In short: BT Cloud Voice headsets can be bought when you order the service and plug into a desk phone or a computer. Choose wired or wireless, mono or stereo, and noise cancelling for busy rooms. Desk phone headsets suit receptionists and call centre agents, while computer headsets suit people who use the BT Cloud Voice app.
Headsets for BT Cloud Voice
BT sells headsets alongside BT Cloud Voice, so you can order them with your phones and licences. They connect in one of two ways:
- To a desk phone, through the phone's headset port or a wireless link, so the user still controls calls from the handset
- To a computer, usually through USB, for people who make and take calls in the BT Cloud Voice app on Windows or macOS
We confirm which headsets work with which desk phones in BT's current range when you order, because connection types vary between phones.
Choosing a headset
Headsets differ in a few important ways:
| Choice | Options | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | Wired or wireless | Wired for fixed desks and low cost; wireless for people who stand up, walk to a printer or move around |
| Ears | Mono (one ear) or stereo (both ears) | Mono for receptionists who need to hear the room; stereo for agents and quieter focus on the caller |
| Microphone | Standard or noise cancelling | Noise cancelling for open-plan offices, contact centres and busy front desks |
| Wearing style | Over the head, behind the neck or in the ear | Personal comfort, particularly for all-day use |
| Device | Desk phone, computer or both | People who switch between a desk phone and the app |
Start with the role. A receptionist who greets visitors usually wants a mono headset so they can hear the room. A call centre agent is better with stereo and noise cancelling. A hybrid worker might want one headset that works with both the app on the laptop and a phone in the office.
Headsets with the BT Cloud Voice app
Users on the Connect and Collaborate feature packs get the BT Cloud Voice desktop and mobile apps, which use your business number for calls, messaging and meetings. On a computer, the app uses the headset as its microphone and speaker.
A few tips:
- Set the headset as the default audio device in the app and the computer's sound settings
- Where call quality matters most, a wired headset or one with its own wireless adapter is often more dependable than a laptop's built-in Bluetooth
- Keep the computer's network connection stable: a wired connection or a strong Wi-Fi signal makes a bigger difference to call quality than the headset. See call quality: causes and fixes
If your team works in Microsoft Teams, the BT Cloud Voice Microsoft Teams integration gives click to call through BT Cloud Voice from inside Teams.
Headsets for call centres and reception
In a contact centre, a headset is a working tool. Agents logged in to a call queue with Call Centre ACD can take call after call without lifting a handset, and noise cancelling microphones stop the next desk being heard by your callers.
For receptionists using the Receptionist console, a headset leaves both hands free to find a colleague and transfer the call with a click. Wireless headsets let them step away from the desk to greet a visitor without dropping the caller.
If you record calls for training, as with BT Cloud Voice call recording, a good headset microphone makes recordings clearer for everyone who reviews them.
Comfort, hygiene and care
Headsets are worn for hours, so comfort matters:
- Give each person their own headset, or replaceable ear cushions for shared desks
- Allow for charging time for wireless headsets, with a cradle or stand at each desk
- Choose lightweight styles for all-day wear
- Check the microphone position: close to the mouth but not touching it
Headsets and hot desking
Where people share desks, hot desking lets each user log in to any phone on the system and bring their own profile with them. BT includes hot desking host in the Basic feature pack, and hot desking is an add-on for Connect and Collaborate users who move between desks. Pair it with a personal headset that each person carries between desks, rather than a headset fixed to each phone: it is more hygienic, and people keep the fit and settings they prefer. A computer headset that also works with the desk phones in your range covers both the office and home.
How Forever Communications Limited helps
We recommend a headset for each role, check it suits the phone or computer it will be used with, and order it with your BT Cloud Voice service so everything arrives together.
Contact us with the roles that need headsets and ask us for a quote.
Why buy BT Cloud Voice from Forever Communications Limited
Forever Communications Limited is part of Forever Group and a BT Business Partner. We supply, set up and support BT Cloud Voice for UK businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations, from a handful of users to multi-site teams.
- A named partner who plans your numbers, call flows, user feature packs and handsets with you
- Number porting managed for you, timed to avoid downtime
- Connectivity checked first, so call quality is right from day one, with BT business broadband and BTnet available if you need it
- Help with the digital switchover, including alarms, lifts, card terminals and other analogue lines
- Training and ongoing support for the apps, Microsoft Teams integration, moves, adds, changes and faults
BT Cloud Voice is a business service. We do not sell consumer or home phone products.
Want a BT Cloud Voice quote for your business?
Tell Forever Communications what you need and we will come back to you by email with options, not a hard sell.
Contact usFrequently asked questions
Can I buy headsets with BT Cloud Voice?
Yes. BT offers headsets that can be bought when you order BT Cloud Voice, either to plug into a desk phone or to connect to a computer.
Can I use a headset with the BT Cloud Voice app?
Yes. On a computer, the BT Cloud Voice app uses a headset as its microphone and speaker. The app comes with the Connect and Collaborate feature packs.
Should I choose a wired or wireless headset?
Wired headsets suit fixed desks and are simple to manage. Wireless headsets suit people who stand up or move around during calls, such as receptionists. Wireless models also need charging and pairing.
What headset is best for a call centre?
Agents on the phone all day usually prefer a stereo headset with a noise cancelling microphone, so they hear callers clearly and background noise is reduced for the caller.