As workers break free from the shackles of their desk with BYOD, office communication is changing as well.
Staff are no longer reliant on landlines to chat to colleagues, customers and partners thanks to Voice over Internet Protocol.
The technology means providers handle most of the hard work, all you need is a broadband connection.
Let’s have a look at five of our favourite VoIP phones, and what they offer you.
ZTE V500 – Business Video IP Phone
This ZTE model has a seven-inch colour screen to help you communicate face to face, even when you’re not. Its HD audio sound is of good quality and dual network ports connect support bridging mode, too.
Cisco Small Business SPA8000-G5 Gateway
This Cisco model is a bit of a mouthful, but helps businesses leverage their existing analog phones to an IP network. It’s affordable and includes a 10/100Base-T RJ-45 Ethernet interface, which can connect to a router as well as a multi-layer switch.
Avaya One-X Deskphone Value Edition
The Avaya One-X works across a variety of devices and interfaces, and supports 16 keys on the phone. A 32 button expansion model offers 48 features that go from basic conference, transfer and hold options to scrolling through contact lists and call logs.
There’s a good two-way speakerphone and it works with a wide range of Avaya wired and non-wired headsets.
HP 4110 IP Phone
This HP model is optimised for Microsoft Lync as a common area telephone, and is standalone and a cheap option for companies looking for a decent phone to put in places such as lobbies and receptions.
You can use it for hot desking too, as it allows users to log into their Lync account by tapping in their PIN.
Polycom CX300
The first thing you notice about this phone is its excellent audio, with no echoes even when you’re using it hands free.
It integrates well with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 and boasts a monochrome display that is backlit, too.
