[Asterisk-Users] What business IP phone to use

[The VoIP Connection]

There's lots to like about the GXP-2000 in terms of features for the money
and Grandstream is working very hard to make the phone work well with
Asterisk. The sound is on a par with more expensive phones and many people
find the clean, minimalist look of the GXP-2000 appealing. The ergonomics
are also very familiar for Americans.  Again, personal taste factors into
the mix as does budget.  Some people can't just stand rubber buttons, some
don't like plastic.

We have been watching the Aastra line for about two years now waiting for
the firmware to be ready for primetime and we are currently in the process
of adding them to our catalog. They are certainly a capable group and we
have also found them to be easy to deal with.  The reality is that they are
a little late to the game with a viable offering and they have some catching
up to do, but their progress is encouraging.

The 941/942 are very nice phones. They are well made and so far the firmware
seems very solid, but like their Cisco brethren they are a little expensive
for what they offer in my opinion.  If they were 25-30% cheaper I would be a
lot more enthusiastic.  If the 941 was priced like the 841 it would be a
homerun.

Polycom,like most of the higher end manufacturers, supports the user through
their channel. If you buy your phones from a cut-rate or unauthorized
reseller you will not get good support. Factor it into your decision making
process. 

And finally, you don't need to fly to a trade show to try a variety of
phones.  If you contact us we can set you up with a 30 day test program. 

Michael Crown
Managing Partner
www.thevoipconnection.com
321.989.6728 ext. 611
sip:611 at voiceserver.thevoipconnection.com


> -----Original Message-----
> From: mustardman29 [mailto:mustardman29 at hotmail.com] 
> Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 11:25 PM
> To: asterisk-biz at thevoipconnection.com; 'Asterisk Users 
> Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion'
> Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] What business IP phone to use
> 
> Thanks Michael,
> 
> That sounds like good advice.  
> 
> I am surprised that some customers like the GXP2000.  Cheap 
> looking, cheap sounding, high failure rates.  What sort of 
> customers are we talking about within the context of business 
> users if you don't mind me asking?  Not home users.  Business 
> users in office environments.
> 
> I have been gravitating towards the Aastra's because I like 
> the features/price points the 3 flavors hit.  I also really 
> like the support I have been get from the manufacturer of the 
> phones and firmware.  I have been patiently waiting for the 
> firmware to improve and I think it is just about there now.  
> I do have concerns about Polycom's arms length attitude 
> towards the end user but knowing they now sort of support 
> Asterisk is a good thing.
> I can see why you would advise to find a good reseller for 
> Polycom's.  I guess I will have to fly out to a VoIP trade 
> show somewhere where I can touch and use a bunch of different 
> phones without having to buy them.
> 
> Anyone have any opinions on the Linksys 941/942?  It sounds 
> like the firmware is ok but my main concern is always the 
> hardware which won't really improve over time like firmware.  
> What are the handset/speakerphone/buttons like compared to 
> GXP2000, Aastra480, Aastra9133i, Polycom 501 etc.  Any info 
> would be greatly appreciated.
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: The VoIP Connection 
> [mailto:asterisk-biz at thevoipconnection.com]
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 12:55 PM
> > To: 'Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion'
> > Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] What business IP phone to use
> > 
> > I have used every phone and talk to customers using 
> different devices 
> > all day long and I can tell you there is no single IP phone that is 
> > perfect for everyone.  You will not find the answer on a 
> newsgroup or 
> > a wiki, you need to judge for yourself. For example, while 
> I may love 
> > the decidedly "euro"
> > ergonomics of the snom, you may find it impossibly unconventional. 
> > 
> > We have lots of customers who are very happy with their 
> GXP-2000's as 
> > well as a number who are not.  It depends on how they are 
> being used 
> > (especially LAN or WAN) as well as the firmware version and 
> networking 
> > environment.
> > 
> > We also have many customers who love their Polycoms and there is no 
> > doubt that they build a quality product. They aren't cheap but they 
> > don't disappoint. By the way, Polycom officially supports Asterisk 
> > through certified resellers as of October 2005.
> > 
> > Snoms are great also but they seem to be having some 
> trouble getting 
> > the version 5.0 firmware stable.  If you can live with the 
> features in 
> > V4.x for a while, these phones are terrific.  Probably the best 
> > overall integration with Asterisk of any IP phone currently 
> available.
> > 
> > Aastra seems to be getting it together at last and also are 
> worthy of 
> > consideration.
> > 
> > I sell phones for a living and here's what I recommend: 
> > First, select a reliable and competent vendor who will work 
> with you 
> > (shameless plug for The VoIP Connection). Talk to them and 
> narrow the 
> > field to a sampling of the phones you think will work for your 
> > organization.  Set up a test scenario that simulates the network 
> > environment you will have and learn how to set the phones up with 
> > Asterisk (and
> > vice-versa) so that they work the way they should.  Learn 
> how to use 
> > the features well enough to teach them (if you can't 
> explain the basic 
> > operation of the phone in 5 minutes forget it), and then 
> put them in 
> > front of a sampling of the people who will use them every day. Pay 
> > special attention to your receptionist and office manager 
> since they 
> > will be the ones you will hear from the most. There really is no 
> > shortcut if you want your users to be happy.
> > 
> > Michael Crown
> > Managing Partner
> > www.thevoipconnection.com
> > 321.989.6728 ext. 611
> > sip:611 at voiceserver.thevoipconnection.com
> > 
> > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: mustardman29 [mailto:mustardman29 at hotmail.com]
> > > Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 12:58 PM
> > > To: asterisk-users at lists.digium.com
> > > Subject: [Asterisk-Users] What business IP phone to use
> > > 
> > >  
> > > 
> > > I have been struggling with this issue for about a year now.  
> > > There were just too many IP phones to choose from at all sorts of 
> > > price points and not enough information about any of them.
> > Now I am
> > > looking at the situation again and if anything it has
> > gotten worse.  
> > > There are even more phones and all sorts of opinions.  For every 
> > > person that says phone x is great there is someone else 
> complaining 
> > > about it.
> > > 
> > > I ended up buying a Grandstream GXP2000 and an Aastra 9133i
> > to test so
> > > I pretty much know what those two phones are about.  Lot's
> > of people
> > > talking about Polycom phones but they still seem to have their 
> > > problems and since they don't officially support Asterisk 
> I have my 
> > > concerns.  I really don't want to have to keep buying
> > phones to find
> > > out for myself as it get's expensive real fast.
> > > 
> > > Is there any unbiased comparison of various phones and features 
> > > anywhere.
> > > If someone wrote a book I'd buy it but it would probably be
> > obsolete
> > > before it was published with the rate of new IP phone 
> introductions 
> > > and firmware revisons.  I hear some people praising the
> > GXP2000 phones
> > > and I gotta wonder what they are smokin (regardless of firmware
> > > revison) so I just don't know who to believe anymore.
> > > 
> > > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
>