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VoIP Phones Buyer's Guide

VoIP Phones Buyer's Guide

Updated by Jay Brant on February 26, 2024

The VoIP Phone or IP Phone is one of the fundamental devices for professional business communications. It improves on the traditional phone with richer audio quality, centralized network-based management, multiple device integration, and many more possible features.

Buying a VoIP phone is an investment in your business success and style of work. It can improve worker and customer satisfaction while enhancing productivity. In this VoIP Phones Buyer’s Guide, we cover everything you need to know when shopping for VoIP phones. And we do it in clear, non-technical language.

 

What Is a VoIP phone?

A VoIP phone is a phone that transmits calls over internet technology. Rather than connecting directly to the traditional phone network, a VoIP phone runs through a VoIP phone system. A VoIP phone is also known as an IP phone: two names for the same thing.

We sell VoIP phones from the leading and most-trusted manufacturers, including:

Poly VVX 250 IP Phone

Poly VVX 250 is a familiar mid-range VoIP phone with HD Voice audio technology. It has a color display and dual Gigabit Ethernet ports.

The Most Important Thing to Know About VoIP Phones

A VoIP phone must be connected to a VoIP phone system to work.

You can’t just connect a VoIP phone to a phone jack or to the internet and expect it to work. It won’t work with residential landline service. It won’t work simply connected to the internet without being configured with a VoIP phone system.

So we repeat: A VoIP phone must be connected to a VoIP phone system.

The First Question to Ask When Shopping for a VoIP Phone

What VoIP phone system am I going to connect this VoIP phone to?

This is the first question you need to ask when shopping for a VoIP phone. Your phone must be compatible with your phone system.

There are two basic varieties of VoIP phone system: on-premise or cloud. An on-premise VoIP phone system is owned and operated by your company, such as an IP PBX made by Grandstream or Yeastar. A cloud VoIP phone system is a subscription service that provides business telephony control, like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Nextiva, RingCentral, OnSIP, 8x8, GoTo, or Google Voice by Google Workspace.

For an extensive look at VoIP phone systems, check out our clear, detailed VoIP Phone Systems Buyer’s Guide.

 

What Is VoIP?

VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. In essence, VoIP is a set of computer languages, software, and hardware for communications using internet technology, rather than using the technologies associated with the traditional phone system (PSTN or POTS). VoIP offers a host of improvements over traditional telephony, including better audio performance, centralized management, advanced features including unified communications, professional-grade security, integration for dispersed locations, mobile device integration, and much more.

Yealink T46U IP Phone

Looking for an everyday phone for the office? Yealink T46U gives you 16 lines, Optima HD audio qaultiy, large color display, USB headset support, and more: everything you need for the day-to-day.

What Is a SIP Phone?

The most popular version of a VoIP phone is a SIP phone. In fact, SIP phones are now the de facto standard.

SIP phones are VoIP phones that runs the SIP communications protocol. SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol. It’s an open standard, which means no single company owns it. Because they run an open stantard, SIP phones are interoperable across SIP phone systems. That said, not every feature will be available on every platform, because companies build on the SIP stack, customizing it for their platform. If you want a full feature-set with your phone system of choice, you need to double check compatibility.

For more about SIP, check out our blog, “What Is a SIP Phone? An Easy to Understand Explainer.”

Yealink MP54 Microsoft Teams Phone

Yealink MP54 gives you a Microsoft Teams Certified phone with touchscreen display, Android-based OS and Optima HD and Noise Proof technology.

Does Microsoft Teams support VoIP phones?

Microsoft Teams is a popular unified communications service that’s part of Microsoft 365. Starting as a corporate chat application, Teams now encompasses many forms of communications, including video conferencing and VoIP telephony. While Teams does support VoIP telephony, Microsoft has a certification program that ensures a VoIP phone will be fully compatible with the service. To achieve certification, the phone must also meet a strict level of audio performance, integrate fully with Teams accounts, and more.

If you want to use a VoIP phone with Microsoft Teams, shop Microsoft Teams Certified VoIP Phones.

