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Conference Phone
Purchasing a conference phone for teleconferences -- a smart business decision for companies of any size
Companies of all sizes should consider
purchasing a conference phone for their teleconferencing
needs. Conference call phones promote group communication
and strategy, because they work best in a designated
conference room. Conference phones can accommodate 3 to 30
people, so even the smallest business can teleconference
with their partners and clients.
Many of the newer conference phones offer clearer sound
and less static with full-duplex capabilities, allowing
everyone one to hear one other at the same time. In
addition, many of the wireless phone options offer mobility.
Audio conferencing includes analog, digital and VoIP, and is
a fast and easy way to bring a small or large group together
with a minimal amount of equipment and preparation.
Conference phones are typically flat black phones with a
large area for the speaker, a digital display, and a keypad
with talk options, including speed dial, and they weigh
about three pounds.
Polycom
offers a unique three-pointed design that CNET.com in their
review of the SoundStation2 EX calls a "Klingon
starship-like shape".
Polycom leads the conference call phone world market with
phone options for both
small and
large groups
(or rooms). Their conference phones range in price
from approximately $250 to $1,100 and they offer a host of
microphone, sound, voice, digital, and wireless options.
ClearOne
offers their MAX® line of wired and wireless conference
phones and expansion kits, so that as your business grows,
so does your phone. Instead of providing only
extra microphones, these
expansion kits allow additional phone units to be linked
together for better room coverage.
Conference phones for small businesses
A small business whose teleconferences only include up to
four people would need a conference phone that gives high
sound quality, has easy-to-use features, and is reasonably
priced. Polycom offers the Voicestation 100 and the
SoundPoint Pro SE-225 model. Both conference phones cost
$250-$300 and feature full-duplex conferencing
(speakerphones can only offer half-duplex conferencing, in
which the one-way conversations cut off another speaker).
The Voicestation has three microphones and one speaker (not
expandable), and the SoundPoint can be used with a headset,
if necessary.
Conference phones for medium to large businesses
These conference phones connect through an analog or PBX
digital line jack (compatible
PBX digital conference phones) and feature advanced
functionality as compared to the phones previously
mentioned. Examples of these phones include Polycom's
SoundStation2 (Expandable and Non-Expandable) as well as
ClearOne MAX EX. ClearOne's phone prices are comparable with
Polycom, ranging from approximately $400 to $1300. With the
SoundStation2 EX, users can add extra desktop microphones on
top of the three included in the unit, which also supports
cell phone connections. Polycom is known for its high sound
quality that works to lessen background noise and
distractions. The ClearOne MAX EX is a moderately priced
phone (approximately $400), which delivers solid audio
quality and expansion options.
Wireless conference phones in a medium to large
business
Wireless conference phones feature mobility so users can
take these phones to a room that doesn't have phone lines.
Polycom's SoundStation2 ($550) is also available in wireless
and it builds upon the SoundStation2's success with even
better sound quality and seamless cell phone compatibility.
The ClearOne MAX Wireless ($600) also has excellent sound
quality and once the base unit is plugged in, the cordless
phone unit can be picked up and taken to a smaller room.
VoIP conference phones
VoIP conference phones have risen in popularity due to
small business customers and consumers clamoring for this
Internet technology because of its bandwidth efficiency and
PC access. Says Sunil Bhalla, senior vice president and
general manager of voice communications at Polycom, "Use of
Internet calling services and softphones is growing rapidly
in business environments, creating demand for a
high-quality, hands-free calling experience." Along with
offering the Soundstation IP 3000 ($800) and the Soundpoint
IP 500 ($250), Polycom offers a Computer Calling Kit ($39)
that can connect its SoundStation2 and 2W to VoIP
technology. The Kit includes a cable that connects a PC to
the built-in applications port on the SoundStation2 and
SoundStation2W phones. Users plug the phone into the
computer to connect with their web-based calling services or
softphones.
Audio conferencing -- looking ahead
Conference phones are solid investments for companies who
have either 2 or 200 employees. Although audio conferencing
is a mature market, newer technologies such as wireless and
VoIP bring freshness by inviting PDA's and cellular phones
to the teleconference. Doing so helps connect employees with
customers in real-time, so that product and service goals
can be met. Most of the conference phones discussed above
are under $1,000 and if this cost is a bit high for some
companies, they should know that they would likely recoup
this cost in a few weeks. If a company purchases the right
phone for its business and if the phone is used regularly,
then collaboration and communication should improve within
the quarter, which can only do positive things for the
company's bottom line.
Also See: [
Latest conference calling technology news -- web conference
calling ]
[ Conference call
tips when renting conference call bridge lines ]
[
Information of teleconferencing & defining what is audio
conferencing ]
Home Page:
[ Audio-Conferencing-Guide.com ]
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