VoIP News: VoIP Hardware

VoIP phones developer snom has suggested ten light-hearted reasons why desktop phones still "rule". While some IP telephony solutions are software-based, allowing a headset to be used in place of the usual telephone receiver, snom argues that there are some ways in which the physical world is still superior. For instance, it claims that real buttons operate more quickly than virtual buttons - although users with the latest touchscreen displays may disagree here.

Companies could find the cost benefits of IP telephony solutions make it possible for them to hire new staff and continue to grow as the economy recovers. According to a spokeswoman for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), there are certain specific financial concerns bearing down on British companies at present. For instance, if payroll costs were to be reduced, many small firms believe they would be able to afford to take on new staff.

The stress caused by moving offices could be eased in part by the use of IP telephony solutions to create a more flexible communications system. Phil McCabe, spokesman for the Forum of Private Business, says any move - whether it is between offices or homes - has its own amount of stress involved. He recommends getting staff involved in the physical move, as well as planning the new office layout well in advance to maximise efficiency.

Providers of IP telephony solutions at the most successful end of the market are those with a broad range of services not limited solely to the provision of VoIP phones themselves, according to a report from Bharatbook. The analyst explains that, while there are varying levels of success throughout the industry, those companies that put VoIP phones at the core of a wider portfolio of IP telephony solutions are among the bright spots.

VoIP phones with wireless handsets are often supplied with a charging dock, allowing the batteries to be restored to full power at any time during which the unit is not in use for a call. However, soon VoIP phones could be charged without the need for a direct circuit connection between the handset and the mains. According to electronics industry analyst iSuppli, mobile phones of all types are among the trailblazing categories for the technology, which aims to resolve the age-old issue of tangled wires trailing from mains sockets.