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BlueAnt's Z9 Bluetooth headset offers dual microphones and patented voice isolation technology to cancel out background noise, wind, and echoes.

BlueAnt Wireless has released its Z9 Bluetooth Headset in the United States, which offers dual microphones and patented voice isolation technology to cancel out background noise, wind, and echoes that can make calls placed on phone headsets almost incomprehensible to listeners.

"BlueAnt has dedicated over two years to the developmental and testing phases for the Z9 to ensure the highest quality noise elimination and call clarity is achieved," said BlueAnt senior VP Peter George, in a release. "We've developed the technology and made the comparison. The Z9 has come up trumps in terms of its performance giving consumers the quality they want in this type of personal device."

Physically, the Z9 weighs a mere 0.35 ounces and measures an inch and half long, and can be worn over an ear (using a translucent ear loop) or be clipped to a tie, collar, or cuff when not in use. The Z9 voice isolation technology offers two modes, one for removing normal background noise from calls placed in everyday environments, and a "Voice Isolation Max" setting for extremely noisy environments. The unit supports Bluetooth 2.0 and firmware updates via a USB connection to a PC; the device supports on-the-fly switching between up to three devices, separate ringtones for known and unknown numbers, and up to 200 hours of standby or 5.5 hour of talk time on a single battery charge.

The Z9 won a Innovations Design & Engineering Award at the 2007 CES show; the headset carries a suggested price of $99.95.