Great IP phone!

Author's Rating:

Pros: Easy to use, supports global phone directory, versitile.

Cons: Ringer selection is limited, no LCD back light (can't use in the dark).

The Bottom Line: 
Buy this phone if you have an extensive phone system and require every possible feature.

Author's Review
Keep in mind this review will be about the phone and how my work implemented the phone. Some features may be enabled on the server end and not specific to the phone.

When I received this phone I was a little concerned as to how well it was going to work and how user friendly it was going to be. I had used 3 different digital systems (Rohm, Lucent and Avaya) but never an IP system. After sitting down with this phone, placing my first call and briefly browsing the features I could tell I was going to fall in love with it. It seemed like during any phase of my calling or preference searching the onscreen menus were designed by someone who knew exactly what you wanted. The most wanted options were on the screen and the secondary options were only a button press away.

Calling features
Whether you are placing a call, receiving a call or need to forward your phone, there are plenty of features at your finger tips. If you are currently on a call you can place that call on hold and call another party. Upon doing so are allowed to conference in the first party or end your conversation with the 2nd part and very easily choose if you want to return to the 1st party. Another nice feature that would occur when you started to dial a call was the call history list. As you started to dial a number you were presented with a list of numbers you dialed in the past. As more numbers are inputted the list becomes shorter in length; at any time you can arrow down to a number and select the 'dial option'. This is very handy when you dial unique numbers and only need to input 2 or 3 numbers before seeing it on the screen.

Audio/handset/headset
The audio quality has been the best I have heard so far. I have never had a call on the handset that was so quiet the phone could not compensate. If you adjust the volume of a conversation the phone lets you make that a one time change or set it as the new default volume. The handset, headset and speaker settings are all different but they all support this feature.

I have used the handset, built-in speaker and my Plantronics headset with this phone and all three work flawlessly. The headset at times can be a little quiet, but I think that is due to the headset and not the phone (you can also use the handset in conjunction with the headset for added volume reinforcement). Unlike other phones if you want to switch to the headset it is a simple press of a button and the headset is activated. It remains active until you press the button again, returning you to the handset, or you pickup an incoming call with the handset. I love how the phone adapts to your style on the fly, almost like it knows what you are going to do before you do it. The headset port is a RJ11 connection and is in parallel, not series, with the handset.

The speakerphone in the phone is the best I have seen. Typically with speakerphone systems in a desk phone the sound is very echoy or "roomy". With this phone people either think you are on a handset or on a higher end conference phone system. My wife is very particular about being on speakerphone yet many times she does not realize we are talking via the speaker. The microphone seems to pickup the voice very well when you are within a reasonable distance (1ft-5ft) and I have had no one complain about my voice.

Voicemail
The voicemail is very quick, easy to use and uses button choices that are similar to other work and cell phone systems. The automated voice prompt speaks quick enough so you are not waiting for menu options but not so quick you can not catch what was said.

For the first time in my phone use history I was presented with an 'out of the office' greeting option. With a few simple button presses you are able to set a temporary voicemail greeting and select an expiration date. If you decide not to set an expiration date, every time you go into your voicemail you are asked if you want to turn it off (similar to Outlook's OOTO feature). The only downside to the voicemail is the required confirmation to delete the message, though this is something I do not like but others may prefer.

Other misc items
-The phone has an ethernet connection for your PC or other device needing network connectivity. This allows you to use one network port for your phone and other device.
-Supports up to six phone lines from what I can tell, I only have two phone lines on my phone.
-The ringer has limited styles/selections.
-There is no backlight for the phone, this makes it difficult to use if you work in a dark environment.
-You have three different logs of phone numbers: calls you missed (did not answer), calls you answered, and calls you placed. From what I can tell the memory is very large for the all three logs (may be server based).
-The phone is mobile and can be plugged into any network connection as long as that network connection can link back to the phone's sever.

Overall I LOVE this phone and will fight tooth and nail to keep it. With it being very versatile and having very little downsides this phone is a must for any business or corporation.