The Plantronics Voyager Legend UC B235-M is the resulting purchase of my quest for a Bluetooth headset that could work with my Android smartphone(s) and Microsoft Skype (for Business). It is a certified Unified Communications (UC) version of the well known Plantronics Voyager headset.
While I’ve purchased it back in 2018 the COVID-19 outbreak forced me to work from the home office where a good headset for unified communications is essential. In this article I will share my thoughts and practical experiences for this headset and reflect on my purchase.
Plantronics Voyager Legend UC B235-M – The Design
The Voyager is a well known Plantronics headset model, with a distinctive design. So let’s go through the design first …
The large battery is placed behind the ear, and the surface of the headset that touches your skin is build from silicone (that covers the harder parts from the battery). On the backside of the headset, the part that is behind your ear, you can see the volume up/down switch, the on/off switch in the middle and the connector for the portable charging case on the bottom.
The in-ear speaker is covered with a transparent silicone ear-peace. The in-ear speaker can rotate 180 degrees around the vertical axis, so you can use the headset on your left and right ear. Personally I prefer to wear the headset on my right ear.
The microphone equipped “stick” of the headset can rotate roughly 225 degrees (again to deliver left and right use). On this microphone stick there are 2 buttons, one on the back of the stick that allows you to take a call and the other smaller button on the bottom of the stick that enables voice command.
Pairing Plantronics Voyager Legend with Android or iPhone
Pairing Plantronics Voyager Legend UC B235-M to an Android smartphone or iPhone is well documented in the Plantronics user guides.
“After pairing your headset to your phone you may want to pair another or new phone.
- Switch on your headset then choose:
- Tap the Voice button and say “Pair mode,” or
- Press and hold the Call button until you hear “Pairing”
- While the headset LEDs are flashing red and blue, activate Bluetooth® on your phone and set into search for new devices.
- Select “PLT_Legend.” If your phone asks, enter four zeros (0000) for the passcode or accept the connection.
- Once successfully paired, LEDs stop flashing red and blue and you hear “pairing successful.”
And as you can see it is super simple anyway…
Connecting the Voyager Legend with Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, Zoom Meetings on Windows 10
I have tested the Voyager Legend with various Unified Communication tools on both my Dell Latitude work laptop as well as on my Microsoft Surface Pro. I personally have tested with:
- Skype (for Business);
- Microsoft Teams;
- Zoom Meetings;
- Google Hangouts;
Please read the interesting article: “Rethinking Zoom? How WebEx, Teams and Google Meet and Duo Compare on Privacy and Security” on the different unified communications tools available in relation to security. The article was published after a couple of glitches from Zoom Meetings.
It is simply a matter of inserting the Plantronics USB-dongle and turning on your Voyager Legend. On my Windows 10 powered Microsoft Surface Pro I have installed the Plantronics Hub Desktop software as well, that regularly gets updates pushed (even after a purchase two years ago).
Accessories for Plantronics Voyager Legend UC B235-M
I’ve purchased the Plantronics Voyager Legend UC B235-M bundle at Coolblue that came with:
- A portable charging case
- Desktop charging stand;
Portable charging case for Plantronics Voyager Legend
The portable charging case is ideal for an on the go scenario, simply because the charging case has a build in battery-pack, so you can completely recharge the headset about 2 times simply by storing it into the case.
There is also a wall charger included so you can recharge both case and headset. The charging cable has also an USB-socket so you can potentially recharge on the USB port of your laptop or for example the Anker PowerCore+ 20100 USB-C Powerbank.
The USB dongle for unified communications can also be stored in the portable charging case.
Desk charging stand for Plantronics Voyager Legend
When working at the home office I have the desk charging stand connected on a USB port. You can simply store the Voyager Legend headset in this desk stand. So you can charge the headset when not in online meetings.
Concluding thoughts and wrap-up
Please note that I’ve puchased the Plantronics Voyager Legend UC B235-M back in 2018, when I worked from home a couple of days per week. During the current COVID-19 outbreak, the amount of home office work has increased to 100%, and thus the use of the Plantronics Voyager Legend UC B235-M set. In all fairness I’m still super super happy with my purchase.
I wanted a bluetooth headset that could work with both my Android smartphone and Microsoft Skype (for Business). And in general the Plantronics Voyager Legend UC B235-M is most of the times connected to both my work Nokia 8 Sirocco Android smartphone and my Dell Latitude work laptop.
When fully charged the talk-time of the Voyager Legend is about 7 hours, which is a complete workday. This impressive battery-life was one of the key requirements for my purchase. Looking back I still think it is an excellent purchase given the simplicity of connecting to multiple devices (and the long battery-life and talk-time).
Currently in 20202 the Plantronics Voyager Legend UC B235-M is in set available for about EUR 180,00 which is not cheap, but for me worth every penny. I recall that 2 years ago the headset wasn’t that expensive, but huge demand because of COVID-19 increased price-points.
Please note that Plantronics and Polycom are merged and continue as the brand Poly.
