Most of the poor long suffering PR Execs out there have got my measure. If I can talk rather than email I will. Especially if it's getting on a bit in the day.

However anyone who calls me on Skype knows I have a pretty lousy microphone and it's the daily bugbear. Not only that but one or more of the team is usually around me, nattering away on their own Skype systems and it's enough to drive myself and the caller bonkers.

Not anymore!

Today I received the Plantronics "Virtual Phone Booth" – otherwise known as the .Audio™ 480 System. What a system it is too!

Firstly – and don't I feel posh and important – the whole system comes with a lovely slimline but sensibly designed leather case to pop into your briefcase when you're out and about. Sleek black, it's got executive written all over it (metaphorically).

Now to the system itself.

It's a stereo earpiece and boom microphone system.
The ear sockets come with a range of fittings, easily changed over so you can get the perfect fit, completely annihilating external chatter, traffic, PI etc. There is also a small plastic eartab – again in multi-sizes – to allow you to stabilize the left earpiece as it is from this that the ultra slim and very light boom mic' runs from.

I had the entire system fitted to me comfortably in minutes – less than. I then, having requested the analogue system (USB is also available but analogue is best for Skype) plugged it into my headphone and microphone jacks on the laptop and tried it out.

It worked far better than anticipated. I have a Skype mobile for those days when I am constantly on the move and I have to say that the Plantronics system conveyed sound better than the mobile!
Now, I quite often video call on Skype and this is why I have erred in the past to using my huge cinema speakers and external microphone as frankly I look like a pillock sitting before the camera with a huge unflattering ear and microphone headset rammed over my bonce. Not so with the Plantronics system. It's small, discreet and I am perfectly comfortable wearing it to call via video those I need to catch up with. Further, as became instantly obvious, my contacts preferred it too as the call quality was vastly enhanced insomuch as they could hear me clearly and the peripheral noise was reduced.

Plantronics have done it again. Another superb device and one I am very pleased to recommend. Oh, and for those of you that like a little extra, despite having all the controls you need on your laptop, Plantronics have built in a control panel on the device to adjust the volume and place the call on mute. Love it.

Plantronics .Audio™ 480 headset is compatible with both PCs and Macs (USB version only) and will be available in both analogue (£49.99 MSRP) and USB (£69.99 MSRP) versions. The headset is now available at major retailers.

To experience and learn more about Plantronics family of brands and product portfolio, please visit: www.plantronics.com.