I get the title of today’s post from Ryan, one of our techies, who used it when explaining something about my desktop phone.

I’ve been using a Panasonic phone on my desk since I started working here. I think it was called a “Digital Hybrid Phone” according to the Panasonic literature. Anyway, we went through a little upgrade here and I got a “Super Hybrid IP Phone” instead. Gotta love these names. They sound so “technical” yet are generally meaningless. I mean, if you leave out “Super”, the units are “Digital Hybrid” or “Hybrid IP” phones. What’s the difference?

As I learned today, the “Digital Hybrid” systems are the first generation of digital phones that allowed you to get enhanced digital functions while still being able to integrate analog devices like fax machines etc.

“Hybrid IP” phone systems allow the same integration of analog devices, but offer even more digital functionality and give you full Voice over IP ability. I’ll have to do another post about Voice over IP because I think it’s a great technology with a lot of untapped potential.

Anyway, getting back to the original topic of the post, I learned from my tech that phone systems store all the information about a phone centrally. So, this phone switch didn’t affect my voice mail or any of the other custom settings I had programmed (or at least TRIED to program) into the phone. (When it comes to phones, I’ve learned that just following the prompts is usually the best bet. Reading the owner’s manual helps too…)

I’ve gotta say though, this new phone’s not as “snazzy” as the last one I had. There were more buttons, lights etc. on the other one. But, it’s got all the functions I need (and then some) and it’s a clean looking phone – not too cluttered, which I suppose I ought to appreciate more.

Isn’t it strange that in our modern world, the more complicated something looks the better we think it is while things that are simple and functional are seen as being somehow lesser? Is it conditioning or are we hard-wired that way? I remember my first office phone. It had the standard key buttons and that was it. No hold. No transfer. No fancy lights. Just a keypad and handset. Just one step away from being rotary. But, it worked. Someone called, the phone rang, I picked it up and talked to them, then hung up. No muss. No fuss.

Nowadays, I think of the things I need to be able to do with my phone. It’s more than what I had to do when I started off in the business world. Voice messaging is essential. Headset compatability is almost a necessity. Being able to transfer calls or have a three-way conversation is handy too. The intercom saves me a bunch of walking and call-waiting has been a very convenient option.

I never used to think about how phone systems worked, but every day, I’m learning something new about what features there are with various phone systems and I’m always impressed.

Hybrid IP systems are Panasonic’s latest systems and they’ve replaced the Digital Hybrid product line. Just in case you were interested.