Bluetooth 4 “smart” earbuds for gaming are due to hit shelves for the PlayStation 4, Xbox 1, Windows and mobile platforms in the next few months.
Bose’s headset will cost $179.99 and feature Bluetooth 4, with the Xbox One and Windows PC versions having a $179,99 price tag.
Microsoft will offer Bluetooth 4 for the PS4 and Xbox One as well as the Xbox 360, PC and Windows mobile devices starting at the end of the year, but the PC versions of the headsets will only be available in limited quantities through retailers.
The Xbox One headset features the same Bluetooth 4 technology as the PS3 and Xbox 360 headsets, but offers a more robust wireless connection.
Microsoft has not officially confirmed the release date for the headsets, though it’s clear they will be making an impact on the gaming market.
The PS4 will be able to use a standard USB port, but users will have to plug their devices into the headset’s built-in microUSB port.
Bose has confirmed that the Bluetooth headset will work with the Playstation 4’s controller, with a button press to activate the headset.
It’s not clear how the headsets wireless connectivity will affect gamers who have trouble using an Xbox 360 controller.
Windows PC and mobile users will need to use Bluetooth 4 on the PS Vita.
Microsoft has already announced the Xbox Kinect 4.5 wireless controller, but has not revealed the Bluetooth 4 connectivity of the Kinect 4 controller.
It also appears that the Xbox Live Arcade gamepad, which uses the same controller technology as Microsoft’s Xbox One controllers, will not support Bluetooth 4 wireless connectivity.
Bose is a large and influential company, with sales of its headsets and accessories reaching $1.8 billion last year.
The company will also be releasing the Bose Connect Wireless, a Bluetooth 4 headset that’s said to be “the best” Bluetooth headset available.