In recent years Session Initiation Protocol or SIP has become a widespread protocol of choice for multimedia applications. In particular SIP has become quite popular in voice applications. Most major PBX manufacturers now support IP endpoints and also support SIP trunks and extensions. The growing popularity of the open source PBX software Asterisk and its various derivatives (e.g.Asterisk Business Edition, AsteriskNow, Elastix, Trixbox, Switchbox etc.) has also fueled the development and implementation of SIP.
Of note is the growth of the SIP compliant hardware industry. Major manufacturers like Aastra, Grandstream, Polycom, and Snom produce SIP phones that are in common use. Even proprietary PBX manufacturers like Avaya, Nortel, and Cisco have their own flavors of SIP firmware available for their IP telephones.
Polycom’s SoundPoint IP is one of the most popular lines of SIP compliant phones in today’s market. Not only limited to Asterisk based phone systems on the customer premise, these phones have also become ubiquitous in the hosted IP PBX market. The incorporation of a high-quality speakerphone, robust features, and customizable configuration via XML-based server files has laid the foundation for their implementation.
The prevalence of SoundPoint IP telephones has produced a burgeoning secondary market for the earlier models in the SoundPoint IP product line. Still well supported in both parts and firmware, the SoundPoint IP 300, 301, 430, 500, 501, 600, and 601 are great alternatives for the cost-conscious small business. The most popular in the secondary market are refurbished SoundPoint IP 430, 600, and 601’s. Featuring dual switched Ethernet ports for collocation of a PC and integrated 802.3af PoE support, these three models have made it easy to setup a workstation. No need for an auxiliary power supply or local AC power outlet. Using PoE, one LAN cable can run both the telephone and computer’s data connection.
What do you give up by choosing these models? Currently, most businesses wouldn’t give up too much. The most touted feature in the newer SoundPoint IP 450, 550, and 650 models is Polycom’s HD Voice technology. HD Voice is the moniker being given to wideband audio based on the G.722 codec. There are some early adopters reaping local benefits, but until there is widespread use, most small businesses will not notice the sound quality difference. Truth be told, the audio quality of the SoundPoint IP family is great as it is.
What do you gain by choosing these models? A solid and well-supported SIP compliant IP phone and a fatter wallet. Polycom continues to support its discontinued product for three years after end of sale. That means hardware and software support until 2013. By then, the HD Voice models should have a great secondary market as well.
What kind of savings will you realize? The price of a refurbished SoundPoint IP telephone can range from $69 (2-line) to $139 (6-line), whereas the newer models range from $179 (3-line) to $269 (6-line).
Author: Ernest Mac
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable pressure cooker
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