IDC's Headsets and Earpieces Survey

This IDC study, fielded in the fall of 2008, takes a look at awareness and usage of wireless headsets and wired earbuds as solutions to making hands-free calls on mobile phones. We asked our survey participants if they owned and regularly used wireless headsets and wired earbuds and in what situations they used them. Further, we asked if their state had a hands-free phone law and followed up with how they make and receive phone calls when inside a car.

"Wireless headsets and wired earbuds have enabled users to enjoy a more hands-free experience, but these users are still in the minority," says Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst at IDC. "More states have been enacting hands-free mobile phone use in cars, and there is ample opportunity for both retailers and vendors to present these devices as solutions. But usage is not limited only to within cars. As this study shows, wireless headsets and earbuds are used around the house, outside, and at work and will likely increase in the years to come."