Time To Re-Invent the Phone

by Dave Michels in Telecom Jun 22 2011

Many people seem ready to shove the desktop phone off the edge of the earth, but not very many actually do it. The problem is its a multiple choice question without the right answers:

What to use for voice at the desk?
A) Desktop Phone
B) Softphone
C) Mobile Phone

Desk phones are obsolete and limited, softphones are feature rich, but require a logged-in desktop computer (and a headset), and cell phones require a full charge and a strong signal (neither of which can be assumed).

The answer I believe we want isn’t a current choice:
D) A new desktop phone.

The choices are largely recycled old ideas, it’s time to start over and create something compelling.

A desktop phone that reflects current technology and user expectations. Although the modern VoIP phone shares few components with its ancestors, the typical user would not know it. The curly corded device on the desk offers the same basic user experience as it did in 1950.

I put forth some ideas for re-invention on NoJitter. Of them, is making the next generation of desktop phones more cell friendly. The cell phone is king right now, and the desktop phone must assume its role as our second favorite phone. The cell phone is here to stay – so rather than ignore it, the desktop phone could actually acknowledge it and maybe even embrace it.

Starting with more protection from cellular interference, add in some USB charger ports so I have a place to dock/charge my cell phone, and I would also like some tighter integration between the two. That could be as simple as allowing me to use my speaker (big speaker) or handset with my cell phone or possibly even access my cell phone contacts from my desk phone.

Read the whole post here:
Time to Re-Invent the Desk Phone

and Matt Brunk’s followup:

The New Desk Phone

http://www.blogger.com/profile/15641092767128875563 Steve

At ShoreTel we believe that the end user is ultimately the one to make the choice – vs. the IT dept. Thus, we believe the answer is all of the above and provide mechanisms for end users to do just that – use the tool which is best suited for them: ShoreTel's desktop, soft phones and the ShoreTel Mobility solution give you the flexibility.
http://www.blogger.com/profile/12918359245379488571 Dave Michels

Thanks Steve,
ShoreTel does offer a broad set of choices. That wasn't my direct point.

I would like to see hard phones evolve faster. We all thought we had great cell phones until Apple changed the game, and that needs to happen with desktop phones. They are all pretty similar in function and purpose – though yours come in nicer colors and shapes. Only the tech has changed, not the way we use the phones or what we expect of them.
Anonymous

a shameless plug for Shoretel…while true its nothing that the rest of the field is not already doing.
http://www.blogger.com/profile/03917859515211668440 Scott

Well said, but… the BIG guys don't "get it" and the little guys are still struggling to get funding and marketing. Last year I tried hard to find a new phone set standard for my company. Every "open" SIP phone fell short from features, quality, price, usability and design. (I can want a sexy phone, can't I?) To add further insult, the licensing that the IP-PBX vendor (not to be named big networking company) added to use a non-proprietary phone killed any ROI that even a "Radio Shack" phone would've been expensive.

Money aside, design and usability are key. This is how Apple won. I wish others would follow suit. Polycom had a USB phone that was simple and sexy, but it was only for M$ OCS. SNOM has sleek 870 but it was a uber confusing to operate. Sorry, but the sad truth is that the average user is not a phone geek. They just want the @&*! thing to work. All the @&*! time and without a phonebook sized user manual.

Will Avaya, Cisco, Microsoft and the others every be truly "open?" Will SIP ever be a true SINGLE standard? Will I ever win the lottery? I guess the chances of all of the above happening are about the same. The good news is that there is still some hope. Convergence may kill all of us old-timers off, but the next generation can push the industry further. I like hybridization. Just look at what IPTrade is doing with a modified tablet. Plantronics' Calisto is a great little all-in-one box (or will be when it fully supports Cisco IPC). The future phone won't be remotely close your father's 2500 sets!

Time To Re-Invent the Phone

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