Cisco On the Go

The past couple of posts have been talking about Cisco’s desktop IP phones, so I thought I’d take a moment to talk about their mobile IP phone offerings.

There are three Cisco wireless IP phones available at this time: the 7925G, 7925G-EX and 7926G. Each of them is built to last, having at least an IP54 rating for dust resistance and splashing water resistance. The cases are hermetically sealed and the phones comply with military 810F standard against drops and shocks.

All three phones connect to the Cisco phone system over the WiFi network, so your range is only limited by the range of your company WiFi network. This is a great feature and will come in handy for those working in facilities where WiFi coverage is ubiquitous. It’s also good for those who are teleworkers at home offices.

The phones also have Bluetooth 2.0 so you can attach a wireless Bluetooth headset and work hands-free. A 2.5mm headset jack is also available so you can use a corded headset if you prefer.

Added Ruggedness & Resiliency

For those working in the oil and chemical industries, or in other potentially explosive environments, Cisco’s 7925G-EX model (pictured right) is probably your best choice. In addition to all the other features, the 7925G-EX has Atmospheres Explosibles (ATEX) Zone 2/Class 22 and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Class I Division II certifications.

Cisco’s 7926G wireless IP phone has an additional feature: a built-in 2D bar code scanner. Great for workers in warehouses and anywhere bar code scanning is needed.

All in all, if you’re on a Cisco phone system and are looking for more freedom from your desktop, consider the Cisco 7900 wireless IP phones. They’re packed with features and will keep you on the move.

Cisco 7800 Series IP Phones – Solid Performers

It was exciting to write about the Cisco 8800 series of IP phones. I mean, they have nice colour monitors, Gigabit connections, HD video cameras. Those are SEXY phones!

Then, there are the Cisco 7800 series IP phones. Solid, feature-rich, reliable, secure, ergonomic, cost-effective, which is all great. They’re affordable phones that are a super choice for companies who are using digital or analog phone systems and considering switching to an IP-based phone system to take advantage of different features VoIP has to offer.

Cisco’s 7861 IP Phone – 16 lines, great for call managers and executives who spend a lot of time on the phone.

Great. Wonderful. But sexy? Not really. Still, a lot of people are going to find these phones attractive because of their simplicity. They don’t use much power, have a decent feature set, are ergonomic and are nicely designed. The wide-band audio and full-duplex speakerphones will be appreciated, I’m sure.

Does it matter if a business phone has a large colour monitor, or enables video conferencing from your desk? If it matters to you, then Cisco’s 8800 series is probably for you. For those looking for a dependable, reliable desk phone that’s got the features the majority of businesses will need, the 7800 series is for you.

What’s a Collaboration Endpoint?

col·lab·o·rate

verb: to work jointly on an activity, especially to produce or create something

If you’ve read any literature from Cisco, you’ll know they refer to their phones as collaboration endpoints.

Seems like a hi-filutin’ way to talk about a phone.

At least, it would seem that way at first glance. After all, a phone’s a phone’s a phone. Right?

Collaboration Endpoint: A Worthwhile Term

Cisco would be happy to prove you wrong, as their IP-based 8800 series of phones, I mean, Collaboration Endpoints do their utmost to help you communicate clearly and effectively. And if you’re lucky, your work involves producing or creating something of value. So, a Cisco phone may be just what you need to help you collaborate with your co-workers.

Take Cisco’s 8865 IP Phone. It’s a video phone, digital camera, phone, speakerphone, and uses Bluetooth to connect to your mobile phone or a Bluetooth wireless headset. You can route voice calls from your mobile over to your desk phone with this system. You can also continue to use your wireless Bluetooth headset from one device to the other.

Sounds great, but who’s going to use all this stuff? As it turns out, there’s pretty much something for everyone in here. Consider Millenials. Studies have shown Millenials don’t like desk phones. Many prefer their smart phones over a desk phone. More importantly, how they communicate shifts, as they will start a discussion via text, then transition to a video chat, and then to messenger or text chats again. IP phones with video capability that can interface with smartphones may be important to Millenials as they shift into office-based knowledge-worker roles.

