I had the motorola H700 before this and it broke in about six months. This Nokia has a dramatically improved range without breaking up, so I can leave it in my living room and walk around without carrying my cell, or better yet use skype on my couch. The in ear design helps you hear because it cuts the outside noise, however the optional loop is necessary to keep it from slipping out. The lanyard lets you wear it around your neck for easy access. I like the simple styling even though it looks like a thumb drive is grabbing on to your ear for dear life. Overall a great design.