Does Microsoft Teams Support SIP Phones?

Yes, Microsoft Teams does support many (though certainly not all) SIP phones that aren’t certified. It supports them via SIP Gateway, a backend feature of the service. For more on Microsoft Teams SIP Gateway, check out our blog, “Can you use SIP phones with Microsoft Teams?

Can I Use a VoIP Phone At Home?

The short answer is yes, but, same as if you use it anywhere else, the phone needs to connect to a VoIP phone system or cloud phone service. You can’t just plug it into a phone jack or connect it to the internet and expect it to work. It won’t.

 

Who Uses VoIP phones? What Types of VoIP Phones Do They Use?

VoIP phones are incredibly varied. There are options for every level of user. We’re going to cover some of most common use-cases and explain which kind of VoIP phone is right for each. We also explain what features to look for when shopping:

Poly Edge E450 IP Phone

Poly Edge E450 has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, an integrated sidecar, USB-C port, and more. It boasts exceptional audio with HD Voice, Acoustic Fencem and NoiseBlockAI, plus speakers designed to enhance bass frequencies.

VoIP Phones for Executives

Executives require elite performance: best-in-class audio, large color displays, deep feature setsm and numerous lines. An executive VoIP phone should grace the C-Level desk with both style and substance. If you’re an executive who’s always on the phone, make sure it supports expansion modules for extra keys. A first-class speakerphone with excellent noise reduction is greatly appreciated, as is support for either USB or Bluetooth headsets.

VoIP Phones for Receptionists

In most offices, the receptionist uses the phone more than anyone else. Importantly, they’re also the front line of your business. Because of that, they require a phone that supports HD audio quality. When shopping for a receptionist VoIP phone, make sure to look at how many lines the phone supports to make sure they can perform their job effectively. If the receptionist needs extra feature keys for speed dial, internal extensions, call parking, and other common applications, make sure the phone supports expansion modules.

Everyday VoIP Phones

An everyday VoIP phone for an everyday worker: this is probably the most common use-case for VoIP phones. Mid-range VoIP phones need to check a number of boxes. They need to provide a familiar interface, whether that’s a physical keypad or a touchscreen. HD audio quality is a must, because it increases comprehension and offers a professional experience for both talker and listener. They need to balance performance and affordability.

Poly Trio C60 IP Conference Phone

Designed for groups of 8 or more people, Poly Trio C60 offers superior audio quality, including NoiseBlockAI. You can daisy-chain up to 3 of them for extra-large conferences.

VoIP Phones for Group Calls

There are two ways to think about group calls. You can have a group call where you are by yourself talking with other people, in which case you’ll want to make sure that your phone supports enough local conferencing users. Alternately, you have groups calls where you are with other people on one end of a call, in which case you’ll want a conference phone. We cover VoIP conference phones below. For both cases, because there are more people on a call, which equates to more potential noise being created, you should make sure your group call VoIP phone has excellent noise reduction.

VoIP Phones for Call Centers

When you think of a call center, you think of rows of desks or cubicles with agents busy on phones. A call center VoIP phone doesn’t need to be high-end or feature-packed: it needs to be reliable and long-lasting. The centralized management provided by VoIP makes it simple to enable features like monitor or record calls, manager step in, change users between shifts and so on. An essential component for a contact center is a headset, which ensures private conversations and reduced ambient noise. We cover what headsets you can use with a VoIP phone below.

Grandstream GRP2601 IP Phone

Grandstream VoIP Phones include reliable and cost-effective options for common space phones like the Grandstream GRP2601, pictured above.

VoIP Phones for Common Spaces

Common spaces like lobbies can also require phones. Even a retail store phone or grocery store phone could be considered a common space VoIP phone. When you have a VoIP phone for a public space, you have one major concern: security. VoIP phones typically have two Ethernet ports. Some of them, however, have only one port, and these one-port VoIP phones are highly useful for common spaces. An open Ethernet port is an invitation to a hacker. If you use a two-port phone, you can disable the second port through the management portal. Also, you’ll probably want to make sure that the phone is wall mountable. Manufacturers offer wall mount brackets that are specifically designed for particular models. As for the phone itself, common space phones tend to be simple and durable. You don’t need to go feature hunting. For more, check out our blog, “Common Sense About Common Area VoIP Phones.”