On the video side of things, being able to see the person you’re communicating with makes it easier to communicate clearly, build trust and enhance long-term relationships. Whether it’s with customers or co-workers, communicating clearly is a necessity. When you consider that 70% of communication is non-verbal, the importance of video communication increases greatly. Forward-thinking businesses recognize that video communication can provide a significant competitive advantage and increase staff productivity.

When you next hear the term “Collaboration Endpoint”, you might want to think of it differently. Perhaps you’ll think of it as a tool that helps your team communicate clearly with customers and each other, that gives your business a competitive advantage and that meets the communication needs of the newest to the most senior people in your organization.

Just one piece of tech can add years and quality to your life

Smiling headset guy

Having a job is great. A desk job is seen as cushy by a lot of people. Unfortunately, sitting at a desk all day is not great for your health. Fortunately, there’s a piece of tech that can make a huge difference in the quality of time you spend at the office and even add years to your life. Can you spot it in the above picture?

Of course you can. It’s the headset the smiling guy’s wearing. If you make the switch from using a handset to a headset for your calls, you’ll probably be smiling too. Here are some of the benefits of headset use.

Reduce or Eliminate Pain: Numerous studies have confirmed that headset users have fewer headaches, neck aches, and less upper back and lower back pain than non-headset users. These benefits can be had with regular corded headsets, but even more benefit can be had with wireless headsets. Why? Because wireless headsets allow you to get up and move freely while on the phone, allowing users to stretch and even go for a walk while they’re on the phone.

Lose Weight: One might not think about a headset being useful for weight loss, but having a wireless headset can be important if you sit a lot during the day. Your metabolism kicks into very-low gear when you’re sitting and this can lead to significant weight gain. Having a cordless headset gives you the freedom to get up and move around. Even getting up from your desk every 20 minutes helps boost your metabolism.

Increase Productivity: Maybe you haven’t thought about it, but having two hands available to work is going to make you more productive. Holding a phone’s handset with your hand is like wearing a handcuff. Worse though is holding a phone handset or a mobile phone between your ear and your shoulder.

Lower Stress: In surveys, many office workers report a contributing factor to their daily stress in the office is feeling they can’t leave their desks. A wireless headset allows people to get up and walk around while still being productive. Leaving your desk gives you a bit of new scenery and a fresh perspective and can lower your stress, making you happier and more productive.

Headsets reduce or eliminate pain, make users healthier, more productive and less stressed. In all, they’re probably one of the smartest investments you can make for your business.

If you need help choosing the most appropriate headset for your workplace, please give one of our headset specialists a call at 1-855-929-9199 and they’ll be happier to walk you through the options.

What is DECT?

If you’ve been looking at any kind of wireless product, chances are you’ve seen the acronym DECT at some point.

DECT stands for “Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications” or “Digital EUROPEAN Cordless Telecommunications”. The standard originated in Europe, which is why the two variations on the meaning of the acronym.

DECT is a wireless technology used in consumer and commercial wireless products. In North America, you’ll see DECT 6.0, which is the US (and therefore Canadian and Mexican) standard. It is different from the European standard due to US radio frequency regulations.

A wireless phone using DECT is going to give you a range of up to 100 meters (330 feet). Keep in mind that range is affected by the environment the phone is operating in. This “up to” range is important for all wireless products as there are many physical and electronic barriers to a product achieving its maximum potential range.

A challenge in an office that has a large number of wireless devices is interference. The DECT 6.0 standard supports up to 60 channels on a base station, which means if you have more than that number of devices within range of each other, you could have significant interference between units. Careful planning is required to minimize interference. If the majority of your workers don’t need to be wandering too far from their desks, you can also turn down the maximum wireless range to help minimize interference.

Is DECT Secure?

Yep. DECT uses 64-bit encryption. When a wireless headset or handset is paired with its base station, the encryption makes it very, very difficult to intercept and listen in on a conversation.

DECT or Bluetooth?

If you’re using only one device like a desk phone or a computer’s softphone, a DECT wireless device may be all you need. If you’re a multi-device user, you may want to consider a Bluetooth device as they can connect to smartphones, deskphones, tablets, laptops and PCs. Many Unified Communications software systems allow for automatic hand-offs between mobile and computer-based softphones, so if that’s something you’re looking for, a Bluetooth device might be a better solution for you.

