Why Polycom?
With a myriad of options on the VoIP market, including having no phone at all, your choice for a business handset can be a difficult one. Here are a few reasons that I, and many other providers, recommend Polycom.
Polycom is a phone leader
Many associate Polycom with their successful line of conference room phones
Most people in the business world recognize the brand name because they have a Polycom conference phone. The reason Polycom gained such prominence in conferencing is they invented the full duplex speakerphone. Once upon a time, you weren’t always able to have a real-time 2-way conversation over speakerphone – only one party could speak at a time. This was not much better than using a 2 way radio! Polycom brought this change to market and other phone makers followed.
Polycom has the best features
I’m writing a separate blog about this topic to go into more detail, but know that Polycom has brought to market many of the features we use every day. In addition to full duplex speakerphones, Polycom has pioneered transformative features such as HD Voice, echo cancellation, and more – stay tuned for more information about great Polycom features.
Polycom has the highest quality
The VVX 500, a high quality phone by Polycom
High quality is not for everyone. You may not be interested in having your phone last more than a couple years, be easy to use, or be susceptible to breaking. But the reality is that most knowledge workers or busy corporate professionals and executives still rely on their phones on a daily basis, and most appreciate a quality phone. By taking advantage of an aggressive rebate offer, the price delta between Polycom and cheap IP phones is not that large anymore. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for info about the VVX 101 and 201, which will bring the same Polycom quality at a lower price point for businesses with tight budgets.
Polycom has excellent compatibility
Another great advantage is that Polycom holds is its compatibility across VoIP platforms. Factory-built compatibility with Broadsoft, Asterisk and Metaswtich platforms means that customers can enjoy the most features on the market. This means that if you are purchasing the handsets, the investment will likely last far longer than the initial term you just signed. And because VoIP phones can load different versions of firmware, your features can all stay up to date. Polycom also has open APIs, which allow custom development, so users can add their own features. No other VoIP phone maker can boast such compatibility.
Polycom has advanced SIP integration
SIP integration is a technical way of saying that the Polycom phones will work in sync with your VoIP platform. An example is enabling call forwarding – by hitting the Call Forward button on your desk phone, you’ll also be able to login to your Broadsoft portal and see that the forwarding has taken place there as well. In this example, the phone acts as an extension of the platform. Since Broadsoft is also a carrier switch, the user has the same power as a carrier switch technician, without even having to login to Broadsoft. This may seem like a simple feature, but its power cannot be overstated for BC/DR purposes.
The phone landscape will continue to evolve and new products will add more dimensions to an already underutilized service. The increased use of smartphones and Web RTC may lead some to believe that the business phone’s extinction is on the horizon, just like the PSTN is. This writer does not agree – businesses are used to and rely on high-quality, feature-rich voice services. And with leaders like Polycom adapting early to market needs, the business phone is here to stay.