Although some people find it quite odd with users wearing them, the Technews Lab finds these little babies practical and useful for those who are constantly using the phone, whether at home, at the office, or on the road. But what about regular peeps who are not only on-the-go, but fashion-conscious?

Well, Jabra has developed the BT160 that addresses both the hands-free talking over the mobile phone and fashionable at the same time. At first impression, we find the BT160 as a BTWH that fits to the user’s unique personality and taste. More so, this new Jabra baby won’t make one look like a telemarketer.

The Jabra BT160 measures 63 x 26 x 12 millimeters (LxWxH) and weighs only a mere 16 grams. Out of the box, it includes the unit, charger, and 33 design inserts that act as interchangeable faceplates. Hmm, it’s quite similar to those express-on covers of mobile phones.

JABRA BT160

On the fashionista side of the BT160, the unit can be customized by changing the design appearance depending on the user’s mood and personality. It is so simple wherein it can be done by clipping off the clear plastic front, removing the paper insert, swapping it, then snapping the cover back again.

To tell, it takes several seconds to peel one off and attach another. Though it might not be a concern for the yuppy executive, being able to mix and match the aesthetics to their wardrobe is undeniably cool. Business looking yet funky, to be exact.

The names of the 33 designs included are: Tango, Target, Pinstripe, Skull, Mosaic, T-Rex, Sunflower, Zebra, Sundown, Love Red, Turquoise, Royal Blue, Summer Cream, Powder Pink, Lime Spirit, Passion Flower, Houndstooth, Rainbow, Versailles, Leopard, Autumn, Salmon, Wild Kids, Glam Squares, Ladybug, Butterfly, Music, Swirl, Pink Orchid, Kiwi, White Orchid, Scotch, and Red Velvet.

On the Technews Lab tests, the BT160 impressed us well with its ease of use and functionality expressed by the presence of just 3 buttons on the unit itself. We also like the simplicity of its architecture and operation, with just an On/Off/Answer/End Call button and Volume Up and Down buttons present in the BT160.

Pairing it with the latest mobile phones at the Technews Lab, like the Nokia E70, Samsung X820, Sony Ericsson K800i, and the LG KG320, we had no trouble or hassles using the BT160. Simply press the Volume Up key and the Answer/End Call button together for 3 to 5 seconds and the unit is placed into “pairing” mode.

All the phones used during the tests, detected the BT160 with a minimum of fuss and it was ready to use. The light in front of the unit indicates whether the BT120 is connected or in pairing mode and it’s also used to signify low battery life, active call mode and standby mode.

The BT160 has functions and features that include answering/rejecting and redialing/making calls using the Answer/End button where a user can either tap and press it. For example, redialing the last number called requires a user to press the center button, whilst simply tapping it answers an incoming call.

Field tests of the BT160 by the Technews Lab peeps revealed that its voice clarity and call quality is excellent, between 5 to 10 meters. We had no complaints using the BTWH indoors. In fact, we had to turn down the volume on the headset because it was quite overbearing on our eardrums. But in noisy environments, like the busy streets of Makati and Ortigas on weekdays, it could have performed a little better, eventhough the BT160 is already at its highest volume level.

The BT160 is equipped with a built-in Lithium Polymer battery. Charging the battery takes about 1.5 hours at full charge, talktime of 6 to 7 hours, and a stand-by time of about 4 to 5 days.

Got to tell, we find the Jabra BT160 more than a basic BTWH. It is extremely easy to use, pairs and performs well in any Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones. With its somewhat fashionista signature, it is a welcome treat for users who are looking for alternatives to the colder, utilitarian headsets that most techie geeks are wearing around these days.

Hey, we dig this baby because it’s like owning 33 BTWHs in one.