Headsets are playing an increasingly important role in the UC market. Once a desk phone-attached add-on whose main job was to prevent cramped necks, headsets are no longer just a convenience for office workers. Instead, they have become a necessity in UC solutions that can deliver high-quality voice across congested networks but not across the typically inadequate speakers and microphones built into detops, laptops, and mobiles.
Noisy work environments (which are increasingly common given the trend towards open plan offices) can also necessitate headsets. And IT departments, especially those deploying Skype for Business, frequently rip but don't replace desk phones, making the UC client-and-headset combo employee’s primary business telephone.
If you are looking to save IT costs with UC deployment however, you can't necessarily rely on headsets as an alternative to IP phones. Even if you install UC clients on all desktops, laptops, and mobile devices and buy some affordable headsets for employees — you will find sound quality will be spotty, lifespan will be short, vendor support will be limited to non-existent, and seamless connectivity to the UC software may be inconsistent.
A better decision is to buy headsets optimised for UC. But these devices are going to cost you—often more than a comparable IP phone would have. Below is a cost comparison:
Headsets:
Jabra Pro 9400: £299
Plantronics Voyager Focus UC: £240
Jabra Evolve 80: £202
Sennheiser MB660 UC: £444
IP Phones:
Polycom VVX 300: £130
Polycom VVX 400: £175
Mitel 5320: £115
Mitel 5330: £185
It isn’t just the price tag that could cost businesses however. Employees in noisy environments can miss calls because desk phones aren't ringing. Many headset models have incoming call lights, but they often are too subtle or don’t work properly — resulting in a lot of missed calls. UC clients do give a visual alert of an incoming call, but you have to be looking directly at the desktop icon to see it.
The moral of this story is: it is not a given that cutting desk phones out of the UC equation will save money. It can, but it takes planning. A dual IP telephony and unified communications provider like VTSL, will be able to advise you on the best (and most affordable) solution for your organisations unique needs.
About VTSL
VTSL is a unified communications provider specialising in hosted VoIP business telephony for SMEs across the UK and Ireland. Its award winning solution offers the flexibility, ease-of-use and cost savings today's businesses require. Plus with cutting edge IP technology, a private network and a user-friendly web portal for making changes, VTSL offers organisations the reliability and control needed function more efficiently. Integrations with browsers, email and CRM systems offer added benefits and streamlined working capabilities. Learn more by speaking to a VTSL advisor today on 020 7078 3200 or emailing salesteam@vtsl.net.