If you’re looking for a wireless headset supporting DECT or Bluetooth standards, check out our Wireless Headset page for options available.

EnGenius DuraFon SIP Long Range Cordless for IP-PBX Systems

If you’ve been looking for a long range cordless phone that will work with your IP-based PBX, look no further than the EnGenius DuraFon SIP system.

EnGenius is one of the most trusted names in the North American long range cordless phone market. Their DuraFon multi-line long range cordless phone system has been satisfying customers for years. Now, you can add the DuraFon-SIP long range cordless phone to your existing IP-PBX system.

It’s a pretty cool system, supporting up to four concurrent conversations (either 4 SIP calls or 3 SIP calls + 1 PSTN) and a range of up to 12 floors in-building coverage, up to 250,000 sq. ft. in warehouse settings or up to 3000 sq. acres in open range settings.

The DuraFon-SIP system supports up to 10 long range cordless handsets, each of which feature 2-Way Intercom and Broadcast features. More than one DuraFon-SIP base station can be added to your IP-PBX, but there are some limitations on phone conversations between handsets registered to different base stations. Most notably, the 2-Way Intercom and Push-to-Talk features won’t work, but you can still make handset to handset calls by using PBX extension-to-extension calls.

If you have questions about the DuraFon-SIP, check out our extensive DuraFon-SIP FAQ section or call one of our sales reps at 1-855-929-9199 and they’ll be happy to find the answers to your questions.

NEC Adds 9.5″ SV9100 Chassis For Small Business Clients

NEC recently added the smaller 9.5″ SV9100 phone system chassis, matching it’s predecessor, the 9.5″ SV8100 cabinet for small business customers.

Compact NEC SV9100 9.5″ Chassis for Small Business

Telephone Magic Inc. has been installing these smaller chassis SV9100 systems for a few months now and the verdict is in… WE LOVE IT! The 9.5″ chassis offers small businesses a cost-effective way to get the high end features of the award winning NEC SV9100 platform.

While the SV9100 is based on the solid foundation of the SV8100 platform, it has a much more powerful processor. It does away with the need for the PZ-VM21 Voice Mail card holder and the PZ-ME50-US Expanded Memory card, The InMail voice mail packake is now stored on a micro SD card which clicks right into a slot on the main control card (GCD-CP10). Like the SV8100, this system is hybrid in nature. It handles both digital and IP phones, has the capability to network between sites and add SIP trunks as bandwidth grows and QoS become more stable.

The UT880 combines the ease of a touchscreen tablet and a familiar telephone keypad!

Customers are RAVING about the new UT880 Tablet Phone which combines the look and feel of a tablet with a standard telephone handset interface. This phone terminal combines touchscreen capabilities with a familiar phone keypad and video options – it is simply breathtaking!

NEC’s UT880 Universal Client is a multiline telephone application that emulates an NEC 32-line DESI-less telephone, comes standard in the SV9100’s user licensing packages. The interface of the UT880 Universal Client is designed to improve the overall user experience, while remaining intuitive—with no extensive training needed. You can see at-a-glance if you have new voice or instant message notifications, missed calls, meetings and new emails plus it provides access to all of the standard system features.

The UT880 and NEC’s SV9100 create a powerful combination of innovation and user features!

Additionally, the UT880 enables access to the UC Suite Client – corporate directory, presence, instant messaging, unified messaging and call control – right on your desktop phone.

When NEC first release the SV9100 they created the UNIVERGE SV9100S and SV9100E Communications Servers. While they are both robust, feature-rich, Unified Communications enabled systems that are ideal for small and medium-sized businesses, the added introduction of the 9.5″ chassis offers the smallest of business clients to take advantage of the powerful SV9100 platform. Each server is designed to help solve today’s communications challenges and is built with your migration path in mind, so you can scale your communications as your business grows.

Because it is so future friendly and upgraded by frequent software improvements, NEC’s SV9100 is likely the LAST communication system your business will ever purchase!

