Taking things to a whole new level, the is designed to work with the company's . Free for 12 months with the purchase of the Savor M1100 (otherwise $3 per month or $25 per year), Vocalyst lets you listen to text messages, e-mail, and tweets. It also allows you to record messages and tweets as audio files. BlueAnt, Moshi, Plantronics, and other companies also integrate their products with the Bing 411 information service.

The last thing you want is to buy a Bluetooth headset and discover that it's a bad match. Then it ends up buried in your bag or in your glove box, unused. To avoid that scenario, keep these tips in mind as you shop around.

Factor in your environment: If you talk on your cell phone a lot in your car or on public transportation, or in other potentially noisy surroundings, look for a headset with a good reputation for noise cancellation. (This aspect does not apply to stereo headphones, as you should not wear a set of headphones, which cover both ears, while driving.)

Try different designs: Earhook or earbud? It's hard to know what will feel comfortable until you try both types. If you wear glasses, remember that using an earhook or stereo headphones can be a real pain--your glasses and headset/headphones compete for space in the same spot! Ask friends and colleagues if you can try wearing the models they own. (For hygienic reasons, and as a courtesy, you should use new ear covers, so that your friends won't be offended when you wedge their headsets into your ear canal with reckless abandon.)