The Enduring Relevance of Desk Phones

A few years ago, there was a vicious rumor spreading throughout the telecom scene that desk phones were going the way of floppy disks, pet rocks and waterbeds. That hasn’t played out. 

In fact, recent events confirm desk phones are still necessary. And it isn’t changing anytime soon - We need real phones. Here's why:

Call Quality and Reliability

Clear and reliable communication is paramount. Desk phones provide exceptional call quality, eliminating the issues of dropped calls, poor reception, and background noise. This helps with effective and efficient communication, enhancing productivity and customer satisfaction.

Importance of a Dedicated Line

Most of us have smartphones, but those devices aren’t usually appropriate for an office setting (they are distracting, broken, lost, easily hacked, easily cracked…The list is endless.) Desk phones allow for a dedicated business line, separating personal and professional calls. 

Ergonomic and Professional Image

Desk phones are ergonomically designed for long conversations, reducing strain during extended calls. Desk phones also offer a physical presence in an office setting, projecting a more professional image. 

Here are some VoIP use cases, most common types, and what makes them different. 

VoIP Desk Phones

Desk phones are a familiar and recognizable staple in most offices. Typically equipped with a variety of (sometimes confusing) call-handling buttons and flashing lights, they’re ideal for professional and casual work environments. 

These devices are used by employees, receptionists or guests and create an impressive and efficient communication hub for the entire organization.

VoIP devices have the appearance of traditional landline desk phones, without the need for old-school phone jacks or being tied down to a specific location. They also have the capability for HD voice calls. For landline calling, audio frequency range is commonly limited to a narrower band of frequencies. The most common standard for landline telephony - PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), typically supports frequencies ranging from 300 Hz to 3,400 Hz. This limited frequency range is a result of historical and technical considerations.

On the other hand, VoIP calling has the potential to support a wider audio frequency range, including frequencies within the entire human audible range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. 

Growing businesses need solutions that scale. VoIP phones provide exactly that flexibility. Adding new lines or extensions is a breeze, and as your organization evolves, your system can grow with you. 

VoIP seamlessly integrates with other business applications like CRM software, billing, call analytics and call recording. This further enhances efficiency and productivity (especially if you have a cold spare). 

Cordless VoIP Phones

Cordless VoIP devices have emerged as the epitome of convenience and flexibility, especially when working in an environment where being mobile throughout the office is necessary. Users experience the best of both worlds - the convenience of cordless mobility and the efficiency of VoIP communication. Whether moving from one meeting room to another or simply the flexibility to work from different office locations, cordless VoIP ensures uninterrupted communication without tethering to a specific spot.

VoIP Video Phone

Video phones combine the functionalities of desk phones with the advantage of video calling capabilities. With large screens, feature-packed designs, sleek touch screens, and a premium calling experience, IP video phones are a game-changer in business communication.

By seamlessly integrating video calling into the traditional desk phone setup, these devices cater to individuals who require frequent video conferencing throughout their workday. These devices are equally suited in business and home offices, offering a versatile solution for remote employees, medical professionals, and teams collaborating across distances (just to name a few).

Whether you need to join impromptu video conferences, conduct virtual meetings, or simply have a more immersive and engaging conversation, video phones enable real-time visual interaction, fostering enhanced understanding, non-verbal cues, and strengthening professional relationships.

If you are thinking about ditching desk phones - seriously reconsider. The technology is now available to:

• Extend the useful life of your current devices
• Migrate to a different provider like Zoom
• Secure devices against firmware downgrades
• Keep e-waste out of landfills, lower energy usage and costs

Interested in learning more? Contact us today!

Phonism supports over 260 device types and over 1400 versions of firmware. Below is a partial list of devices we currently support. The entire list is here. 