VoIP Phones for Hybrid Workers

Hybrid workers alternate between working in the office and from home. Increasingly common, hybrid workers require communications devices at both locations. Using a softphone with a headset is one solution, but many workers still prefer desk phones. Our suggestions for home office workers (see below) apply to hybrid workers at home. For many hybrid offices, hot desking is an important method of providing workers with individual desk phones while being efficient about resource usage. Hot desking allows users to sign into their accounts on a shared desk phone. For more on hot desking, read our blog, “Hot Desking on VoIP Phones for Hybrid Workers.”

VoIP Phones for Home Office Workers

The number of people working from home is increasing rapidly. A home office VoIP phone is highly useful, giving you a professional device that is dedicated to work. One feature in particular that many home office workers appreciate is Wi-Fi connectivity. A VoIP phone that supports Wi-Fi eliminates the need to run Ethernet cable in your home. We discuss using Wi-Fi with VoIP phones in more detail below. Many home office workers are now using softphones rather than physical phones. If this is the case, follow the recommendations for remote workers below. For more, check out our blog: “ How to Find the Best Home Office VoIP Phone.”

VoIP Phones for Mobile Workers

Mobile workers are a special case. As a mobile worker, you’ll be on the move, so you won’t be using a physical VoIP phone. Instead, you’ll likely use a softphone with a smartphone or laptop. Because these devices offer subpar audio performance, a headset or portable speakerphone is a must. If you work in a public place, a headset in particular is a must for privacy. For using a headset or speakerphone with your laptop, you’ll want one with USB connectivity. Make sure you get the appropriate USB connection: USB-A (Standard USB) or USB-C. For using one with a smartphone, you’ll probably want Bluetooth connectivity. If you want to use a Bluetooth headset or speakerphone with a laptop, you’ll likely need a USB dongle.

Poly CCX 500 IP Phone

Many businesses use Microsoft Teams to integrate their remote workers. Poly CCX 500 is certified for Teams with a touchscreen display and native Bluetooth support.

VoIP Phones for Remote Workers

One of the primary advantages of VoIP compared with traditional telephony is that you can integrate remote workers on the same VoIP phone system as if they were in the same office. This also applies to businesses with campuses, split teams, multiple corporate locations and so on. Remote workers have similar needs to either home office workers or mobile workers, so we recommend reading those sections for inspiration on what features to look for.

VoIP Phones for Hospitals

Hospitals and healthcare institutions can have specific requirements that limit the type of phone they can choose. Hospital VoIP phones might need to be easy to clean, which means specific design choices to make sure the device can withstand water and cleaners. There are a variety of other features that can make the phone appropriate for healthcare environments. The Poly Rove Series of wireless VoIP phones, for example, features Microban technology to fight bacteria all day long. Because of the dynamic nature of the workplace, healthcare VoIP phones are often wireless.

VoIP Intercoms, VoIP Paging

We just wanted to touch on this briefly. VoIP is much more than telephony. You can also have VoIP intercoms, door entry phones, emergency phones, PA speakers, paging systems and more. Using VoIP for these solutions means centralized device management, improved audio quality, streamlined infrastructure and more.

Want to learn more about paging? Read our clear, detailed Paging Systems Buyer’s Guide.

 

What features do VoIP phones support?

VoIP phones support vastly more features than a traditional phone. We’re going to cover some of the major features that you can find on a VoIP phone. Many of these features come standard. However, some may not be available on every phone and some are dependent on the phone system for availability.

Yealink T33 IP Phone

Bringing exceptional audio performance at entry-level prices, Yealink T33G offers Smart Noise Filtering to greatly reduce background audio distractions.

