SIP desktop phone blends functionality, style

Capitalising on the latest trend of beauty and functionality, Siemens Communications Inc. yesterday released its OpenStage family of SIP desktop phones, which the company touts as providing "personal fixed mobile convenience with style."

According to Martin Northend, director of portfolio marketing for SMBs at Siemens, the OpenStage line is among the first telephones to bring an open communications hardware platform to the desktop. The phones, which come in four models ranging from basic to advanced, use PC functionality.

The phones rely on Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to integrate wired, wireless and IP communications to facilitate functions that include push to conference, desktop call management, and presence-based calling. The OpenStage phones also support third-party applications through standards-based technologies such as Java, HTML, WML and XML.

Northend said the phones fill five voids many desktop phone users experience:

• they contain or offer access to personal, corporate or public phone books
• they have high-quality speakerphones for conference calls
• they share information with mobile devices or PC organiser software
• they don't tie users to their desks
• they are appealing, engaging and easy to use

"End users in business environments are faced with an ever-increasing variety of communications capabilities, devices, interfaces and modes," Current Analysis vice president Jerry Caron said in a statement. "Efforts to streamline and integrate these capabilities, and to make the most of the latest navigation techniques, are welcome and will get the attention of buyers."

Northend added that OpenStage sets have built-in Bluetooth support. An AV card exchange allows users to transfer contacts between compatible mobile phones and the desktop phone. A USB port can be used to back up data such as contact lists or to connect to a wireless LAN. And, with the correct network support, users can access corporate phone directories using an LDAP client, or use XML to look up new contacts.

For more information Find out what makes an IP phone a SIP phone Check out our learning guide on SIP

The touch-sensitive navigation wheel, called TouchGuide, resembles an iPod in its circular design, which lets users access the menu-driven user interface. Near the wheel, a touch-sensitive TouchSlider – essentially a blue-lit bar – controls the volume of the handset, the ringer and speakerphone. There are also additional touch-sensitive pre-set and programmable keys for quick access to frequently used applications and features such as address books, voicemail and speed dial. OpenStage features hands-free voice commands and a high-quality speakerphone designed for conference calls.

Bill Crane, communications manager at Shimano Inc., an Irvine, Calif.-based maker of gears and brakes for bikes and fishing equipment, is planning to roll out roughly 140 OpenStage phones when they become available in early January. He said the rollout is part of a phone upgrade. Shimano currently uses an older model of Siemens IP phone. The OpenStage phones will integrate with the Siemens HiPath 4000 IP PBX.

Crane said that being able to use the phones wirelessly and with Bluetooth are two key factors he was looking for that were lacking in the older-model phones.

"We move people all of the time," he said, noting that wireless connectivity in a SIP phone will make those moves easier and less expensive. Also, being able to use a Bluetooth headset will allow end users to use the same headset for their desk and mobile phones.

Ease of use was a huge selling point for OpenStage, according to Crane, because it will reduce the need to train each and every user. He said the menus and navigation seem simple.

"It appears the phone is relatively intuitive," Crane said of the OpenStage, which comes in four models, the 20, 40, 60 and 80. "It will allow us to do a lot of things."