The one thing we love about NEC’s SV9100 is that it is likely the last communication system your business will purchase. Unlike previous “in the box” phone systems that had a certain amount of set features that became antiquated and redundant over time, the SV9100 is future friendly – it’s a server that will regularly be improved going forward via software updates. As new features are invented and brought to market they will become available to your business team as you keep your SV9100 current with the latest Software Assurance,

The SV9100 also comes with a simplified user-licensing structure, which allows you to only pay for what your business needs, as you need it. Gone are the days of paying for 40 voice mail boxes when all you needed was six! Gone are the days of having to buy voice mail ports to be able to handle more calls. This system is provisioned for sixteen ports that will handle as many or as few calls as necessary. The SV9100 also easily integrates with your existing NEC technology.

In short, we are VERY impressed with the SV9100 communication system, and our initial experience with it tells us you will never regret a move to this platform. It is built on a solid foundation and will grow in just about any way you wish as your business changes and expands.

Telecom News from NEC ~ The SV9100 is Here!

They’re here! NEC has announced the release of their new line of PBX systems, including the SV9100, which was designed as an upgrade path for the current SV8100 phone platform. The SV9100 supports up to 1,360 ports but a scaled down version supprts up to 48 ports for small businesses.

The SV9000 phone systems also have two new phone series. The new IP telephones are the DT800 series, replacing the DT700 sets, while the look-alike digital models are now called DT400 sets, replacing the DT300 phone series. The IP models now boast Gigabit models that sell for little more than 10/100 models, a big change from the Gigabit adapters NEC formerly required. Also, the digital models will sell at the same price points as the 10/100 IP models, and both product lines include 12, 24, and 32-button models with a choice of black and white or color displays.

The new NEC DT400 digital phones and DT800 IP telephone sets make the SV9100 even more powerful!

Also announced was the touch-screen Android-based UT880. This is a video-capable desk set (the tablet component is not removable) whose screen presents a typical DT-Series interface. One interesting feature, addressing the concern that hackers could potentially take control of the camera, is a manual switch that buries the camera’s lens behind a physical shroud when not in use.

The new NEC UT880 is an awesome communication tool for the busy executive!

NEC plans to open its own app store for the UT880, which will offer enterprise-oriented vetted apps to protect against malware, which seem like a prudent idea. Partnering with a mainline Android supplier like Samsung may have been a wise choice, as Samsung is years ahead of all of the UC suppliers when it comes to delivering what enterprises need in mobile devices.

Clearly malware is an issue with Android devices. In a 2014 report, Cisco Systems indicates that, “Ninety-nine percent of all mobile malware in 2013 targeted Android devices. Android users also have the highest encounter rate (71%) with all forms of web-delivered malware.”

Unfortunately, Apple’s tightly controlled developer environment leaves Android as the only available platform for mobile O/S-based desk sets. To address the malware threat, Samsung has come up with its own enhanced security mechanisms with its KNOX offering. Samsung will also be offering its own enterprise app store. I’d prefer to be tied into that Samsung ecosystem, rather than trying to crack the Android nut on my own.

NEC has also developed the DT770G iPad cradle with talk of potentially significant enhancements. The DT770G includes an app that emulates a PBX station, and the cradle connects the iPad via Bluetooth and provides a handset and speakerphone.

The DT770G operates over the customer’s in-house Wi-Fi network. That means that the Wi-Fi infrastructure will need to be voice-capable, but as the device is stationary, at least it will not face the problems we have seen with access point-to-access point handoffs. As the docks use the iPad’s Wi-Fi interface, they operate on 2×2 802.11n radio interface. NEC was talking about an enhancement that would allow the iPad to operate over an Ethernet connection when docked, and over Wi-Fi when mobile, but no date for this feature has been announced.

NEC also has a range of DECT-based wireless devices, including a communication badge, that would be capable of dialing a single pre-programmed number with the push of a button. They have also created a prototype of an Android-based smartphone-like device that would support voice over DECT and data over Wi-Fi.

NEC has demonstrated its’ WFAZ wireless adapter. The WFAZ can attach to any of NEC’s IP desk sets and allows it to operate over a Wi-Fi network. This could be a handy way to install stations in areas where it is difficult or expensive to install cable drops, assuming there is adequate Wi-Fi coverage. A PC can be connected to the data port on the IP desk set, allowing for voice and data support over the Wi-Fi connection.

