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
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
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
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:
- Built-in Bluetooth
- 16 SIP accounts
- 8 paperless DSS keys
- Support for expansions
- Dual-port Gigabit Ethernet
