If you've ever been befuddled by the complex controls of a Bluetooth headset, BlueAnt has a new model just for you. The V1 is a voice-enabled headset that, save for its multifunction Call button and Volume buttons, works entirely by voice command. That means you can do everything from pairing to adjusting its various modes without learning arcane button combinations and beep codes. If you forget a command, or want a quick overview of what the V1 is capable of, simply press the multifunction button and ask, "What can I say?" and the device will graciously tell you. Once you get past the audio gimmickry, it's a pretty capable headset, too.

Style-wise, the V1 falls decidedly in the fashion-conscious camp. The silvery, textured diminutive device is light enough to wear all day without becoming uncomfortable or attracting undue attention. In fact, besides its color, it's a dead ringer for the BlueAnt Z9i, a model that lacks the V1's voice control structure but costs $30 less. The trademark BlueAnt multifunction button is chromed and easy to press. Along the top of the headset are two volume buttons that are large and easy to find while wearing the headset.

BlueAnt packs plenty of accessories in the box, including a USB-to-micro-USB cable, a micro-USB–to–mini-USB cable adapter, two ear hooks (one translucent plastic and one rubberized), three Comply foam tips, two rubber gel earbuds, a car charger, and an A/C power adapter. There's also a printed manual, a small quick-start guide, and a card that reminds you to place the unit in your ear before turning it on, which is done by pressing and holding the multifunction button for 3 seconds.

The V1 supports Bluetooth 2.1 with Enhanced Data Rate (EDR). I had no problems pairing the V1 with an iPhone 3G and a Motorola Q. There are three basic commands to remember: "Pair Me," "Teach Me," and "What can I say?" which will then lead you to all of the rest of the commands the V1 recognizes, and walk you through trying some of the commands and voice-dial features yourself. Some of the voice-enabled commands are particularly useful, such as checking the unit's battery life and connection status. There's also a full "Tips and Tricks" section that you can call up by uttering that exact phrase.

Voice dialing works by assigning speed dial numbers on your handset; you can't voice-dial an entire number from the V1, so you have to do a little programming first to set up "Call Office," "Call Home," and so on. The transparent interface makes using the V1 a pleasure for the most part, although sometimes it took several tries to get it to do what I wanted. Plus, the V1 crashed twice while I was using it— it stopped responding to my voice commands and required a reboot before working again.

The V1's voice quality is generally good. On my end, it sounded clear, very loud, and punchy, so it was easy to carry on long conversations. However, I heard from other callers that I didn't sound quite as clear as I usually do with my reference headset, the original Aliph Jawbone. On the other hand, the V1's Voice Isolation or noise-cancellation technology worked as advertised: In back-to-back message tests using the Voice Isolation Max and Voice Isolation Standard modes, while standing next to a fan on medium-high speed, I could hear a clear difference in the level of background noise between the two modes. A BlueAnt spokesperson said that the wearer's voice would take on a slightly more computerized timbre in Max mode. But when I compared the V1's performance with the reference Jawbone's in recorded message tests, my voice sounded a little robotic no matter which mode the V1 was in.

Like the Z9i, the V1 has a maximum range of 33 feet; I was able to walk 12 to 15 feet away from my handset indoors before sound quality degraded noticeably. The V1 is firmware-upgradable via its USB connection, and BlueAnt guarantees the V1 for two years. Battery life was on the short side; the V1 lasted just 4 hours 8 minutes on a continuous-talk-time test. That's slightly better than that of the Aliph New Jawbone, our current Editors' Choice, but far behind test times of class leaders in endurance like the Plantronics Voyager 520 (whose talk time was more than double that of the V1).

All of the above headsets offer good sound quality, and the two Jawbones offer top-notch noise-canceling circuitry, which edges out the V1's. The Iqua 603 SUN is another favorite, with the built-in solar panel that keeps it charged in regular use. If you don't particularly care about top-notch performance, the V1 sounds good and is plenty of fun to use. Essentially, you're paying $30 more for the voice commands when compared with the lower-cost Z9i. If you're tired of fumbling around with your headset trying to figure out what the right button combination is for a particular command, the V1 could be worth the extra expense today. Otherwise, I'd probably hold off for version 2.0, or at least a firmware upgrade for this model.

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