Johannesburg, 05 Jul 2019
Trying to keep up in today’s fast-paced business world can be a challenge for many companies, even harder still, trying to maintain the latest technology for your organisation. It can be overwhelming and sometimes you forget about one of your most valuable business resources, IP phones. Even though a company VOIP telephone might seem indestructible, there comes a time when you need to upgrade it to take advantage of new technology.
It’s not uncommon that some Snom telephones stay in use for over 10 years, but a lot has changed in that time and VOIP has so much more to offer your business today. Technology like unified communications and collaboration (UCC) platforms offer unmatched versatility and functionality compared to older desk phones.
“In light of how quickly smartphones, notebooks and PCs become outdated after two or three years, the life cycle of Snom IP terminals is a marvel in the computer industry. Unlike a diamond, a company telephone – however indestructible it may seem – does not last forever,” says Terence Merifield, Snom Product Manager at Duxbury Networking.
Every IP phone has a miniature computer inside it, including a motherboard, a chipset, a memory and a RAM, an LCD display, an operating system with a Web interface, hardware components to connect to the company network, a keyboard and a jack for wired headsets. These elements were included in most IP telephones a decade ago to complete simple tasks like receiving or making calls, reading the selected number on the display or options from the telephone menu itself. It begs the question, would you want to use a PC with a 10-year-old operating system or technology? Probably not.
Today’s IP phones need to do this and so much more. The ability to use new firmware is essential; this means your phone needs more powerful components. Older phones with an outdated chipset and limited sized RAM don’t have this capacity. It’s a bit like trying to install 64-bit applications on a 32-bit PC or update Windows 10 with a system with limited megabytes of RAM and hard disk.
New firmware offers new functions to IP terminals and it also blocks any vulnerabilities in the VOIP network. Using a similar PC comparison, think about systems with Windows XP that can no longer be updated and the resulting security consequences. You will have similar challenges with IP telephones that can no longer be updated due to a lack of computational resources. It is easier to exploit an outdated IP telephone to get illegal access to the network. Even if the old IP terminal is only used to manage phone calls, any vulnerabilities in your network should cause concern.
Any truly versatile and high-quality UCC solution should offer seamless interoperability between the terminals and the switchboard; this is why Snom ensures the same operators test their devices in both contexts. Modern IP phones offer new automatic configuration modes and remote management of IP terminals through the switchboard. This interoperability allows the latest Snom IP phones to connect flawlessly, whether you have 10 phones or 10 000. If you want a modern UCC solution for your business, perhaps using the cloud, it might be time to get rid of your old telephones.
One of the final reasons to upgrade your IP phone is a little more aesthetic, but might be just as important as security for your business. The sophisticated design of your telephone could be the finishing touch for your executive offices or five-star hotel. The modern look and colour displays make all the difference compared to older models with paper labels written in pencil.
If you are interested in upgrading with Snom, the company will pay cash for any old Snom IP phones if you are part of its Partner Programme. Snom also offers a free custom logo package if you order 50 units and there are more customisation options for larger orders. Contact Duxbury Networking to find out more about these incredible offers from Snom: info@duxnet.co.za.
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