Consumers Desire Bluetooth Headsets with More Stylish and Innovative Design

The Bluetooth headset market is one of the most severely affected industries amid the economic recession. In the face of declining consumer demand, headset manufacturers are working on more innovative designs to make the products a hit again.

As pointed out by market analyst firm IMS Research, although the industry got off a flying start by shipping over 40 million units within the first four years, there has been a slump of around 20 to 30 percent in the number of Bluetooth headsets sold over the past year.

The most apparent cause of the trend was the global economic downturn, which also gave severe blow to other consumer electronic markets. However, the Bluetooth headset sector suffered more significantly than others, suggesting that the slide might also be related to the headsets themselves. This is supported by a report from another research company, Strategic Analytics. Americans are becoming less happy with Bluetooth headset designs – satisfaction has dropped 27 percentage points since 2008.

Still, IMS Research notes that consumers are relatively impressed with the concept of Bluetooth technology and new compelling features that are available on headsets, such as voice recognition and solar powered headsets. This presents handset manufacturers the opportunity to develop Bluetooth headsets in a way that can make them more appealing to consumers.

In related news, a new Strategy Analytic survey reveals that when purchasing a Bluetooth headset, US and UK buyers put comfort, sound quality and ease of use over other considerations. Users of Samsung Bluetooth headsets, in particular, indicate the highest levels of satisfaction for these aspects. On the other hand, respondents show a higher preference for mono headsets with a loop and in-ear style, like the Jawbone 2 and Plantronics Explorer 210.

For the coming two years, IMS Research says the headset industry may not recover as quickly as other markets. If Bluetooth handset manufacturers want to have a turnaround, they really have to put much effort on new ideas and breakthroughs to satisfy the demanding consumers.

Tags: Motorola Bluetooth Headsets, Jawbone Bluetooth Headsets, Plantronics Bluetooth Headsets, Jabra Bluetooth Headsets, Samsung Bluetooth Headsets, LG Bluetooth Headsets