Certified for Teams without a dongle — a first for business headsets
Why do business headsets need dongles?
The simple answer is that headsets certified for business have different standards and requirements than personal headsets. Headsets certified for Microsoft Teams in particular are required by Microsoft to go through rigorous tests to ensure they pass a high standard defined for the business environment and provide a wide range of functionality beyond simply transmitting audio, such as support for mute sync, integrated call controls, and a dedicated Teams button to deliver a full Teams experience.
All the above functionality integrated with calling platforms like Microsoft Teams require a high level of control over the connection between the headset and the computer. That requirement can be met with a wired connection, or a wireless connection over a USB receiver. The receiver allows the headset and computer to communicate a much richer set of information and instructions, enabling all the functionality while ensuring a reliable audio connection in a congested wireless environment. These were just not possible with a receiver-less Bluetooth connection. Unfortunately, most consumer-grade wireless headsets are not designed for business and can’t communicate all this information over Bluetooth.
Yet, for all the advantages a receiver provides, it also includes some downsides. The biggest one is probably that dongles are often lost or left behind, creating unnecessary IT tickets.
Native Bluetooth — The Best of Both Worlds
The objective of native Bluetooth is to deliver all the benefits a USB receiver provides without the receiver or any additional software. Native Bluetooth is one such solution that is fast emerging in the business realm, and Logitech has been working with calling platforms to go through extensive, rigorous testing in order to bring native Bluetooth certification to our wireless business headsets. We also worked with PC chipset vendors to make sure the Bluetooth drivers required for compatibility, reliability, and security are in their newer chips.
Zone Wireless 2 is now certified for Microsoft Teams over native Bluetooth on Windows 11 devices with the new Teams app. This certification gives IT the flexibility they need, and it enables employees to enjoy the full Microsoft Teams experience. Users can now answer or hang up Teams calls, join a meeting, or raise a hand — while enjoying the same reliable, clear audio quality they’re used to.
Going wireless without a dongle means employees never need to worry about losing the receiver. And it should also eliminate help desk tickets due to misplaced dongles. Moreover, doing away with the dongle can free up a precious USB port that employees can use to connect another peripheral. All in all, it’s a win-win for IT and employees.
For latest information on native Bluetooth certification and system requirements, please refer to this article.