When you’re designing a wireless VoIP office system there are two types of wireless VoIP phones to consider, as outlined in the previous post;  DECT and Wi-Fi. 

Since we have DECT installation details already covered in a guest post series by Polycom, I’d like to specifically highlight Wi-Fi phones.

Fans of DECT systems like that the phones run on their own frequency and are more resistant to interference from other wireless devices.  If you’re happy with your WLAN the way it is and would like to get more use out of it, have no interest in adding new infrastructure specifically for DECT, and just need a quick wireless solution than Wi-Fi VoIP phones might be for you.

Here now is a look at the phones with a built-in Wi-Fi transceiver unit that will connect to your access point or base station allowing either the freedom for you to move freely around your home or office while on a call or, allow you to install phones in areas where you can’t or don’t want to run Ethernet cable.

Cisco SPA525G

• Price Range: $270

The Cisco SPA525G looks like any other ordinary Cisco desktop VoIP phone.  It’s appearance belies its surprising feature of how it connects to your network.

The SPA525G has dual onboard ethernet ports with Power Over Ethernet (PoE) support including a built-in 802.11G WiFi client supporting multiple AP profiles, WiFi Protected Setup, WEP and WPA authentication/encryption. Wired or Wireless ethernet connectivity make the SPA525G a lot more versatile, making this feature popular with users. In our testing the SPA525G quickly scanned for available WiFi networks, and was a snap to configure.

Firmware updates will add new features to keep the SPA525G2 future proof. And when employees are added or moved, simply plug the phone in anywhere on the network and the change will be automatically recognized. And with wireless network connectivity, phone and workspace placement won’t be restricted to the costs of running cables.

The Cisco SPA525G2 stays ahead of the curve with enhanced Bluetooth integration with mobile phones (including Bluetooth headset support) and a high-resolution color video screen than can monitor IP cameras, multimedia functions, wideband audio for superb voice and speaker quality. This Cisco Wi-Fi VoIP phone also supports up to two Cisco SPA500S Expansion Modules (32 button attendant consoles).

Polycom Spectralink

• Price Range: $420 to $3,700 (Bundles)

There are a number of Polycom SpectaLink Wi-Fi models to choose from.  They differ from the Cisco SPA525G above in that they aren’t corded desktop phones rather, they are cordless handsets that will let you walk and talk (and chew bubblegum at the same time if you’re more coordinated than I am).

Polycom SpectraLink Wi-Fi phones are designed for use in healthcare, retail, manufacturing, hospitality, and general office applications.  They are lightweight and slim, feature rugged ABS plastic casings, include a large graphic display, noise suppression technology for use in loud environments, and instantaneous “push-to-talk” (PTT) on high-end models.

With a range of models and bundles to choose from, there’s a SpectraLink handset with the right features and price point that you’re looking for from entry level business grade wireless solutions for small businesses up to high-grade mobile unified communications (UC) for frequent communications.

Like any mobile phone SpectraLink phone accessories include several power options to keep your phone charged and clips, holsters, and cases to keep your handset protected and within reach.

snom 821/870 and snom 720/760

• Price Range: $200 to $320

If you’re into combining style with functionality you’ll like these desktop VoIP phones from snom that have Wi-Fi cabalities.  The four snom models I’d like you to consider are the 821, 870, and the new 720 and 760.

With these snom VoIP phones (models 821, 870, 720, 760) an optional USB stick can be used to connect the phone over Wireless LAN.  Here’s the breakdown of what they offer.

The snom 821 is the entry level model of snom’s business phones while the snom 870 is the bigger version of the 821 and has a touch more technological innovation; the 870 includes a touch screen. 

Both of these phones have TFT color screens that display all manner of pertinent information, HD voice quality, PoE, secure VPN which is great for remote workers, and of course a USB port that with the addition of the snom USB lan card can connect to your PBX via your existing WiFi network.