Polycom:

CCX Series: CCX 400, CCX 500, CCX 600, CCX 700

RealPresence Trio Series: RealPresence Trio 8300, RealPresence Trio 8500, RealPresence Trio 8800

SoundPoint IP Series: SoundPoint IP 301, SoundPoint IP 320, SoundPoint IP 321, SoundPoint IP 330, SoundPoint IP 331, SoundPoint IP 335, SoundPoint IP 430, SoundPoint IP 450, SoundPoint IP 500, SoundPoint IP 501, SoundPoint IP 550, SoundPoint IP 560, SoundPoint IP 600, SoundPoint IP 601, SoundPoint IP 650, SoundPoint IP 670

SoundStation IP Series: SoundStation IP 5000, SoundStation IP 6000, SoundStation IP 7000, SoundStation IP Duo

SoundStructure: SoundStructure VOIP

VVX Series: VVX 101, VVX 150, VVX 1500, VVX 201, VVX 250, VVX 300, VVX 301, VVX 310, VVX 311, VVX 350, VVX 400, VVX 401, VVX 410, VVX 411, VVX 450, VVX 500, VVX 501, VVX 600, VVX 601, VVX D60

Snom:

C Series: C520-WiMi

D Series: D120, D715, D717, D735, D785

M Series: M500

Fanvil:

X Series: X1, X1P, X2C, X2P, X3G, X3S, X3SP, X4, X4G, X5S, X6

Cisco:

CP-6800 Series: CP-6821-3PCC, CP-6841-3PCC, CP-6851-3PCC, CP-6861-3PCC, CP-6871-3PCC

CP-7800 Series: CP-7811-3PCC, CP-7821-3PCC, CP-7832-3PCC, CP-7841-3PCC, CP-7861-3PCC

CP-8800 Series: CP-8811-3PCC, CP-8832-3PCC, CP-8841-3PCC, CP-8845-3PCC, CP-8851-3PCC, CP-8861-3PCC, CP-8865-3PCC, CP-8875-3PCC

DBS Series: DBS-210-3PC

SPA Series: SPA112, SPA122, SPA301, SPA303, SPA501G, SPA502G, SPA504G, SPA508G, SPA509G, SPA512G, SPA514G, SPA525G2

Yealink:

CP Series: CP860, CP920, CP925, CP935W, CP960, CP965

T Series: T19P, T19P E2, T20P, T21P, T21P E2, T22P, T23P/G, T26P, T27G

T27P, T28P, T29G, T30P, T31G, T31P, T32G, T33G, T40G, T40P, T41P, T41S, T42G, T42S, T42U, T43U, T46G, T46S, T46U, T48G, T48S, T48U, T49G, T52S, T53, T53W, T54S, T54W, T56A, T57W, T58A, T58W, VP530, VP59W52 

Series: W52H, W52P/W56P, W53H, W56H, W60P, W70B, W76P

Grandstream:

DP Series: DP715, DP750

GAC Series: GAC2500

GRP Series: GRP2612, GRP2612P, GRP2612W, GRP2615, GRP2624

GXP Series: GXP1100, GXP1105, GXP1160, GXP1165, GXP1200, GXP1400, GXP1405, GXP1450, GXP1610, GXP1615, GXP1620, GXP1625, GXP1628, GXP1630, GXP1760, GXP1760W, GXP1780, GXP1782, GXP2100, GXP2110, GXP2120, GXP2124, GXP2130, GXP2135, GXP2140, GXP2160, GXP2170, GXP2200

GXV Series: GXV3000, GXV3005, GXV3006, GXV3140, GXV3175, GXV3175V2, GXV3240, GXV3275, GXV3350, GXV3370, GXV3380

GXW Series: GXW4216_V1, GXW4216_V2, GXW4224_V1, GXW4224_V2, GXW4232_V1, GXW4232_V2, GXW4248_V1, GXW4248_V2

HT Series: HT286, HT486, HT503, HT701, HT702, HT704, HT801, HT802, HT812, HT814, HT818

Avaya:

J Series: J129, J139, J159, J169, J179, J189

Mitel:

6730i, 6731i, 6735i, 6737i, 6739i, 6863i, 6867i, 6869i, 6873i

Htek:

UC9 Series: UC902, UC903, UC912G, UC912P, UC923, UC924, UC924E, UC926, UC926E

Polycom OBi Edition:

• OBi Series: OBi 300, OBi 302, OBi 312, OBi 504, OBi 508
• Rove Series: Rove B2, Rove B4
• VVX Series: VVX 150