Plantronics
General Company Info
Plantronics offers mobile headsets, next-generation computer audio headset products, and headsets and systems for the office, small office/home office and contact centers. The company has partnerships with leading OEMs, and telecommunications, voice recognition and audio equipment manufacturers, all of whom contribute state of the art technologies to Plantronics products. Based in Santa Cruz, California, Plantronics' other major facilities are in Tennessee, Mexico, England, and the Netherlands.
Global Headquarters: Santa Cruz, CA
Employment:4,500 people
Market Cap: $1.3 Billion (NYSE Ticker: PLT)
2005 Fiscal Year Revenue: $560 Million
Brands
Altec Lansing - recently acquired by Plantronics, this marketshare leader in the PC speaker system category provides high performance multimedia products for the computer OEM, reseller, distributor and retail marketplace.
Plantronics - produces headsets for mission-critical applications such as air traffic control, 911 dispatch and the New York Stock Exchange.
Clarity - a leading supplier of amplified telephones, notification systems, assistive listening devices and other communications devices for those with hearing loss.
Volume Logic - offers audio enhancement software to consumers, businesses and audio professionals. The technology allows you to create surround sound soundtracks and remasters your digital music library when played on a desktop media player.
In the news
November 8, 2005 (streetinsider.com) - Plantronics, Inc. said it has been selected by Microsoft to be an official licensee of Xbox communicator and headset bundle for the Xbox video game and entertainment system. The Plantronics GameCom X10C headset, for use with the Xbox Live(R) online gaming service, provides gamers with outstanding sound and voice quality for strategizing online with friends across town and around the world.
October 30, 2005 - Plantronics has expanded its family of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) headset solutions with the DA40, a USB-to-headset adapter that enables enterprises to optimize existing headsets for use with softphones. "VoIP is changing the way companies do business -- enabling them to compete more effectively, provide better customer service and improve operational performance," said Chuck Yort, vice president of Business Solutions at Plantronics. "And yet the migration process remains a challenge for customers. The DA40 and the rest of the DA line of adapters enable companies to quickly gain access to VoIP benefits while preserving their existing headset investments."
July 11, 2005 - (PRNewswire-FirstCall) Plantronics announced a definitive agreement to acquire Altec Lansing, allowing Plantronics to provide a more complete product portfolio to its combined retail and OEM channels worldwide. The acquisition will enable Plantronics to combine its expertise in voice communication and Altec Lansing's in music entertainment to meet the full audio needs of the consumer, in their personal and professional lives.
In 1969, a Plantronics headset carried the historic first words from the moon: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Top Competitors
GN ReSound - offers a range of digital and non-digital hearing instruments.
Koss - products include headphones for home and portable use; it also sells headphones for communications purposes (disc jockey, home recording, telephone).
Telex Communications - derives more than 80% of its sales from professional audio products, which include speakers, microphones, and mixing consoles.