HD Audio

One of the primary features that distinguishes a VoIP phone from a traditional phone is HD audio. By HD audio, manufacturers mean that the phone can capture and broadcast a larger band of the audio spectrum than a traditional phone. Voices sound fuller and more natural as more of the spectrum is covered. Studies have shown that better audio can improve comprehension. Many manufacturers have branded their versions of HD audio: for example, most Yealink VoIP Phones feature Optima HD.

Note that not all VoIP phones support HD audio. Support can also depend on the VoIP phone system settings, how many people are on calls at the same time and the strength of your internet connection. There are also other factors like what audio codec is being used. For more information, check out our blog, “What’s in a Name? Audio Codecs.”

Narrowband, Wideband, Fullband

When researching VoIP phone audio quality, there are a few related terms you might come across: narrowband, wideband, and fullband. These terms, as you might guess, refer to how much of the audio spectrum is being captured and/or broadcasted.

  • Narrowband. The phone covers the range that the typical human voice resides within: roughly 300 Hz to 3.4 kHz.
  • Wideband. The phone covers an extended range of the audio spectrum so voices sound fuller without the audio stream using up too much bandwidth: roughly 50 Hz to 7 kHz.
  • Fullband. The phone covers the complete range of the audio spectrum that human ears can typically perceive: 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

In terms of user experience, the more of the audio spectrum is covered, the fuller and more natural voices will sound. The trade-off is that increasing sound quality also increases the size of the data stream.

Background Noise Reduction

VoIP phones offer significantly improved noise reduction compared with traditional phones. Poly, for example, offers NoiseBlockAI, which detects whether or not you’re speaking and dynamically mutes and unmutes the phone accordingly. This cuts out the noise of shuffling papers, coughs and so on when you’re not speaking, leading to a much clearer call. Noise reduction is a big deal for business, particularly for open office phones, home office phones and conference phones.

Speakerphone

Almost every VoIP phone will have a full-duplex speakerphone that you can use for hands-free communications or impromptu group calls. The big issue with speakerphones is background noise. Many phones offer enhanced background noise reduction that showcase what is possible with VoIP phones. For example, Poly VoIP Phones provide exceptional noise reduction not possible before VoIP.

Hearing Aid Compatible (HAC) Handset

For workers who use a hearing aid or in-ear implant, make sure the phone has a hearing aid compatible (HAC) handset. HAC handsets meet government standards to ensure they work with the hearing aid’s telecoil to minimize noise for the listener, making it much, much easier for them to hear. For more, check out our blog, “Are VoIP Phones Hearing Aid Compatible (HAC)?

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a protocol that enables wireless connectivity between devices. With VoIP phones, Bluetooth is used primarily for connecting to Bluetooth Headsets. It might also be used to connect to your smartphone for increased integration between your communications devices. The VoIP phone might support Bluetooth natively or you might need to use a USB dongle, although many VoIP phones don’t support Bluetooth either way. If you feel like Bluetooth is a necessity, make sure the phone can support it.

Poly CCX 600 IP Phone

Poly CCX 600 is a Microsoft Teams Certified phone with native Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support. It has a 7-inch touchscreen display.

Wi-Fi

Many VoIP phones support Wi-Fi to connect to the network wirelessly. Wi-Fi VoIP phones can be especially useful for home workers, so you don’t need to run Ethernet cables around your house. However, Wi-Fi is typically less stable than a wired Ethernet connection, which can disturb real-time communications applications like phone calls. Make sure your Wi-Fi is strong and the phone has a good signal.

If you want to use Wi-Fi, make sure the phone supports Wi-Fi. The phone will either support Wi-Fi natively or via a USB dongle. Just because a phone has a USB port doesn’t mean necessarily that it will support Wi-Fi. Make sure to check the specs. We cover wireless VoIP phones in more detail below.

Presence

Presence is the industry term for being able to see the status of a coworker, so you can know if they’re busy, on a call, available, and so on. Presence is usually indicated by a small colored circle: green for available, red for busy, etc. This feature, which can help to reduce distractions among the workforce, is dependent on your phone system.

