Bluespoon has one of the coolest looking little Bluetooth headsets on the market. When I was at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January I noticed that there had to be hundreds of booths dedicated to Bluetooth devices. If you go into your local Best Buy or Staples, you might run across a half dozen or so Bluetooth headsets but I assure you, there are many more than you might imagine. The Bluespoon AX headset is worth a look.
Bluespoon claims to have made a headset that is the smallest available in the world. While I didn't do sufficient research to be able to confirm their claim, it is pretty darn small and their claim is certainly believable. At $99 retail, it isn't the cheapest unit on the market but the functionality is on par with more expensive (and cheaper) units so you're paying for size.
Let me start by saying that I believe the choice of Bluetooth headsets is a personal decision and you should never buy a headset that can't be returned if you discover something about it you don't particularly like. Fit and signal quality with your particular phone can only be determined by trying it out. Also, I need to mention that I used a Treo 650 for testing purposes and the reception with your particular model of Bluetooth equipped phone might be better or worse than mine.
There are several innovative things about this headset that deserve mention. First, there is no wall wart charger. They have a mini USB port on the device and Bluespoon supplies a mini-USB to standard USB cable for charging purposes. This clever, simple solution works for everybody with access to a USB port and that's just about anyone.
Another clever innovation is Bluespoon's method of attaching their unit to your ear. No part of this earpiece hangs over or clips onto the outer part of your ear. Their lightweight little headset fits in your ear and a 1.5" slender, flexible rubber stalk gets wound into the inner folds of your ear to help hold it in place. The rubber stalk can be trimmed with scissors to a proper length for your personal taste and it takes a little getting used to. You have to practice inserting the device in your ear and practice tucking the rubber stalk into the outer folds of your ear and ironically I found it more difficult to do while looking in a mirror. These days I put it in without looking and just double-check in the mirror that I've successfully tucked the whole length of the stalk in place.
Bluespoon gives you two different rubber ear inserts, so you'll need to trim each to your comfort and then see which amount of ear canal penetration is most comfortable to you.
Setup of the device is simple and practically the same as any other Bluetooth headset from most any manufacturer. You charge it all the way, press the appropriate buttons to get it in discoverable mode, find it with your phone and pair the devices, and you're on your way.
I found the battery life to be quite good (though I didn't push the limits because I just don't have that many friends to talk to). The controls are all easily usable while the headset is in place and the volume and voice quality as well as signal strength are all quite good. One button answer and quick connection speed were also on par with today's generation of headsets. Compared to several other popular Bluetooth headsets, the Bluespoon AX performs admirably.
The really cool thing, and the major selling feature, is its noticeably tiny size. I used to get comments about any Bluetooth headset but the public is becoming accustomed to them so comments are fewer and farther between these days. While wearing the Bluespoon AX for a few days, the comments picked back up again and were practically all from Bluetooth aware people who were impressed by its small size.
As for in-the-ear-canal style headsets, they all have similar pros and cons. The more your headset is seated in the ear canal, the more it blocks outside sounds. Good for cell conversation, but this makes in-person conversation and the enjoyment of stereo music a bit challenging at times. And if you're in the habit of wearing a Bluetooth headset all day, or for extended periods, even the most comfortable in-the-ear-canal mounted units can be irritating after a few hours.
I have used all kinds of headsets that don't go into your ear canal, such as the over-the-ear hook with a little dip into the outer ear but no in-the-ear-canal rubber. (Bluespoon AX is strictly in the ear canal and doesn't offer this mounting option.) The problem with an over the ear hook is that sunglasses are a pain because the arm of the sunglasses battles with the over-ear hook, and because they don't seal out external noise, they aren't as good in noisy or windy environments like a convertible at highway speed. The good thing about this style is that you can wear them all day and forget they're even there because they don't block as much environmental noise and there's no ear-canal irritation.
There's good and bad with any Bluetooth headset and the Bluespoon AX has a bunch of cool features. If you want to forget you're wearing a headset during the day and you want better environmental hearing, find a headset that doesn't go into the ear canal. However, if you don't wear your headset all day and if you want a super small, in-the-ear-canal Bluetooth headset that works well and has plenty of "wow-factor,' you have to check out the Bluespoon AX.