Overview of IP Phones for Lync Server

I want to share this small overview of our experience with IP phones, which we mercilessly exploit in the process of integration with the Lync Server through our Kinnex Media Gateway . No advertising, only true as it is. I would be glad if I could relieve the excessive burden of choice.

Frankly, I can’t say anything so bad about the phones that have passed through our hands. Despite the very noticeable variation in price, in the basic functionality, all models behave approximately the same, including the sound quality. There are differences and bugs in the implementation of the protocols, but we smooth them, so for comparison, from the user's point of view, only the appearance and usability remain. What I will focus on.
')
Everything that is said about a separate model is calmly applied to all the others from the model range, but having differences in the size / color of the screen, the number of accounts, or the presence of additional function buttons.

Cisco SPA502G and Linksys SPA922

Models from two identical lines Linksys SPA9xx and Cisco SPA5xx / 3xx. It makes no sense to write a lot, the fact that Linksys models are already more than 5 years old will tell you everything, and after they became known as Cisco, little has changed in them. Great workhorses.

Telephony features: + | -
Web control panel: +
Provision: +
802.1x: -
Documentation: +
Russian language: + | - (requires squats for the menu, names display without them)
Re-registration in case of loss of connection: + | - (there is a delay)

Special features

• Conciseness and convenience, well-debugged firmware.
• There is no possibility to redirect (call transfer without answer).

Escene ES330N

Very controversial reviews can be found about the rather young manufacturer Escene, but in fact the phones work and perform their functions without fail. Easy to set up. In testing, there were 2 more models. In addition to differences in appearance and a set of functions, differences are not seen.

Telephony features: +
Web control panel: +
Provision: +
802.1x: -
Documentation: - | +
Russian language: +
Re-registration in case of loss of connection: + | - (there is a delay, after some time it stops trying)

Special features

• Constantly improve the model and firmware.
• Very little documentation.
• Each time you request a server, the screen is activated.

Grandstream GXP2100

The only thing that made open the manual is the need to adjust the work of the transfer. Otherwise, from the technical side, everything works perfectly.

Telephony features: + | -
Web control panel: +
Provision: +
802.1x: +
Documentation: +
Russian language: +
Re-registration in case of loss of connection: +

Special features

• On the screen there is additional information about the weather and courses, it may be useful for someone.
• Nuds with the logic of transfers.
• Did not find how to make redirect (call transfer without answer).

Panasonic KX-UT123

It feels a solid approach to product development and convenience in fine detail. Very detailed documentation. However, there is one rather contradictory feature - this is a hard limitation on working with the web panel and the inability to configure the appropriate level of security yourself.

Telephony features: +
Web control panel: - | +
Provision: +
802.1x: -
Documentation: +
Russian language: +
Re-registration in case of loss of connection: +

Special features

• The quality and technological experience of Panasonic in the creation of telephone sets.
• Web control panel should be periodically activated by timeout through the phone menu. Minus to manageability, but plus to safety.

Yealink SIP- T20P / T22P / T26P

Perhaps it turned out the most unpretentious of all. Earned immediately after the connection and did not attract the attention of any features of unexpected behavior. The entire feature set, no frills office style design, are comfortable.

Telephony features: +
Web control panel: +
Provision: + | -
802.1x: +
Documentation: +
Russian language: +
Re-registration in case of loss of connection: +

Special features

• In almost every firmware, variable names in the provisioning files change, you have to constantly monitor.