Fanvil X7A IP Phone

Fanvil X7A is an Android VoIP phone with 7-inch touchscreen display and HD video support.

Android

Android isn’t just for your smartphone. Android VoIP phones run versions of Android that have been optimized for VoIP. They give you a familiar smartphone-like interface to reduce the friction as you switch between devices. Android phones can give you access to the Google Play Store, so you can install apps on your desk phone, or you can block the store, so workers don’t install anything unwanted on their business device. Android phones also have touchscreen displays.

Touchscreen Display

Many VoIP phones now feature touchscreen displays. Besides the convenience and quality-of-life factors, having a touchscreen display can enable additional features because the interface is dynamic. For example, you can have dynamic line keys, eliminating the need for an expansion module. Another perk of a touchscreen display is that it will typically be larger than a standard display. Who doesn’t want a larger display?

Color Display

Color displays are, fundamentally, a matter of preference. However, it is also generally true that people find it easier to understand information on a color display vs a monochrome display.

Soft Keys, BLF Keys, Line Keys, Speed Dial Keys, Feature Keys

There are many buttons on phones and, what’s worse, many names for buttons. Here are some of the common names for keys you might find when shopping for a VoIP phone:

  • Soft Keys. “Soft keys” is short for software keys. When you use a phone and you’re clicking through menus, the names of the menus dynamically change or can be customized. Those keys are what manufacturers are referring to.
  • BLF Keys. BLF (Busy Lamp Field) keys tell you the status of an extension, for example, green for available or red for busy.
  • Line Keys. Line keys are similar to BLF keys: they let you dial or monitor extensions with colored lights to indicate status.
  • Speed Dial Keys. VoIP phones support customizable speed dial keys for you to call common numbers or extensions with just one press of a button.
  • Feature Keys. You might encounter the term “feature keys” or “programmable keys” when shopping for VoIP phones. This is a general term for a key that can be customized to perform more than one operation. A feature key might be used for speed dial, intercom, BLF, call retrieval, or many more operations.
  • Multi-function or multi-purpose keys. As this list shows, these keys can be used for many things. That’s why some manufacturers refer to them simply as multi-function or multi-purpose keys.

Voicemail

VoIP phones support voicemail. This feature is dependent on the VoIP phone system and your phone plan. One advantage of VoIP over traditional telephony is that, if your system supports it, you’ll be able to check your voicemails on the go using your phone system’s mobile VoIP app. Note that voicemails aren’t stored on the phone itself. They are stored in the phone system and you access them through that, which is why you get mobile integration.

Caller ID

VoIP phones support caller ID and you will see callers just like you would on any other phone or your smartphone. This feature is dependent on your VoIP phone system.

Call Transfer, Call Forward, Call Hold, Call Park

VoIP phones can support all the classic business telephony features for directing calls. This includes call transfer, call forward, call hold, call park and so on. These features are dependent on your phone system.

Call History

You can view your call history on your VoIP phone. This feature is dependent on your phone system. Systems that support mobile integration allow you to retain your call history across devices, so calls you make on your VoIP phone will be visible on your smartphone.

Contact List, Directory

A contact list or directory is more than a convenience: it’s a business necessity. VoIP phones support local contact lists that you can use for speed dial for internal or external calls. In addition, through your phone system, you can access the corporate directory to collaborate with coworkers.

Grandstream GRP2604 IP Phone

Most VoIP phones have dual Ethernet ports to enable pass-through network connectivity, like this Grandstream GRP2604P.

PoE (Power Over Ethernet)

PoE (Power Over Ethernet) is a networking standard that defines how power can be transmitted through the same Ethernet cable that connects a device to an IP network. Most VoIP phones support PoE, which helps to streamline the telephony infrastructure: just one cable for network and power. To provide PoE power to the phone, you’ll need a PoE network switch or PoE injector.

A few things to note:

  1. Most VoIP phones that support PoE don’t ship with a power supply, so if you aren’t going to use PoE, you need to purchase a power supply for the phone separately.
  2. If you use Wi-Fi instead of Ethernet for network connectivity, you’ll need a power supply to power the phone most of the time.
  3. If you use expansion modules to give your phone more feature keys, you’ll often need a separate power supply, especially if you use more than one module.

