Handsets and Headsets for Communications Server 2007

Two categories of telephone-like devices for Communications Server 2007 users will become available over the next few months: free-standing Voice over IP (VoIP) phones that don’t require a PC, and USB-connected handsets and headsets that do. Shipping from Jabra, LG-Nortel, Polycom, and others, these devices provide a familiar voice interface for organizations that give up conventional phone systems and employ Communications Server and Exchange Server as their primary voice communication systems, which some might consider for new facilities or individual departments. However, the first freestanding phone models are somewhat pricy, while the less-expensive USB devices are completely dependent on the PC.

The new VoIP phones and USB peripherals support Communication Server 2007’s voice capabilities, which allow users to communicate directly with other Communications Server 2007, traditional private branch exchange (PBX), and standard telephone users. Both types of devices also support Communication Server 2007’s user presence features (e.g., “available,” “in a meeting,” or “on the phone”). However, only the USB peripherals can provide audio for PC users accessing Communication Server’s on-premise Web conferencing features, which provide a similar set of capabilities as Microsoft’s Live Meeting service or Cisco’s WebEx.