The snom 821 and snom 870 are available in black and light grey (almost white).  If that’s not a good enough choice for you, this phone series offers printable skins so you can personalize your phone with your favorite color or design. 

In addition to the standard telephony features both the snom 720 and snom 760 support HD Voice, have dual Gigabit LAN ports, built in full duplex speaker phones, USB ports for the snom USB wireless dongle or Bluetooth headsets, and have 4 variable function keys in addition to the programmable LED keys.  

As with other snom VoIP phones they will work with most SIP based systems and are Unified Communications ready.  

Both the snom 720 and 760 phones also feature snoms’ new audio subsystem that “was designed for excellent performance in office environments” and “supports a large range of codecs, wideband audio, handset and hands-free operation according to TIA-920 standard.”

QuickPhones QA-342

• Price Range: $150

The QuickPhones QA-342 is a true “Next Generation” WiFi VoIP phone. Supporting a wide range of calling features including Phonebook, Call History and Caller ID, the QA-342 has been tested with Asterisk Open Source PBX, Trixbox, Elastix, FreeSwitch and other SIP based IP PBX platforms.

The QuickPhones QA-342 boasts a bright, backlit LCD display, durable form factor design and high-clarity, hands-free speakerphone.

With much improved battery performance, the QuickPhones QA-342 claims 14 Hour Talk Time and seven Day Standby. The QA-342 comes with an additional desktop charging cradle.

UniData WPU-7800 and SQ-3000

• Price Range: $180 to $350

With their sleek design, large color displays, and G.722 HD audio support the Wi-Fi VoIP handsets from UniData are an interesting and affordable option.

The UniData WPU-7800 features WPA2/WEP/UMA wireless security, automatic roaming, power saving technology for longer battery life,  802.11 broadband (data, video and voice network in converged service), and multimedia service.

The Unidata SQ-3000 handset has an easy-to-use, mobile phone user interface, and includes a phonebook with up to 1,000 contacts, muting and call waiting capability. The SQ-3000 has a full range of Wi-Fi security options, including 128-bit WEP and WPA.

Uniquely, the Unidata SQ-3000 handset supports high-resolution H.264 video telephony (with up to 30 fps) on its 2.8-inch touch screen with 320×240 resolution. Suitable for conference calls, the SQ-3000 has a full duplex speaker phone option for clear two way conversations and offers up to three hours of video calling and six hours of voice calling time.  Six straight hours of talking might be extreme but the strain wouldn’t be so bad as this phone weighs just 135g (0.297 lb).

Why Wi-Fi?

If you’re still unsure if Wi-Fi VoIP phones are for you, remember that this option is great if you’re simply looking to leverage your existing Wi-Fi infrastructures.  And if you choose Wi-Fi handsets over deskotp models, the wireless handsets will also help you eliminate paging delays, improve operations and enable faster responses to problems and emergencies.

Either way, desktop or cordless handsets, Wi-Fi VoIP phones will give you greater flexibility in where you want to place your office and therefore your phone, without the added costs or hassles of having to run additional Ethernet cabling.

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!

What is it?

The new Digium phones are High-Definition IP Phones designed by Digium specifically for Switchvox UC System and Asterisk-based phone systems. There are 3 phones in the series, the Digium D70, D50, and D40.

What does it do?

The Digium phones connect seemlessly to any Asterisk-based phone system, including Switchvox, Digium’s UC System.  When connected to an Asterisk Phone System, Digium Phones offer a user friendly calling experience complete with HD Voice Wideband and access to user created apps and call rules, directly from the phone. 

Being created by Digium specifically for Asterisk, Digium phones may very well have the easiest plug and play of any IP Phone. Simply plug the Digium phone into the network and the phone will automagically discover the Asterisk server, identify the phone user, and start communicating. 

Who is it for?

Digium phones are great for anyone using an Asterisk or Switchvox IP phone server.  For its initial launch, Digium released 3 models, the D70, D50, and D40 which suit different types of phone users. 