NEC’s dealers like Telephone Magic Inc. love all the new developments from our primary phone system supplier. Business has been strong and we are very enthusiastic about all of the new developements in the product pipeline. However, mobility continues to confound the UC market, so it may be some time before we see tangible benefits and significant revenues coming out of the mobile side of UC.

Denial of Service Attacks Continue in North America

We have all heard of computer virus’s that take over unsuspecting victims PC’s and start overwhelming websites as part of a massive campaign utilizing thousands of these virus driven “drone” or “bot” systems. These “attacks” are hard to combat and have done their fair share of damage on the Internet.

A lesser known but very similar type of attack occurs with great regularity with business phone systems that has become known as a “Denial of Service Attack”. These attacks involve either automated or actual callers overwhelming an organization’s ability to take inbound calls, often resulting in legitimate calls not being able to reach a caller in a timely manner when they need assistance, service, or, in extreme cases, report a real emergency.

A couple of days ago, at approximately 5:25 pm, the Tuscaloosa Police Department was the target of a Telephone Denial of Service Attack. The perpetrators (Foreign Hackers) of the attack launched numerous phone calls against the police department’s phone systems, tying up the system. Again in this case the objective of the attacks was to prevent the agency from receiving legitimate calls and disrupt public safety operations.

Attacks of this nature are ongoing throughout the US and Canada, with over 200 cases documented to this point. Some people muse this may be yet another way for terrorists to attack the United States, potentially weakening businesses or, more importantly, emergency response teams.

The Tuscaloosa Police Department has had to take further steps to protect its’ phone systems. Blocked phone numbers and international numbers trying to call the administrative lines at the police department are being screened in the short term and likely will not go through as a precaution from further attacks. The police department confirms these precautionary changes will not affect the 911 emergency lines. You might think twice though about calling any of their administrative lines from a blocked number. In the event of an emergency the department asks that callers always dial 911. TPD is currently working with Federal Agencies on the incident.

Interestingly, another business in the same Tuscaloosa area experienced a similar incident Friday morning. The complainant stated they received over 180 calls before they took the phone of the hook because it was disrupting the business. The caller, who had a foreign accent, stated they were trying to collect money that an employee owned them.

Law enforcement agencies agree that Telephone Denial of Service Attacks are no laughing matter and should be reported immediately when they occur.

Everyone Seems to be “Hung up on VoIP”

It is AMAZING how many of our clients are all about “Don’t we need VoIP phones?” and “Don’t we need to get cheap VoIP truncks?” and “Aren’t SIP trunks cheaper?”.
Well, to answer ALL these questions… “YES”… under the right circumstances. Not everyone NEEDS more expensive IP phones. That’s right, I said it. I would LOVE to sell you more expensive endpoints and, WOW, I would REALLY LOVE to invoice you to rewire your entire building for Ethernet phone extensions, but, to be honest, YOU DON’T NEED THEM! (darn)…

You heard me. MOST small to medium sized businesses do NOT require IP phones. More importantly, their site Internet access will not SUPPORT loads of VoIP traffic with SIP trunks or phones either!

Most small businesses, EVEN WITH MULTIPLE BRANCHES, can take advantage of less expensive digital terminals and STILL utilize SIP trunks to save money by connecting their hybrid phone systems, such as the NEC SV8100 telephone system via IP daughter boards, such as the IPLB32 – opening a VPN tunnel between the sites where phone calls can be transferred back and forth. Again, this can be done with DIGITAL phones because the SYSTEMS are tied together with VoIP technology!

Before YOU make the mistake of spending an arm load of dough to buy fancy IP phones and swithces that, OMG, don’t work with your limited Internet bandwidth (ouch! YES, there’s the site limitation!) – call someone who REALLY knows their stuff that takes ALL of the environmental and carrier service capabilities into consideration before selling you what you THINK You need. It’s that simple.

Hey, don’t get us wrong – we LOVE the BUZZ words – they sell a TON of new equipment. But don’t sell yourself short and get a huge disappointment when you find out your new phones do not even work. Listen to a professional that can save you loads of money and aggravation by not only listening to what you want, but telling you EXACTLY what you NEED based on your requirements and local site capabilities.

Telecom News – NEC, Nortel, Avaya, SV9100, Norstar, Meridian, IP Phone

Telecommunications news, products, and observations.