Gigabit Ethernet

Gigabit Ethernet means that an Ethernet port can transmit data at up to 1 Gbps (Gigabit per second). For VoIP phones, Gigabit means increased potential bandwidth, which means that the phone won’t act as a network bottleneck when you connect to a computer through the phone. Gigabit Ethernet can also be useful for ensuring lots of overhead to make resource intensive, real-time applications like video conferencing stabler. An audio call isn’t nearly so resource intensive, so Gigabit Ethernet isn’t necessary for HD audio telephony. It can, however, provide peace of mind.

Firmware Updates

Just like you need to run updates for the OS on your smartphone every now and then, VoIP phones require firmware updates to deal with security threats, improve stability and performance, and enable new features. Updates are pushed through the management portal. One important thing to know is that user or administrator guides are typically tied to specific firmware versions. If you’re looking up a specific feature, make sure the guide applies to the firmware version your phone is running.

Several manufacturers have released VoIP phone series that support unified firmware, for example the Yealink T3 Series and the Grandstream GRP Series. This means that all models in the series run the same firmware, so updating an entire fleet is greatly simplified. We cover this topic in detail in our blog, “What Does ‘Unified Firmware’ Mean for VoIP Phones?

Device Management Systems

Some manufacturers offer device management systems that simplify the process of deploying and managing VoIP phones. For example, Grandstream offers GDMS (Grandstream Device Management System), which is a centralized, cloud-based interface for controlling the phone system.

For clear breakdowns of what phone supports what feature, check out our VoIP Phones Comparison Charts.

 

What Are the Different Types of VoIP Phones?

When you think of a “phone,” you’re probably thinking of the traditional phone with handset and keypad. However, there are actually many types of phones. We cover here the following:

Desktop VoIP Phones

The Desktop VoIP Phone or Desktop IP Phone is the familiar telephone with handset and keypad, revamped for VoIP. Sometimes the keypad is replaced by a touchscreen display. VoIP desk phones can support different VoIP protocols, though most VoIP phones now support SIP. Make sure your VoIP phone is compatible with your VoIP phone system. A VoIP phone connects to the network via Ethernet or Wi-Fi. For communicating, you use the handset, speakerphone, or headset. We cover headsets for VoIP phones below.

Grandstream GRP2616 IP Phone

Grandstream GRP2616 is a professional desktop VoIP phone with integrated sidecar and native Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support.

VoIP phones are distinguished in several ways. They will support a different number of lines. Workers who are on the phone a lot might require more lines. Most desktop phones have a handset and keypad, plus a display with features keys around it. We cover VoIP phone keys above. Many VoIP phones now have touchscreen displays, which might or might not take the place of the keypad, giving you an interface like a smartphone or tablet. They are also distinguished by whether or not they support the features listed above, like Gigabit Ethernet or PoE.

Expansion Modules, Attendant Consoles, Sidecars

Expansion Module. Attendant Console. Sidecar. These terms all refer to the same device. For convenience, we’re going to call them expansion modules here. An expansion module is a phone peripheral that adds buttons, which you can set for a variety of functions like speed dial, depending on your phone system. They are important for workers who make a lot of calls, streamlining their workflow and improving efficiency.

Some phones have integrated sidecars, which means that the phone has a secondary section, often with a display, with extra feature keys. Rather than forcing you to purchase a separate device for extra keys, you get them built in.

VoIP Video Phones

Video phones were, not so long ago, something you’d see in a science-fiction film. Now, they’re commonplace. A VoIP Video Phone or IP Video Phone is the same thing a desktop VoIP phone, but with support for video. They can be one-way or two-way.

One-way or half-duplex video phones are useful for applications like receptionists or concierges who can view a video feed at the entrance and let guests in. This is not, however, what you think of when you think of a video phone.