The Digium D70 being most feature rich is best suited for administrator or executives. This phone has 6 SIP lines, a 4.5in screen, and busy lamp indicators (BLF) for up to 100 contacts.  Perfect for someone who is watching employee phone time or doing many call transfers.  This model also is the only phone in the lineup with a dual Gigabit switched Ethernet ports.

The D50 is a 4-line phone with 10 rapid dial keys with BLF. With a 3.5in backlit LCD screen and dual 10/100 switched ports, this phone is perfect for mid-level or call center employees.

The D40 is a budget friendly 2-line IP Phone with a 3.5in backlit LCD. With its dual 10/100 switched PoE Ethernet ports, full duplex speakerphone, and 4 feature keys as well as access to Advanced Phone applications through the context sensitive softkeys, this phone is a perfect fit for just about any light to medium phone traffic office worker.

Availability?

So here is the ugly part…. Now that we are all hyped up and ready to try these phones out, they will not be available for shipping until April 2012. You can place your preorders now, though and as soon as we get some, we will send them out to you!

Want to try them all? VoIP Supply has created a handy dandy Lab Pack including one of each phone so you can sample each of the new Digium phones in your environment before you buy them in bulk.

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!

What is it?

The Grandstream HT701 is the next generation of analog telephone adapters (ATA) that’s designed primarily for VoIP users at home and on the road.

The new HT701 is replacing Grandstream’s HT286 ATA.

What does it do?

The Grandstream HT701 ATA adds T.38 protocol for managing faxes over your IP network.  Other main features include:

• Ultra compact design (.98in H x 2.6in W x 3.38in L) with ultra-affordability.
• Support 5 REN over up to 1km on 24 AWG line.
• Caller ID for various countries, call waiting, do-no-disturb, 3-way conference, transfer, forward, message waiting, T.38 fax, flexible dial plan, multi-language voice prompt.
• Voice codec support including G.711 with Annex I/II, G.729A/B, G.723.1, iLBC, G.726.
• Strong encryption and security protection of  your voice and data privacy using TLS/SRTP/HTTPS plus secure and automated provisioning using TR069, HTTP/HTTPS/TFTP and AES encryption.

Who is it for?

The HT701 ATA is great if you have a single analog phone line that you’d like to convert to VoIP usage for your home or small to medium business (SMB). 

In addition to that, if you are a telecommuter you’ll appreciate the HT701’s compact design for travelling and the inexpensive way this device allows conversion of standard analog phones, fax machines, and even conference phones to grant you access to IP-based phone services.

Availability?

We have a limited number of units available for pre-order with general availability expected to occur in a few weeks.

Download

• Grandstream HT701 Datasheet

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!

In Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) VoIP service, you’re allowed to use a previously existing SIP phone system as the hardware through which you run your new VoIP provider.

This process can save you a lot of time, a lot of hassle, and certainly a lot of money – which is what makes it attractive to both businesses and individuals alike.

But too many people stop at this definition and never act on it, acquiring their own BYOD VoIP service.

Why is that?

We simply believe that it’s because too few people even know how to use BYOD. That’s why we’ll provide the solution for that problem in just a few quick steps.

Acquiring a VoIP Service

The first step to ensuring you can even Bring Your Own Device is to ensure that you have something to bring your device to. It’s not a trivial matter. Signing up for a VoIP service can give your company a toll free number, phone forwarding, a menu of options, and unlimited minutes for just a little bit of money per month. Services like CallCentric and VoIP.com are eager to make you their customer for just that.

Signing up with one of these services often requires that you buy some of their SIP-enabled devices. But if you already have devices of your own, you’re ready to move to the next step. (Keep in mind that in this step, you’ll want to ensure you use a VoIP service that offers a BYOD service).

Bringing Your Own Device

Once you have both a VoIP provider willing to setup your BYOD device for usage and you’re sure you have an SIP-enabled device capable of handling the work, you’ll be able to actually “Bring Your Own Device” and get started very quickly. This is a handy way to start out with your VoIP service as you can start making calls in a matter of minutes and not wait 5-7 business days for your new hardware to arrive in the mail.

