[Asterisk-Users] Recommended Phone for beginner

[Mark Eissler]

On Mar 7, 2005, at 9:32 PM, Ryan Burke wrote:

> Hello everyone, I've been watching this list for a while, but it is 
> the first time I've posted. I'ved decided to setup a * server for my 
> house and will need 3 phones (one main, one for my wife, and one for 
> my office). I was wondering if there was a particular brand that 
> people reommended? I'd like ot get an actual SIP phone, instead of an 
> adapter like

This question comes up a lot on this list. I mean, A LOT. You'd be 
better off searching the archives. I'm searching for a low cost IP 
phone too and have put it off until the Grandstream GXP-2000 is 
available. Here are the issues as I see it:

1) Sipura 841 ($85):
    - you either like it or hate it, there are tons of comments about 
the rubber keys
    - no backlit screen (in this day & age you think everyone would be 
backlighting by now)
    - no PoE (if you're going to upgrade to IP phones why bother with 
power bricks?)
    - buggy, but it looks like all of the phones are
    - screenshots I've seen of the screen graphics are not very 
impressive,,,it looks kind of cheap
    - screen is not adjustable and the phone sits pretty flat

2) Polycom IP 300 ($139):
    - no PoE (although it is an option via a special cable that sells 
for around $40)
    - no speakerphone (gee, and Polycom is known for their 
speakerphones...go figure)
    - you need to upgrade to the IP500 to get a speakerphone
    - you need to upgrade to the IP600 to get a speakerphone and PoE

3) Grandstream BudgetTone 101, 102 ($75):
    - these phones are basically cheap and crap

4) Grandstream GXP-2000 ($115 est.):
    - supports up to 11 lines
    - built-in 2-port switch
    - supports PoE
    - backlit AND adjustable screen
    - speakerphone
    - what's not to like? well, it could turn out just to be a fancy 
BudgetTone at that price point but if it's not then they'll be the ones 
to beat.
    - unfortunately, it's unknown when this unit will be available, 
current estimates are sometime in March.

5) SwissVoice IP10s ($150):
    - don't hear much about these but it might be just because they only 
added SIP last Fall (still, they've supported MGCP for quite a while).
    - those that have 'em seem to like 'em

6) Zultsys ZIP 2 IP Phone ($94):
    - haven't seen much written about these either
    - they look pretty cheap

7) Snom 190 ($230):
    - seems to be highly rated, but it also costs about $230

8) Cisco 7912G ($245):
    - haven't heard much about these at all
    - the problem with Cisco is related to getting firmware updates...I 
think you need an ongoing service contract which makes them more of an 
ongoing investment rather than a purchase.

It would be nice to read more reviews about these products with proper 
pictures rather than those miniscule ones that all of the vendors seem 
to provide. Also, you need to keep in mind that just because something 
is an IP phone that doesn't at all mean it will play nice with Asterisk 
(or any other specific system).

The good thing is that it looks like 2005 will be a great year for 
cheap, full featured, IP phones. The longer you can wait the more 
choices you will have. It's always good to start with an analog 
adapter, IMHO, because if you need fax support you will probably need 
one of those too. And if you want to add a cheap cordless phone (that 
is, multiple handsets for less than $400) then you will need an 
adapter.

For now, I've chosen to ride things out with my old Siemens Gigaset and 
have ordered a Sipura 2100 as the only immediate upgrade (not to 
impressed with my current adapter).

-mark

--
Mark Eissler, mark at mixtur.com
Mixtur Interactive, Inc. - at - http://www.mixtur.com