Brave New Phones
The Basics on the Next Generation of Phones
We've gone from corded to cordless to cellular. Is there really any need for any new types of phones? You bet. Phones can give you access to information you never imagined having at your fingertips. They can simplify your schedule, help you check e-mail or even browse the Web. This article will help you decide what type of phone you may want to buy next.
A Phone or Not a Phone?
Softphones are not really phones at all, but rather PCs loaded with VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) software that enable voice-to-voice communication from your computer. Using your PC as a phone has several advantages, such as reducing costs of deployment while still providing all of the high-end features you find in a hard phone. And your phone goes wherever your laptop goes—;to wireless hotspots, on commercial flights equipped with Internet service, or to your wired hotel room. You can make and receive phone calls from anywhere you have Internet access. The sound quality is clearer than a mobile phone, and chances are the call will also cost less.
PCs send voice signals over data networks rather than over conventional telephone lines, saving money on long distance calls. When you send and receive calls as data, or as packet-switched calls, you don't have to pay the international cost to transmit the data. You pay only the local connection cost to your ISP.
In addition to savings on long distance, businesses can save money by not purchasing a telephone in the first place. They can also save considerably on wiring and cables. Contact centers are now regularly using Internet telephony for customer services and sales calls, lowering capital expenditures and overhead.
Smartphones
Smartphones are mobile phones with enhanced display capabilities and new functionalities that let you access e-mail, faxes, your company intranet and the Internet. They are basically all-in-one communications devices that combine the functionality of a pager, phone and PDA. According to an April 2005 study by Canalys, over 10.8 million smartphones were shipped worldwide in the first quarter of 2005—;an increase of 82% over the previous year.1 A growing proportion of mobile phones are smartphones, utilizing wireless technology and high speed data transfer to deliver multimedia information at the touch of a button or the sound of a word.
A Personal Touch
One of the biggest developments in phone technology is the ability for users to personalize their mobile phones, and to use them as an entertainment source. Downloading has gone completely mainstream, with a variety of ringtones, wallpaper and games available at your fingertips. Verizon Wireless claims that its users have downloaded over 200 million items with its Get It Now service.2 Entire novels are even available for download to mobile phones, providing for leisurely reading on the subway. There are also plans in the works to offer full motion pictures on mobile phones—;not exactly the silver screen, but it will do in transit.
Say Cheese
Digital camera phones have also become mainstream, with a variety of options to choose from. They can be as compact or elegant as you want, and they even offer zoom capability. You can store your images as your wallpaper or just carry them around to show off your kids' pictures. There's no excuse anymore to sacrifice that Kodak moment.
Headsets and New Phones
Plantronics® headsets can enhance your phone experience, no matter what type of phone you may have. The CS50® USB headset was specifically designed for softphone applications, for users who are looking for wireless freedom. There are a multitude of smartphone headset options, including the Plantronics Discovery® 655 Bluetooth® mobile headset that allows you to get rid of wires. As phones continue to evolve, so will Plantronics headsets to fit them.
1Source: eMarketer database, April 2005.
2 Source: Information Week, June 2005.
