With softphones, cell phones, wireless headsets, and every other way employees can communicate, many organizations are either eliminating desk phones or thinking about it. And with many employees working remotely, often using their own phones or a company-issued cell phone, the need for desk phones seems to be waning.

Does the traditional desk phone still deliver value? In some cases.

Desk Phones: Plusses and Minuses

Modern organizations can choose from a wide range of communications tools: desk, soft, and mobile phones; desktop and laptop computers; headsets and watches. Even some home security cameras can be used as communication devices.

Early softphones had drawbacks, such as voice quality issues, limited features, reduced reliability, and compromised security. Today, those have mostly become non-issues, but entry-level desk phones still often have a cost advantage. They can also aid connectivity in fluid office environments, such as hoteling or hot desking. Organizations can also rely primarily on desk phones for employees who are generally in one location, with mobile phones and softphones used as backup when employees are away from their desks or work sites.

Deciding which type(s) of phone(s) make the most sense for an organization begins with asking these questions:

• Are safety and having a rock-solid connection top priorities?
• Is there a risk in having an uncharged mobile phone?
• Does your organization or government regulations require secure or private lines of communication?
• Will audio quality changes affect the employee or customer experience?
• In an emergency, is your business phone system resilient and compliant with E911 regulations?

Other Considerations: Location and Capabilities

In some industries, employees are typically in a fixed area, and desk phones make sense. Hospitals and other medical facilities, hotels, and schools still rely heavily on desk phones. Traders, hedge fund companies, and stockbrokers use specialized desk phones called turret phones. They may have multiple handsets, but at their core, they’re desktop phones.

Schools are the most likely to use desk phones for security reasons: an emergency call must immediately be able to be traced to a specific classroom.

Other industries that prize call quality above all else often find that even the best softphones, although constantly improving, may still provide call quality a notch below a desk phone.

Does the Desk Phone Have a Future?

As the Internet of Things (IoT) expands, desk phones with added capabilities still have a place in the communication ecosystem. The experts at VOIP Networks can help any organization decide which communication devices work best for them.

Backed by White-Glove Support

VOIP Networks provides complete set-up, training, and support, no matter which equipment you choose, to ensure that your communications system fits your needs and offers critical capabilities and quality. We also offer a free proof-of-concept installation so you can try the system before making a purchase. In addition, we can help integrate existing applications and hardware with a Cloud9 system in one or many locations. Best of all, VOIP Networks provides white-glove, U.S.-based support 24/7/365 to clients of all sizes.

To learn more and discuss your needs, please contact us at 800.494.0000 or sales@voipnetworks.com.