SIP phones may seem like an afterthought, especially if you view telephony as a commodity service that “just works.” But choosing the right SIP phones has a direct bearing on VoIP’s value, especially among end-users.
At a minimum, you want comparable features to your legacy phones. But with SIP phones, you should expect more. Core features enable a good everyday end-user VoIP experience. Keep in mind, not all SIP phones are created equal.
Here’s a list of basic features to look for in a SIP phone during the buying process:
- Programmable keys
VoIP is more flexible and feature-rich than legacy systems, providing many options for employees
to customize their phones. -
Call management keys
It’s easy to perform routine tasks such as call hold, transfer, conference, redial, change to speaker mode, etc. -
Display screen
Consider the size, backlighting and ease of navigation. VoIP is your entry point into multimedia communication, making this feature a key value driver for moving beyond legacy, especially for managing shared call appearances. -
Multi-line support
Determine how many lines your phone should support, and the extent to which the status of calls on other lines or extensions will be monitored. -
Directories
Look for the ease of importing and exporting to and from other devices, as well as managing them in terms of access control, blocking calls, etc. -
Support for other audio modes
Look for a speakerphone with volume controls and compatibility with a headset or that enables hands-free options. -
Power and connectivity options
Your deskset should have the ability to support Power over Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet speed. -
Audio quality
Your deskset should support G.729 VoIP codec, as well as G.722 for wideband audio and HD voice.
