Cloud PBX Office Telephones – How to Choose an IP Phone

Choosing the right IP phones for your cloud PBX office telephone system is very important. It will dictate the overall use of your system and also play its role in the call quality. The general rule of thumb is input, processing and output device should par each other’s quality otherwise optimum quality will not be achieved. With that said it is not advisable to just go with any IP phones model without considering the following elements discussed below.

Unlike regular handsets a cloud PBX office telephone runs using a firmware which a combination of persistent memory, program code and data stored in it. It acts pretty much like the operating system of a computer and without the proper version the phones may not work with certain providers. It is best that you discuss it first with your cloud PBX office telephone provider before purchasing an IP phone whether the installed firmware is compatible with their system and servers or if it can be upgraded to meet their requirements.

It is best to steer away from IP phones that are not freely upgradeable and requires a ROM replacement. So in the event that you wish to switch providers the proper firmware can be loaded easily.

Another consideration that you need to bear in mind is the audio codec that the unit supports. Audio codec is basically a computer program implementing an algorithm that compresses and decompresses digital audio data according to a given audio file format or streaming media audio format. The codec is responsible in converting analog signals to digital signals permitting it to be transmitted over VoIP technologies. Choose a unit that supports multiple codec for variable circumstances. However for VoIP uses the G729 is one of the most ideal because of its low bandwidth usage and optimum quality.

Apart from that the specific use is also important, be sure to take down notes how your staff intend to use the phones. For an instance a receptionist will need a model with large chunky buttons and good LCD display for easy access of features and call monitoring whilst a staff with is not often the phone may just need a regular desk phone with nothing fancy on it. This will help you give convenience to your staff and spend your business budget properly.

It also pays if you look into accessory options such as headsets, mounting racks and programmable button expansion panels as needed.