Yealink T58W IP Phone with Camera

A first-class IP video phone with Wi-Fi connectivity, Yealink T58W with Camera comes with a 5 MP camera, 7-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth support, Smart Noise Filtering audio enhancements and much more.

Two-way or full-duplex video phones can receive and send video. They’re convenient, dedicated video conferencing devices. A video phone might have a built-in camera or you might need to use an external camera. Most of the external cameras for video phones are plug-and-play USB cameras that attach to a USB port right behind the display. VoIP video phones are different from regular VoIP phones in another way. You can set up a VoIP video phone for point-to-point video communications. To make use of a video phone, make sure that your VoIP phone system supports video conferencing.

Video phones have large HD color displays. Even if you don’t use it for video conferencing, you might want a video phone just for the nice display.

Want to know more about video conferencing? We go deep in our Video Conferencing Buyer’s Guide.

VoIP Conference Phones

Conference phones are purpose-built for group communications. VoIP Conference Phones or IP Conference Phones pick up audio in all directions with integrated multi-microphone arrays. Picking up sound from everywhere leads to a possible problem: background noise. Manufacturers have developed advanced technologies for dealing with background noise. Poly, for example, has produced Acoustic Fence and NoiseBlockAI to deal with various forms of noise.

Yealink CP965 IP Conference Phone

A 2021 Red Dot Design Winner, Yealink CP965 uses a 12-microphone array plus advanced technologies for crystal-clear audio on group calls. It has a 360° 20-foot pickup range, plus you can daisy chain up to 3 more of them for coverage in extra-large spaces.

Conference phones can also act as control centers for meetings, letting you set up, join and manage meetings from a convenient, central device. Some can even support unified communications applications like video conferencing or content sharing. Many companies actually use conference phones as high-quality microphones for video conferences.

When shopping for a conference phone, make sure to look at the audio coverage. This information will be given in one of three ways:

  1. Audio pickup range. Radius from phone for voices to be picked up like “20 ft, 360°” or total area covered like “40 ft2.”
  2. Room size. Small, medium, large or extra-large. Small rooms might also be called huddle rooms.
  3. Group size. The number of people, for example “3 to 6 people.”

For larger conference rooms and board rooms, you might need more coverage. Some conference phones can be daisy-chained, so you can have two or more covering the conversation. Alternately, many conference phones support Expansion Microphones, which can be wired or wireless. Expansion mics, well, expand the reach of the conference phone.

Wireless VoIP Phones

Wireless VoIP Phones or Wireless IP Phones bring mobile convenience to the office. Wireless phones either use DECT or Wi-Fi.

DECT is a well-established wireless communications protocol. It’s what wireless home phones use, and, in fact, a VoIP DECT phone is essentially the same thing as that home phone, except with VoIP. The important thing to know about DECT handsets is that they don’t connect to a VoIP phone system directly. They communicate with a VoIP base station via DECT. The base station connects to the phone system. For the phone to work, you’ll need both handset and base station. If you need extra coverage, you can either daisy-chain base stations (if they support that) or use a repeater to extend the base station’s signal. For extra-large deployments like factories or warehouses, look for the phrase “multi-cell”, which means the system is designed for seamless handover between base stations or repeaters.

Poly Rove Series IP Phones

The Poly Rove Series, including Rove 30 and Rove 40, is a complete wireless DECT phone solution. The handsets feature Microban protection and ruggedized build quality.

DECT uses a different section of the wireless spectrum from Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, which means that DECT devices don’t interfere with devices running those other protocols. Compared with Bluetooth, DECT has an extended range, which means you can wander farther from the base station than you would be able to from a Bluetooth device.

The other wireless VoIP phones are Wi-Fi phones, which connect to the network via Wi-Fi. Unlike DECT phones, Wi-Fi phones connect directly to a VoIP phone system and don’t require a separate base station. While highly convenient, Wi-Fi signals can be fickle. Make sure the areas you want to use the phone are well-covered by your wireless network. If you’re wondering about using a VoIP phone over Wi-Fi, we talk about that above.

