Size is great and works well but with a few annoyances

In California, by July 2008, you need to use a headset or handsfree system while talking on your phone in the car. I actually had one, but it was a little big for my tastes and I could never get used to the over the ear hook (it was the Cardo Scala 500). While it was very good headset otherwise, I couldn't pass on the size and price of the the WEP500, plus it was an in ear one without an ear hook, which is what I wanted. So how well does it work?

Functions and Features
Here is a quick list of all the functions and features:
- Dual microphone for noise cancellation
- Redial number
- Voice dialing
- volume up and down
- call hold
- call mute
- swap calls
- enable and disable blinking LED (very nice option)
- separate charger pod (not really a feature, just wanted to mention this, you place the entire headset in a pod to charge it)

The Good
Size! It's about as large as a US quarter and about a 1/4 inch thick if you don't count the part that sticks into your ear. I love how it does not protrude much at all from my ear.

The size had me a little worried at first regarding outgoing sound quality seeing how the microphone is so far from my mouth. However everyone I've talk to on it, including leaving a message for myself on my home answering machine, sounded ok. Keep in mind, I didn't use it with the car radio blasting or with the windows open, but unless you're in a convertible, why would you want to talk on the phone with the window open anyway? I tried it while walking outside when the wind was gently blowing, not much background noise registered so I think the noise cancellation technology is doing something, but I doubt it will work in extremely loud environments. But for my purposes, sound quality is fine, both outgoing and incoming. Not as clear or crisp as wired headsets, but more than adequate for conversation purposes.

Another thing I like to do to test headsets, whether wired or wireless is call one of those voice activated system, the one I use to test is 1-800-555-TELL, or "Tell Me". While I was in my car, again with windows up and radio turned down, only tire and some wind noise, I had to speak up a little bit for the voice recognition to register what I said. This concerned me a little bit, but I was still far from shouting. Overall, it passed my "Tell Me" test.

The Bad
As I've read in many other reviews, the main bad thing is the functionality and location of the main button. You can easily press it while putting on and taking off the headset. That's not really the big problem, the problem is, a click of the main button ends up redialing the last number called so I've ended up re-dialing people by accident on several occasions. This is where I much prefer the Cardo Scala where a click of the main button brings up voice dialing instead of redial. This would have been much better because if you accidentally pressed it, just don't say anything and your phone won't call anyone! Incidentally on the WEP500, to activate voice dialing, you have to hold the main button down for a few seconds. Again, this is the complete opposite of the Cardo, where holding down the main button for a few seconds initiates a redial. I personally much prefer the way Cardo does it, but I guess the WEP500 is just something you have to get used to.

The charger pod is kind of annoying. Granted the headset it so small, it probably would have been near impossible to add a power adapter receptacle on it, but I personally much prefer if it could plug it directly into the wall. I guess that's what you trade off for the small size.

Miscellaneous observations and comments
I haven't held a straight 3 hour conversation with this headset, but just roughly adding up all the small 5 minute conversations I've had, the 3 hour rated talk time doesn't seem far off. I'm not the type of person to talk for hours a day on my cell phone, so 3 hours can last me several days. I usually have to charge my phone before charging my headset.

It comes in a few different colors. I would have preferred the all black one, but the black with silver bezel was the only one in stock.

It comes with one in ear canal rubber ear-piece and 3 (small, medium and large) rubber outer-ear-pieces. I personally prefer the outer-ear rubber pieces, it sits tight enough to stay in, but not too tight to be uncomfortable. I found the in ear canal piece to be too loose and uncomfortable... however, if the in-ear one does fit your ear, you'd probably get louder volume out of the headset. But going back to the outer-ear-pieces, I wouldn't go jogging or other physical activities with it in. Walking around casually or sitting in a car is what I'd be comfortable doing without being afraid of the headset falling out. Also I've gone a couple ours with it in my ear with minimal discomfort. Keep in mind, the shape of your ear might suggest otherwise.

I use this headset with my Nokia 6126 by the way. I've also tried it with my wife's Nokia 6555 without any issues.

Samsung customer service is pretty good. The 1st one I had was defective. I had static on it even when my phone was within an inch from the headset. I just sent it back to them with a prepaid shipping label and within 2 weeks, I had a brand new one sent to my house, and this time it worked flawlessly.

Conclusion
For the price, it can't be beat. I took advantage of a $30 rebate, and price after rebate was only $15. But even $45 for this headset doesn't seem like too much money seeing how it functions quite well. But at the after rebate price, it's almost a no brainer to at least try this headset out. The size itself is worth the convenience, even if sound quality isn't 100% up to your standards. Aside from the stupid redial functionality of the main button, I have no real complaints about it.