Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT) today announced its new family of .Audio(TM) PC headsets developed for a wide range of uses, including gaming, podcasts, Internet telephony, and multimedia. The .Audio 340, .Audio 510 and .Audio 550 stereo headsets headline the new family of 13 products that all boast great sound quality, as well as new contemporary designs that reinforce Plantronics’ commitment to style (like the Plantronics H51) .

“Podcasters need headsets to deliver top-notch audio response, clarity and volume range, and the new Plantronics headsets certainly fit the bill,” said podcaster Joe Carpenter, also known as the “Guy” from his podcast A Guy, a Girl and a Bottle. “Perhaps the biggest surprise with these headsets was the overall comfort and fit. I typically wear a headset for several hours a day while editing our podcast and am used to headsets that squish, pinch and pull. Not the case here. These new headsets will help me comfortably produce my podcast week after week.”

All of the .Audio headsets share a new design language that offers a refreshing departure from traditional PC headgear. The unique form factor was defined, in part, from extensive ergonomic testing that enabled Plantronics (like the Plantronics H51) to develop comfortable headsets that securely fit a wide range of physical variants.

“The intention was to create a line of headsets that truly become an extension of the user by considering the function of the product and the human anatomy first,” said Darrin Caddes, vice president of Corporate Design for Plantronics, and formerly of BMW and Indian Motorcycle. “This is not unlike designing a car or motorcycle where the product clearly provides a defined function, but must also adapt to physical comfort and aesthetics that people respond to emotionally.”

Plantronics .Audio 340

The Plantronics .Audio(TM) 340 features a pressure-free, behind-the-head headband that rests stylishly above the neckline for a feather-light fit as users explore music, gaming, DVDs and applications in robust stereo sound. Soft, swivel-mounted ear cushions deliver acoustic precision and ensure all-day comfort. Perfect for Internet chat and VoIP communications, the .Audio 340 features a noise-canceling microphone to enhance speech recognition, while the QuickAdjust(TM) telescoping, pivoting boom ensures ideal microphone placement. The .Audio 340 is compatible with all popular Internet chat and Internet telephony services from companies such as AOL, MSN, Skype and Yahoo!, among others. The .Audio 340 has an estimated street price of $24.99.

Plantronics .Audio 510 USB and .Audio 550 DSP

The Plantronics .Audio(TM) 510 USB and .Audio(TM) 550 DSP are ideal for multimedia applications like gaming, music, and movies. They offer a supple, lightweight design and 40mm speakers that convey music and gaming with dynamic base response. The noise-canceling microphone cuts out background distractions and enhances speech recognition accuracy for chatting and recordings, such as podcasts. The .Audio 550 DSP features a digital signal processing chip for optimizing audio levels, and PerSono(R) Audio Control Center Software, which provides music lovers with full control over microphone and audio characteristics like volume, bass and treble for balancing between hip hop, rock and classical. The .Audio 510 USB and .Audio 550 DSP have estimated street prices of $59.99 and $99.99, respectively.

The new .Audio products are reasonably priced, ranging from $14.99 to $99.99, and will be available in April 2006 at http://www.plantronics.com/, as well as in Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, and Fry’s.