Speakerphones

A Speakerphone isn’t technically a VoIP phone, because it doesn’t run VoIP software. It’s equivalent to a headset, what you might call an audio peripheral. Speakerphones, however, can be extremely useful for VoIP telephony. They offer professional hands-free audio and are extremely simple to connect and operate.

Jabra Speaker 750 MS Speakerphone

Connecting via USB or Bluetooth, Jabra Speak 750 MS gives you a Microsoft Teams Certified speakerphone with exceptional audio performance. You can pair two of them for improved sound quality.

You use a speakerphone primarily with a softphone on your computer or with your mobile device. It connects via USB and/or Bluetooth. Make sure you choose the USB version your device supports: USB-A (Standard USB) or USB-C. You’ll likely need a USB dongle to connect with a computer via Bluetooth.

Like conference phones, speakerphones offer different audio coverage. Most have microphone arrays that pick up audio in all directions and can be used for group calls. In fact, you can use a speakerphone in lieu of a conference phone. However, personal speakerphones, which are intended for use by one person only, might have directional microphones. Directional microphones help reduce the amount of ambient noise that the microphones pick up.

Many speakerphones are highly portable, making them useful in the office, at home or on the road. If you know that you’ll be taking your speakerphone around, look at the durability ratings.

Softphones

If you want a VoIP phone, do you need to have a dedicated piece of hardware? Not necessarily. You can use a softphone: a software telephone. A softphone is a computer application that replicates the experience and functionality of a hardware phone on a PC, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. For many younger workers who have grown up with smartphones, using a softphone is more familiar than using a traditional phone. Softphones also reduce the number of devices you need, although you typically use a softphone with a headset or speakerphone for better audio, because, as you know, built-in microphones and speakers on computers are the opposite of good.

 

How Do You Use a Headset with a VoIP Phone?

Poly Blackwire 8225 Headset with Poly VVX 450 IP Phone

USB headsets like Poly Blackwire 8225 can offer professional audio quality with plug-and-play connectivity to your VoIP phone if it supports them.

Most VoIP phones support a Headset for professional hands-free communications. There are several methods for connecting a headset to a VoIP phone. If you want to use a headset with your phone, double check that the VoIP phone supports the type of headset you want to use.

  • Bluetooth. If your VoIP phone supports Bluetooth, either natively or via dongle, you will almost certainly be able to use a wireless Bluetooth headset with it.
  • USB. Many VoIP phones now support wired USB headsets, which are plug-and-play devices, often with integrated call controls. Note that just because a VoIP phone has a USB port, that doesn’t mean it supports a USB headset. Make sure the phone supports USB headsets.
  • RJ9. An RJ9 headset uses the same plug type as the handset. Most VoIP phones have a dedicated RJ9 port located next to the handset plug. RJ9 headsets are wired. Many let you use a QD (Quick Disconnect) cable, which means you disconnect the cable without hanging up the call, adding wireless convenience to a wired headset.

For a deep look at headsets, check out our clear, detailed Headsets Buyer’s Guide.

 

What Are the Benefits of a VoIP Phone?

There’s a good reason why VoIP phones are central to communications today. Here are 6 benefits that VoIP phones can offer your business:

  1. HD audio. VoIP phones offer much better audio than traditional phones, especially when it comes to noise reduction technologies.
  2. Advanced features. VoIP phones are much more powerful than traditional phones with features that you could never get before.
  3. Choice. There’s a VoIP phone or softphone for basically every worker and every situation. What’s better is you can integrate intercoms, paging speakers, video conferencing and much on the same VoIP system.
  4. Remote and home office workers. You can integrate distant workers on the same business phone system as the main office.
  5. Wi-Fi. Many VoIP phones now support Wi-Fi, which means you can access professional telephony without worrying about cables and clutter. Wi-Fi is particularly useful for home office workers.
  6. Unified communications. VoIP phones can be part of a seamless communications system, including video conferencing, workplace chat and more.
 

If you have any questions or for additional help, please contact us at 888.201.9056 or email us at service@ipphone-warehouse.com.