(L-R) Ken Kannappan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Plantronics, presents commemorative plaque signifying the dedication of Clarity’s global headquarters to Carston Trads, President of Clarity.

Posted August 2004

Business and community leaders gathered recently for the official dedication of the Clarity global headquarters, the nation's leading supplier of products for the hearing loss community. Clarity, a division of Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT), consolidated its Garden Grove, California facility and moved all operations to its renovated Chattanooga home earlier this year.

"By consolidating Clarity under one roof in our Chattanooga headquarters, we are now well-positioned to further advance our cutting-edge technological capabilities and our reach," says Carsten Trads, Clarity President and an international expert in the hearing loss technology field. "We are pleased to be a part of this community and look forward to becoming even more involved with the people and businesses here."

Among those who attended the dedication ceremonies and unveiling of a commemorative plaque were:

• Carston Trads, President of Clarity

• Ken Kannappan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Plantronics, Clarity’s parent company

• Steve Hiatt, Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce Director of Existing Business Development

• Suzanne Wyatt, Executive Director of The EAR Foundation, Clarity’s partner in hearing loss education

"We are extremely excited to have Clarity’s global headquarters based in Chattanooga," Hiatt says. "Clarity is a stellar example, both of Chattanooga’s successful economic development initiatives and of our civic leadership’s ability to attract leading companies in key industries."

Consolidating Clarity’s operations has added 23 full-time positions to Chattanooga’s economy. Clarity employs 45 people in its 14,000 square foot facility, which is located at 4289 Bonny Oaks Drive, Suite 106. Clarity is still looking to fill 3 full-time positions. The headquarters recently underwent a large-scale renovation, including total reconstruction of the company’s call center. Clarity’s products have been featured frequently in the national media, including on CNN, NBC’s "Today" and ABC’s "Good Morning America." Among its hottest new products is the Clarity C430, a sleekly designed amplified cordless phone featuring caller ID. The C430 makes telephone conversations clearer and easier to understand for the millions of Americans with mild to moderate hearing loss.

"Clarity is a fast-growing, integral part of Plantronics, Inc., and an innovator and market leader in its industry," Kannappan, of Plantronics, says. "Clarity products significantly improve the overall quality of life for people with hearing loss. Our reliable, attractive, technologically original products offer effective solutions to issues faced by this ever-growing population."

About Clarity®

Clarity®, a Division of Plantronics Inc. (NYSE:PLT), is a leading supplier of amplified telephones, notification systems, assistive listening devices and other communications devices for the hearing loss and deaf markets. A leader in sound amplification, Clarity’s patented technology, Clarity® Power™, provides customized solutions for customers who otherwise could not communicate easily and effectively with the outside world. As more people begin to address their hearing needs, Clarity will continue to provide effective technologies that are simple and easy to use. The company began in 1969 as a telecommunications manufacturer, and was acquired in 1986 by Plantronics, Inc., a leading provider of headsets to business and individual consumers worldwide. For more information please visit www.clarityproducts.com.

About Plantronics

Plantronics introduced the first lightweight communications headset in 1962 and is recognized as the world leader in communications headsets. A publicly held company with approximately 2,500 employees, Plantronics is the leading provider of headsets worldwide to telephone companies and the business community. Plantronics headsets also are used widely in many Fortune 500 corporations and have been featured in numerous motion pictures and high-profile events, including Neil Armstrong's historic "One small step for man" transmission from the moon in 1969. Plantronics, Inc., headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, was founded in 1961 and maintains offices in 20 countries. Plantronics products are sold and supported through a worldwide network of authorized Plantronics marketing partners. Information about the company and its products can be found at www.plantronics.com or by calling (800) 544-4660.

The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce is the leading business and economic development organization for the Chattanooga region. For over 100 years, the Chattanooga Chamber has provided community engagement and opportunities for businesses, large and small, including networking, business promotion, business discounts, and public policy advocacy, as well as leadership development and training opportunities.

In addition, the Chattanooga Chamber is a one-stop-shop for site selectors and business decision-makers considering investments and job creation projects in the Chattanooga region. The Chattanooga Chamber is also responsible for marketing Enterprise South Industrial Park, a top-tier industrial park that offers significant strategic business advantages. In addition, the Chattanooga Chamber administers the Chattanooga Hamilton County Business Development Center, the largest business incubator in the U.S. in terms of the number of start up companies it houses, and the Center for Entrepreneurial Growth, an innovative effort to nurture technology-based start-up companies.

As the first stop for people interested in moving to the Chattanooga, the Chattanooga Chamber provides a range of relocation information including demographics, informational videos, connections to Chattanooga Area jobs, and frequently asked questions.