Tag Archives: mobile integration

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.

BYOD: Mobile Phone Carriers Get Away With Murder

OK, “murder” is a bit of a stretch.

That clarified, how many times per week do you have calls simply dropped mid-conversation. That is followed with a redial and explanation that “I always lose calls on this part of the highway”. Not only is it frustrating, there is virtually NOTHING we can do about it except to switch carriers AFTER our 2 or formerly 3 year contract ends!

What other kind of company can CONSTANTLY deliver inferior service and KEEP YOUR BUSINESS??

You have to love mobile phone technology. While devices like the iPhone and Q10 and Galaxy keep becoming more and more space age with whiz-bang features ~the network that carries your calls never seems to improve!

How about those wonderful calls where the conversation is one continuous “echo”? Don’t you just love standing on opposite ends of a sewer tunnel as your voice (and more importantly the OTHER call’s voice) ricochet’s off the walls? How about when all you hear is a smattering of “chop chop chop” bits of talk you cannot possibly make out as actual speaking because you miss 90% of what is being said?

So how are we REALLY supposed to integrate BYOD hardware for our staff and clients when the infrastructure of the device transmissions delivers such a low quality of service? While BYOD presents security and network issues, nothing is more challenging than the wild fluctuations we face with the networks they operate on.

I personally would LOVE to see consumers start to hold mobile carriers accountable for EVERY dropped or interrupted call. These companies deliver such poor QOS on average that as a group it would be really sweet if EVERYONE with a mobile device was able to DISCOUNT all this bad service. Imagine getting 50-60% off YOUR monthly cellular invoice just because so many of your calls were of an unacceptable quality!

So I say “RISE UP PEOPLE!”, rise up and challenge YOUR mobile carrier to produce a CONSISTENT cellular experience. This way your next BYOD call does not have to be complete only AFTER you apologize for the hard to understand and maintain conversation.

I’m just saying. BYOD killers. Oh, i guess that IS a pretty solid “murder” metaphor, LOL.