GuideWorkspace Tech22 Oct 2018 · 4 min read

Best IP Phones for Small Business

Ready to upgrade your small business with some excellent IP phones? Here are some insights to help you make the right choice.

Rebekah Carter

Excellent communication is the lifeblood of any successful business.

Without a good communication strategy, it would be impossible to support a productive workforce, connect with your customers, and help your organisation thrive. IP Phones exist at the heart of many communication strategies, providing access to innovative solutions all the way from video conferencing to call recording.

Of course, if you're a small business, you may need to balance finding the perfect features, with choosing an IP phone that suits your budget.

Choosing the Ultimate IP Phone for Small Businesses

For small businesses, the key to successfully picking the right IP phone is knowing what your business needs to thrive. Before you start exploring the available vendors in the VoIP phone market, make sure you ask yourself a few essential questions:

What kind of conversations will your IP phones support?
How many employees do you need to empower with your new phones?
Do you need your IP phones to be wireless?
Are there any specific features that are crucial for you (e., PoE, voice recording features, and a touch-screen for call management?)

Once you have a basic idea of the things you need from an IP phone, check out some of the following offerings for 2018.

AudioCodes

One of the best-known endpoint vendors for 2018, AudioCodes is an expert in producing state-of-the-art IP solutions for businesses of all sizes. There are plenty of great devices to choose from to suit every budget. For instance:

The Budget-Friendly Option:

The 405HD IP phone is AudioCodes' budget-friendly solution for small businesses. Though it's designed to be simple, it comes with all the features you could need, including:

2 lines
Back-lit LCD
4 soft keys
PoE or external power supply
SILK HD Audio
USB headset support
Full duplex speakerphone

The Feature-rich Choice

For those in search of something more sophisticated, the AudioCodes 440HD IP phone comes with a unique ergonomic design, an integrated LCD sidecar, and certified Skype for Business support. It's a great mid-range business phone with high-quality features that won't break the bank, such as:

6 lines with 2 concurrent calls per line
Graphic multi-lingual LCD
4 soft keys
6 programmable multi-function keys
12-speed dial keys
USB headset support
SILK HD audio

[caption id="attachment_38683" align="alignright" width="1000"] Audiocodes 440HD[/caption]

Snom

As one of the very first phone manufacturers to introduce IP-enabled devices to the world, Snom is an excellent choice for businesses investigating IP technology. The recent 10+2 deal also makes the flagship Snom product more affordable and cost-effective for smaller companies.

The Budget-Friendly Option:

The Snom D375 is the simple, yet reliable, low-cost choice for people in search of significant results for a minimal investment. This IP phone has been the endpoint of choice for countless companies across Europe. The D375 supports the simultaneous use of multiple audio devices, and it comes with:

A high-resolution colour display
12 function LED keys
USB connectivity
Sensor hook switch
Bluetooth compatibility

The Feature-rich Choice

For those who want to take advantage of the latest Snom endpoint deal for 2018, the D785 offers everything you could want from a high-end IP phone. Along with a rich, high-resolution colour display, you'll also get exceptional audio quality, and features like:

High-speed USB and Bluetooth connectivity
Advanced speaker and microphone system
6 configurable multi-colour LED keys
Elegant business-ready design

[caption id="attachment_38684" align="alignright" width="1000"] Snom D785[/caption]

Polycom

Polycom is one of the best-known vendors of IP phones in the market today. Their beautifully-designed telephones deliver high quality of sound and great business experiences to companies of all sizes around the world.

The Budget-Friendly Option:

For firms in search of something simple and affordable, the Polycom VVX 101 business media phone is a fantastic one-line Sip phone great for making high-clarity calls. You can even use this phone as a solopreneur or freelancer. Features include:

Great voice quality
Easy to deploy (hosted or on-premise)
Reduced maintenance costs thanks to Polycom Zero Touch provisioning
SIP-enabled
Backlit display

The Feature-rich Choice

The VVX 450 Business IP Phone is a higher-level endpoint option from Polycom, intended to deliver engaging communication experiences over a twelve-line connection with a colour display. There's even 4 soft keys and 12-line keys to customise your calls. Features include:

HD audio
2 USB ports
Illuminated audio keys
In-call keys (hold, voicemail and call transfer)
3-inch LCD
2 Gig-E ports

[caption id="attachment_38686" align="aligncenter" width="579"] Polycom VVX450 Polycom VVX 450[/caption]

Yealink

Yealink is a leading provider of communication solutions, known for their ability to serve companies of all sizes. In 2018, Yealink won the Global Growth Excellence Leadership Award from Frost and Sullivan, and they became the top-selling SIP provider in the industry.

The Budget-Friendly Option:

Yealink's budget-friendly option is the SIP-T19(P) E2. An entry-level IP phone, this easy-to-use device is packed full of great features to help promote stronger business conversations. Features include:

Dual 10/100 Mbps network ports
Black and white LCD
Wall-mountable design
1 SIP account and support for 2-way conferencing
Headset support

The Feature-rich Choice

The SIP-T52S is a somewhat more expensive, but valuable piece of kit for a small business. This phone comes with a 2.8-inch colour display to help with call management, and advanced audio quality via the Opus audio codec. Other features include: