Using the corded iPhone headset with VOIP on a MacBook

[thesheep]

I've become used to the great corded headset that comes with my iPhone (even though the first one lost sound in the left ear and I had to buy another). I love the tiny mic, the whole thing is so light-weight.

What I find is that I start to naturally use the same headset when I'm using my MBP - just because it's often round my neck anyway.

Wouldn't it be great if I could use the MIC from the headset with the MBP as well? Then I could use it properly for iChat/Skype calls.

I'm wondering if it should be possible for someone to manufacture an adaptor that fits the special 4-contact plug on the headset, and separates off the mic part so that it creates 2 normal mini jack plugs, that could be plugged into the MBP headphone & mic sockets. Would be great. Anyone heard of such a thing?

I had a Plantronics headset before for VOIP and the thing was so bulky and cluttered, with a long cord, that it was more trouble than it was worth. Second on my list would be a really simple, light-weight USB headset, with a fairly short cord (of course I couldn't use this with the iPhone, I'd just leave it plugged into the MBP).

I guess a Bluetooth headset might also be a good idea. But by all accounts pairing and re-pairing sets between the iPhone and MBP is not so convenient, and that's exactly what you'd need to be able to do in a hurry.

Anyone else have any thoughts/experience on this issue?

[thesheep]

Nobody? I feel alone...

[leturner]

you are definitely not alone. I've searched for the same thing with no luck.

And unfortunately a simple "Y" splitter from iPhone combo jack to separate in/out jacks won't really help. The standard mac "mic" port is line-in and needs a powered mic-in jack.

Better solution is a USB audio controler - basically an audio card on a USB stick. Several relatively inexpensive ones out there. But they all have 2 port in/outs .... and we're back to needing a "Y" splitter.

Which doesn't seem to exist. And a USB Dongle + "Y" splitter + iPhone headset cable makes for a clunky set up anyway.

So I guess what we're really looking for is:


a USB adaptor with a single "combo" port for iPhone/Other combo jack headsets. OR
a USB adapter with 2 port IN/OUT but with 'auto-sense' headphone port that can function as a combo jack. OR
a USB adapter with a companion "adapter tip" - essentially a solid state "Y" splitter (a custom 'plug' extender instead of wires - we're looking for elegance here ;)


Ideally we'd just want the 'adapter tip' to use with whatever USB dongle we want, but I doubt USB port spacing is standardized industry wide.

C'mon, any third party makers out there listening? We can't be the only ones looking for something like this!

[ChrisN]

I tried that once too when I was on skype/teamspeex with some buddies, I really wish it worked.

ChrisN

[thesheep]

C'mon, any third party makers out there listening?

Or, even better, Apple could make the phones socket on next gen Macbook/MBP work with the iPhone headset... can't be that hard.

[pettijohn]

I ordered a 4-connector 3.5mm jack and did a little of soldering to make one of these Y adapters. It works perfectly in my laptop :) Check out pictures, more details and a pinout if you want to make your own: http://travis.pettijohn.com/blog/entry/2008/6/8/736_use_an_iphone_headset_for_voip

[leturner]

pettijohn, we thank you, we salute you.

But I'm curious. As I said above, I thought the mac mic jack required powered mic line-in input. You've had no trouble with sound quality with just the simple "Y" splitter?

Or are you using this as a combo with a usb audio dongle?

[pettijohn]

But I'm curious. As I said above, I thought the mac mic jack required powered mic line-in input. You've had no trouble with sound quality with just the simple "Y" splitter?

Or are you using this as a combo with a usb audio dongle?

I'm actually using it on a Toshiba Tecra M9, so I can't answer your question. Do you have an unpowered mic anywhere that you could plug in to test with? If some other unpowered mic works, then I'm positive that the iPhone mic would work. Let us know!

[thesheep]

Ingenious, pettijohn.

Shame about the powered mic thing. Now, if you could solve that too, you could start a little business selling them on the internet!

[Gerardo Costill]

Guys, I don't believe that he USB thing is really necessary. From what I understand our desktop/laptops bring the power needed by any passive microphone into it, just as the iPhone headset expects.

I believe in what pettijohn says about his solution, it sounds logical and consistent. I'm in the process of getting the parts in order to build mine too.

Again, I believe that the USB thing is unnecessary, unless your desktop/laptop is missing the mic and headphones input ports --I recall that I once had an iBook with no microphone input jack, so in order to use mi iPhone headset (which is a Vmoda, btw), I would definitely need to get a USB sound card dongle first.

I hope this helps, as soon as I build my adapter by following pettitjohn's, I'll post back to confirm that it works. I'll get the pieces tomorrow (tomorrow is payday here).

Gerardo Costilla
coxport@gmail.com


I've become used to the great corded headset that comes with my iPhone (even though the first one lost sound in the left ear and I had to buy another). I love the tiny mic, the whole thing is so light-weight.

What I find is that I start to naturally use the same headset when I'm using my MBP - just because it's often round my neck anyway.

Wouldn't it be great if I could use the MIC from the headset with the MBP as well? Then I could use it properly for iChat/Skype calls.

I'm wondering if it should be possible for someone to manufacture an adaptor that fits the special 4-contact plug on the headset, and separates off the mic part so that it creates 2 normal mini jack plugs, that could be plugged into the MBP headphone & mic sockets. Would be great. Anyone heard of such a thing?

I had a Plantronics headset before for VOIP and the thing was so bulky and cluttered, with a long cord, that it was more trouble than it was worth. Second on my list would be a really simple, light-weight USB headset, with a fairly short cord (of course I couldn't use this with the iPhone, I'd just leave it plugged into the MBP).

I guess a Bluetooth headset might also be a good idea. But by all accounts pairing and re-pairing sets between the iPhone and MBP is not so convenient, and that's exactly what you'd need to be able to do in a hurry.

Anyone else have any thoughts/experience on this issue?

[thesheep]

Hey! Looks like Apple have answered our prayers here. I was really happy to read that the new Macbooks work with the iPhone headsets! Brilliant. Apparently the microphone works too, and you can pause iTunes from the headphones.

Unfortunately the new MBPs don't have an option for a matte screen, so I won't be buying one any time soon... damn. Can't live with all those reflections.

[leturner]

thats great! I was wondering if they would consider it in a new rev of their product line. seemed like a reasonable evolution.

Now i just have to .... go buy a new MacBook Pro, sigh.

[pettijohn]

To anyone looking for an adapter to use an iPhone headset on your computer for VoIP or otherwise, ShowMeCables.com has started making them commercially available. http://www.showmecables.com/viewItem.asp?idProduct=8183

[dvdhsu]

Thanks for all the info ettijohn!

[Carnivor]

how about if you could use your actual iphone as a cordless connection to the mb/mbp, via bluetooth or wifi. I cant see it being that complex to write it would just be the app store process that could get in the way

[iCello]

Can anyone confirm that the adapter on Showmecables works wth apple iPhone 3g headset and unibody Macbook, Late 08?