Of course, a number of devices can qualify for these offerings, so it will be important that you know both which devices are accepted and which ones you have on your hands. It also helps to be aware of softphones, which can help you use a VoIP service while you’re waiting for a hardware device to be either set up or mailed to you.

Once you’ve completed this process, you can make phone calls just as you would at any other time – except you’ll be paying a lot less for them.

Related Articles

• What is “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) VoIP?
• List of BYOD VoIP Service Providers

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!

Results showed that 97% of our customers are likely or very likely to buy from VoIP Supply again.

We’re very happy to share that a recent customer experience survey revealed extraordinary customer loyalty due to VoIP Supply’s:

• Product Availability
• Price
• Expertise

VoIP Supply’s Survey Says…

In December 2011 VoIP Supply conducted a customer satisfaction survey of more than 500 of our customers.  From the results of that survey we were flattered to learn of a fantastic amount of appreciation that our customers have for our efforts.

The Numbers:

• 98 Percent:  The number of customers likely or very likely to recommend VoIP Supply to colleagues or other businesses.
• 97 Percent: The number likely or very likely to purchase from VoIP Supply again.
• 87 Percent:  87% of customers report an exceptional or above average experience with VoIP Supply.
• Half:  Half of the customers consider VoIP Supply literally the best in the industry.

How did VoIP Supply garner such astonishing customer loyalty?  Survey respondents cited a number of reasons, chief among them include product availability (81%), price (76%), and more than half value our customer service and expertise.

“Our number one goal at VoIP Supply is to provide outstanding service to all of our customers throughout their experience,” said Benjamin P. Sayers, President and CEO of VoIP Supply. “I am really pleased at the strong degree of satisfaction our customers have for all we do. We will continue to strive to always exceed their expectations.”

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!

That’s not how it works in VoIP. Bring Your Own Device VoIP often helps the person bringing the device by saving them money on hardware they don’t have to buy from their new VoIP provider. Are we getting ahead of you yet?

If so, keep on reading and you’ll know exactly how a Bring Your Own Device program can save you and your company a nice chunk of change.

What Does it Mean?

Let’s say you’re about to sign up to a VoIP plan for your business and you’re excited about how easy it will make your phone systems. That’s great – but you realize that something’s missing: the actual phone hardware from which you plan on making your company calls.

Many VoIP providers are aware of this problem and will eagerly sell you some great phone hardware that’s compatible with VoIP systems. But many VoIP providers will let you use whatever SIP-ready device you have for their services. You are, essentially, bringing your own device, making the acronym BYOD more than adequate to explain the terminology.

Who Offers BYOD VoIP?

A vast majority of honest, top-tier VoIP providers should have a BYOD program that you can

 use, sometimes at very little cost to have set up. Services like CallCentric, Skype, and VoIP.com are all BYOD-enabled, allowing you to use the hardware you already have on hand to handle your voice and communication issues at your company.

To say that this allows you to reduce a lot of overhead is an understatement. Essentially, BYOD VoIP means that you can have cheap-to-setup, low-monthly phone services that still make your company a professional one…but without the professional prices. In this economy, it doesn’t get much better than that.

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!

Note: 

Like most people you’re probably accustomed to using a cell phone. So, why not have that same freedom of movement in the workplace?

Mobility is one of the major benefits of a Wireless VoIP solution.

However, wireless VoIP is not as mature as cellular technology so best practice is to have reasonable expectations of what to expect from these types of systems.

How Does Wireless VoIP Work?

Wireless VoIP, as the term suggests, is a VoIP phone freeing you from the constraints of wires.  It is similar in fit, finish and functionality to traditional VoIP phones expect that on the wireless versions, the Ethernet port on the phone is not required to connect to your LAN or your computer for VoIP phone service.

