, enter data into computers or do other work with both hands while talking on the phone.
"The comfort and efficiency advantages of headsets have been known for years in large call centers," said Ken Kannappan, president of Plantronics, Inc., U.S.-based manufacturer of the headsets. "Now we are making them available at prices that are more accessible to people in smaller offices."

The Practica line includes:
· a headset (Model A100) that is compatible with virtually all single- and multi-line telephones, equipped with a selector to switch calls from handset to headset as well as a volume control and mute button; and
· a combined headset-telephone unit (Model T100) with a complete single line phone that plugs into any standard modular outlet. It has a 12-button keypad as well as flash, redial and hold buttons, volume control and a tone/pulse switch.
Plantronics, Inc., is one of the world's leading designers, manufacturers and marketers of lightweight communications headsets. Originally designed for airplane crew members, the company's headsets are now primarily used in call centers (both "help desk" and telemarketing), offices, mobile communications and radio and TV broadcasting. Newer applications include home offices and multimedia computer users.
Practica is a trademark of Plantronics, Inc.

Caption:
Low-cost headsets increase productivity and decrease muscle tension for office workers.

Upcoming Latin American trade show exhibits of Plantronics products include:

ExpoComm Mexico, Mexico City, February 9-12, 1999
ExpoComm Norte, Monterrey, Mexico, October 27-29, 1999
Telemarketing Direct, Buenos Aires, Argentina July 1999
Expo Comm Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina Sept 29-Nov 1, 1999
Telexpo, Bogota, Colombia, October 6-13, 1999
Softel, Santiago, Chile, July 1999

Editorial Contact(for all versions):
H. Craig May, Senior Vice President, Marketing
Plantronics, Inc.
P. O. Box 635
Santa Cruz, CA 95061-0635 USA
Tel: +408-458-4441, Fax: +408-425-8053
craig.may@plantronics.com, http://www.plantronics.com
For additional product or sales information, contact:

LATIN AMERICA
Jose Gonzalez
Plantronics, Inc.
345 Encinal Street
P.O. Box 635
Santa Cruz, CA 95061-0635
Tel: +1 831 458 4471
Fax: +1 831 425 8053
jose.gonzalez@plantronics.com

OR

Dennis Marques
Plantronics International do Brasil
R. Jesuino Arruda, 676 - Room 154
Sao Paulo - SP
Brazil 04532-082
Tel: +55 11 282 8759
Fax: +55 11 3064 5309
dennis.marques@plantronics.com

JAPAN
Mitsuo Nakayama
Plantronics K.K.
1-22-7 Naka-cho, Musashino-shi
Tokyo 180, Japan
Tel: +81 422 55 0805
Fax: +81 422 55 0806
mitsuo.nakayama@plantronics.com

HONG KONG
Patrick Au
Plantronics Hong Kong
Ste. 1111, Tower 11
Silvercord Bldg.
30 Canton Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2375 8480
Fax: +852 2377 0573
patrick.au@plantronics.com

SINGAPORE
Tze Han Tan
Plantronics Singapore
391A Orchard Road
#12-01 Ngee Ann City
Tower A
Singapore 238873
Tel: +65 838 5239
Fax: +65 235 1447
tzehan.tan@plantronics.com

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