I haven't picked up the telephone in weeks. That's because I've switched to using headsets in place of the old-fashioned handsets that came with my various phones. And unless you've converted to headsets too, I bet I'm 10 times more productive on the phone than you are and more likely to live to a nice, ripe old age. The simple fact is that there's no reason--other than cost--to stick with the 100-year-old habit of holding a tethered hunk of material to your ear when you want to talk.

Your choice of headset will depend on your choice of phone. I use three different kinds of telephones regularly and have experimented with various wireless headset solutions for each of them. Here's what I've learned.

On the road
Because Bluetooth phones are still rarities in the United States, corded headsets or earbuds are the only options for most cell phone users, but they still beat bringing the phone to your face. For one thing, they move the phone's radio transmitter away from your brain, cutting down on radiation exposure. Depending on which reports you believe, that may or may not matter one whit--but it can't hurt.

I believe a cell phone is more likely to kill you by distracting you from some other task, such as driving or walking across the street. It's still too easy to get wrapped up in a call when you're hands-free, but at least your mitts can hold the steering wheel. And if your neck is allowed to move around normally, it's easier to see what's happening in your perimeter.

But corded headsets can still be a drag in the car. I used one for a while, and it always got tangled in my gearshift--not exactly safe. But after I got an old (pre-Sony) Ericsson T39 Bluetooth phone and a Jabra FreeSpeak Bluetooth headset, I couldn't be happier. The headset hangs on the knob of one of my air vents, so it's always right where I need it. The sound is clear, I can crank up the volume if needed, and the unit is very comfortable. (I often just leave it on my ear when I'm done with a call.)

If you don't have a Bluetooth handset, Jabra makes a Bluetooth headset with an adapter that plugs into your phone and essentially converts it to Bluetooth. But such adapters require plug-ins that come with their own wires and hassles. I recommend you just go native Bluetooth.

At the office
I've used headsets with my desk phone since 1988. At first, people told me I looked like a magazine telemarketer, but what do I care how I look when I'm on the line? The people on the other end can't tell the difference. And the headset lets me type while I talk without cranking my neck over to hold a phone.

Sometimes I like to pace when I'm in the office, and corded headsets kept me anchored to my desk. There are plenty of cordless headsets out there, but I never found one light enough to wear for long periods of time without becoming an annoyance.

Then, a few weeks ago, Plantronics sent over its CS50 headset for desk phones. Now that I've been using it, I think it's wonderful.

There are two great things about the CS50. First, it's light, weighing less than an ounce. Second, it uses old-fashioned 900MHz radio technology, just like your cordless phone at home; 900MHz radios have a good reach and don't interfere with 2.4GHz devices, such as cordless phones, wireless LANs, Bluetooth transceivers, and microwave ovens. I can pace up and down the entire office floor with the CS50, whereas my Bluetooth headset sometimes encounters static when it's only an arm's length from the phone.

The downside? The CS50 lists for $299; as I write, the street price is about $200. That's a lot of dough for a headset. Plus, to really geek out, you'll want the handset-lifter accessory, which physically takes your phone off the hook by remote control. It's cool and useful but adds another $79 (list) to the total.

At home
I switched to a two-line Siemens 8825 home-office phone recently. You plug its base station into your lines and use wireless extensions throughout the house, so you don't have to hassle with plugging them in.

One of the things I like about this system is that each wireless handset has a speakerphone capability as well as a jack for a headset. Such jacks are standard on most, but not all, wireless handsets today, but that wasn't the case until very recently. I have a nice, cheap Plantronics headset for the extension in my home office and giveaway earbuds near the living room and kitchen extensions; that way, I can talk hands-free wherever.

The downside to this setup: Unlike the CS50 lauded above, the Siemens doesn't coexist happily with Wi-Fi networks, microwave ovens, or other 2.4GHz gear. It picks up terrible interference from my home network and my kitchen (when I try to reheat and talk at the same time). For that reason, I can't really recommend it, and I'm looking forward to replacing it when I have a chance to test its competitors.

As I said up top, headsets make me safer and more productive. They may make me look like a dweeb, too, but I think that's a small price to pay.