A wireless VoIP Phone is a VoIP Phone with a built-in Wi-Fi or DECT transceiver unit that connects to an access point or base station. This allows you to move freely around your home and or office while on a call. You can even send and receive calls at a wireless hot spot.

Wireless VoIP allows you and your employees to: 

• Freely wander about the office while maintaining continuous availability.
• Leave the desk to assist customers directly from warehouse or sales floor.
• Increase efficiency and productivity by decreasing response time to events or questions. 

Types of Wireless VoIP Phones

There are two basic types of wireless VoIP phones.  Which type you choose will determine how it is connected to your network: 

WiFi VoIP Phones

A wireless access point is needed to connect and register with a service provider or PBX. These phones normally work with the 802.11b/g standard and will scan to find the nearest access point.  The majority of WiFi VoIP phones are cordless but, the Cisco SPA525G2 is a standard desktop model with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support.

DECT VoIP Phones

Operating with a wireless handset but, these phones have a base station that is hardwired to an internet connection and then the signal is transmitted wirelessly to the handset. These are single line phones, have a range of 300 square feet from the base station, and signal repeaters are available if you need to increase the handsets range from the base station.

Next Time

In the coming posts in this series we’ll take a further look at available wireless VoIP phones, the advantages of a Wi-Fi system, and how to set up such a system in your home or office.

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!

Note: 

Completing this series on when to choose DECT over Wi-Fi,  Jim Kander, North American Sales Manager for the Polycom KIRK line, joins us one last time to provide you with the best practices for installation and advice on things you need to make sure you do and things you should be sure to avoid.

To recap, Part I of this series helped users distinguish the differences between DECT (Polyom KIRK ) and Wi-Fi (Polycom SpectraLink) and Part II outlined what’s needed to make the solution work.

Site Surveys Key to Wireless Installation

VoIP Supply:  Jim, you’ve cleared up the vagaries between DECT and Wi-Fi and provided a short list of necessary system components.  Now how do we get this thing to work?

Can you tell our reader what the best practices are for installing a wireless VoIP system?

James Kander, Polycom:  When dealing with RF [radio frequency], every site is unique. Radio coverage depends on a variety of factors such as:

• Building architecture
• Construction materials
• Number of users and usage pattern
• Traffic distribution

A floor plan can be submitted to Polycom for an estimate of the base station number and placement. Deployment kits are available from Polycom to perform a thorough site survey prior to installation/turn up.

Each handset is equipped with a built in site survey which allows users to see signal strength, packet loss, channel utilization and other tools for troubleshooting.

Questions?

I hope this series was informative.  As always, if you have any questions please give us a call.  VoIP Supply is a Certified Polycom Channel Partner.

Related Links

• Polycom KIRK Deployment Guide
• Polycom KIRK 1610 Diagnostic Tool for Fault Finding & Deployment
• Polycom Deployment Kit

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!

ClearSea

LifeSize ClearSea, the enterprise class client/server video collaboration solution for remote and mobile users, can now be updated to Sofware Version 2.0.12 that includes support for:

• Customizable banner image in mobile clients.
• New server-side contacts search and improved LDAP integration.
• Stability fixes.

Connections Compatibility

LifeSize Connections with the latest Software Version 4.9 update will now work with:

• LifeSize Express 220
• LifeSize Team 220
• LifeSize Passport

If you have either the LifeSize 220 Series or Passport video systems you must download Version 4.9 to take advantage of Connections.

Passport Connect Now Available

LifeSize Passport Connect is now available. Passport Connect is a  revolutionary HD video system optimized for cloud-based solutions, and when paired with LifeSize® Connections, provides:

• Auto-provisioning and seamless firewall traversal.
• Intuitive user interface with name-based dialing.
• Presence icons and search functionality.

Downloads

• LifeSize ClearSea Software Version 2.0.12
• Latest ClearSear Release Notes
• LifeSize Software Version 4.9 for LifeSize Connections Compatibility
• LifeSize Video Systems (220 Series, Passport) Support
• LifeSize Passport Release Notes

Questions?

If you have any questions our LifeSize specialist Andria Baunee will be happy to help you.

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!

Unified Communications

The Polycom VVX 500 is a sleek new HD voice VoIP phone offering a familiar touch screen experience.  A touch screen experience that’s so familiar I’m confident that even my iPad toting dad can use this phone with little to no training. 

Time Saver

Time saving is Polycom’s goal for the VVX 500 through a small learning curve, desktop and mobile device integration, and fingertip access to your information.  The VVX 500’s 3.5 inch touch screen provides a quick look at your synced calendar, contacts, and streaming media (news, sports, weather, stocks) to give you a jump on your day while your computer boots up.

Performance

Billed as a performance business media phone, the VVX 500 targets busy workers that need a phone to keep up with their multi-tasking.  Or, this phone is for anyone who really hates lag time and thinks 15 seconds for a video to load is an outrage. 

The touchscreen’s response time is super-fast and very intuitive whether you’re entering data, scrolling through menus, or jumping from app to app.  Navigation is tuned to resemble smartphones.

Features & Functions

The VVX 500 is compatible with DECT, Wi-Fi, 3G/4G networks, and Bluetooth for wireless audio expansions including electronic hook switch (EHS) with select headsets.   When standard forms of communication aren’t enough, the ultimate remote collaboration solution is possible with video conferencing. 

An optional USB camera will be available that simply clips onto the phone console above the touch screen.  Watch this Polycom VVX 500 video (scroll to 1:20 mark) for a video conferencing demo.  Granted the small screen won’t give you much range for video conferencing but, in a pinch this simple solution may be all you need to be productive in a small office setting.

The VVX 500 incorporates the Polycom Desktop Connector which is their fancy way of saying this phone connects to your PC allowing keyboard and mouse sharing.  This option works well when you’re at your PC and using a wireless headset. Being able to manipulate the VVX 500 phone screen with your mouse or keyboard can speed up or simplify dialing or other phone interactions when you’re in the middle of using other computer based programs.

Featuring HTML5 media playback, dual USB ports, built-in apps plus API for third-party applications; Polycom’s VVX 500 is built for speed and performance while also being customizable, future proof, and expandable. 

Until a better and more integrated solution comes along, desktop phones are still proving useful and at less than $250.00 the Polycom VVX 500 might be the most flexible and easy to use desktop phone we’ve seen. 

What’s in the box?

• VVX 500 Console (7.5”W x 6”H x 7”D) 
• Handset with cord 
• LAN cable 
• Built-in Power over Ethernet (PoE) – External Universal AC Adaptor is optional and not included. 
• Quick Start Guide
• 1-year warranty

FAQ

How do you sync with calendar and contacts? Does the Polycom VVX 500 sync to Microsoft Outlook only or Google and OSX too?

• Sync is for Microsoft Outlook only and you need to log on to your credentials on the unit to get the sync up.

How is the Polycom VVX 500 used with DECT, WiFi, 3G/4G networks?

• The VVX 500 has two USB host ports and any accessories will be connected via a USB dongle for DECT, WiFi,3G/4G.

When will the optional USB camera be available and how much will it cost?

• USB camera is planned by the middle of 2012. No cost determination for it at this time.

What video conferencing platform does the Polycom VVX 500 support?  Is a VVX 500 required on both sides of the video conversation or is it possible to use something like Facetime on an iPhone?

• VVX 500 will be interoperable with Polycom’s video collaboration tool, Polycom RealPresence Desktop, and integrate fully with the RealPresence platform when video conferencing capability is available via the optional USB camera.  The VVX 500 will have open SIP standards so with interoperability testing it can be possible to work with other SIP based clients.

Does Polycom Desktop Connector only support Windows or does it also support OSX, Linux, or HTML5?

• Polycom Desktop Connector supports Windows only at this time.

Downloads

• Polycom VVX 500 Datasheet
• Polycom VVX 500 User Guide

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!