Plantronics wireless headsets

In case anyone was wondering, the new Plantronics CS70 wireless headset is out. This is a great little model that surpasses the CS50 in style, if not in function.

If you're going to get the CS70 or any other wireless headset, get the HL10 handset lifter. Frankly, if you're going to buy a cordless headset, you're missing the best part of having one if you don't get the lifter to go with it. What's the point of having a cordless headset if you can't answer the phone when you're away from your desk?

The CS70 uses DECT 6.0 wireless technology (1.9 GHz) to improve clarity and reduce the risk of interference with other wireless devices.

Telephone Magic is selling the CS70 for the incredibly low price of $289 US, including the HL10 handset lifter. Check it out today!

Teledex Cordless Phones moving to DECT

Teledex has discontinued their line of analog cordless hotel phones, making way for a their new DECT wireless models.

DECT is a "new" wireless standard. New to North America - it's been around in Europe for a while. However, it promises to have less interference with other wireless devices so it's a good thing to have in a high density hotel.

The new phones operate at either 1.9 GHz (North America) or 1.8 GHz (Most European Countries) and will be available starting in September or October 2006.

Stay tuned for more updates!

More conference phone battery woes

On the heels of Polycom's problems with the SoundStation 2W battery comes a similar issue with ClearOne.

Here's the link:

http://www.clearone.com/docs/press_releases/PR_020206_Battery_Packs.pdf

Here's the problem:

Rechargeable Battery Packs Sold with MAX Wireless Conference Phones Recalled for Burn Hazard

These battery packs can short circuit, causing them to overheat and melt the protective plastic covering, posing a burn hazard to consumers.

The battery is included as a power source for the MAX Wireless Conference Phone Models 910-158-001 and 910-158-070. The model number can be located on the product ID label placed on the underside of the MAX Wireless Conference Phone Pod. The phone is black, six-sided and has a domed speaker in the center. “ClearOne Max” is written on the top of the phone. The recalled battery pack is green. The battery pack is located in the battery compartment on the underside of the MAX phone pod. The recall involves the TWD rechargeable nickel metal hydride battery pack with model number TH-AA2200. The battery pack’s model number “TH-AA2200,” “TWD NI-MH Battery,” and “7.2v AA2200mAH” are printed on the side of the battery. The battery pack is also sold separately.


Consumers should stop using these phones with recalled battery packs immediately and contact ClearOne Communications for a free replacement battery pack.

For additional information, contact ClearOne Communications at (800) 283-5936 select Option# 5 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. MST or visit the firm’s web site at www.clearone.com.

So, when this happened with Polycom's SoundStation 2W, we recommended the ClearOne Max Wireless. I suppose now that Clearone's having these problems with the MAX, we can always recommend the Konftel 60W wireless conference unit...

This just heard from the folks at Skype...

Plantronics today announced its Internet-optimized Voyager 510 Bluetooth headset solution featuring a plug-and-play USB Bluetooth voice adapter. “Skype for Business coupled with our new Bluetooth headset is the ultimate tool for small businesses,” commented Philip Vanhoutte, EMEA Managing Director, Plantronics. “You no longer need to carry a multitude of devices. Our Voyager 510 Bluetooth headset solution is multipoint, allowing customers to switch seamlessly between mobile phone and Internet calls.”

I checked the Plantronics website and didn't see anything about this Internet-Optimized headset, although I did find this:

"Plantronics today announced two new Bluetooth® headsets, the Plantronics Discovery™ 645 and Voyager 510 with WindSmart®, that incorporate new technologies for excellent audio clarity during conversations. The Voyager 510 is the first Bluetooth headset on the market to include both a noise-canceling microphone and wind-reduction technology for brilliant sound in windy environments. The Discovery 645 includes a digital signal processing (DSP) chip to actively reduce background noise when talking."

Very interesting. Two companies, talking about the same product, but in different ways.

I'll await clarification from Plantronics on these products. No information is available on their website as of yet.

For information on the Plantronics Voyager 510, you can always visit the Telephone Magic website.

GN Netcom makes a similar product - the GN 6210 wireless headset. It too features the ability to go between your mobile headset and your desk phone.

Gotta love all this convergence...

A Military Misconception Cleared Up

A buddy of mine who works with the military told me that no wireless telecom devices are allowed to be used by military personnel.

I found this a little hard to believe, so when Yves Dupuis from GN Netcom dropped in for a chat, I asked him about this. He said they sell lots of GN 9120 wireless headsets to the military.

He also mentioned that government workers (and others interested in privacy) usually opt for the GN 9120 because the 2.4 GHz frequency that the GN 9120 operates is inherently more secure than the 900 MHz frequency range. The GN 9120 also uses digital encryption to further protect the transmission between the base and headset.

I got to put the 9120 through its paces today. Installation was a snap - even without Yves helping. If you have installation problems, you can also call the 1-888-GNN-9120 support line for live assistance - quite handy.

Range was pretty good - I walked to the corner store which is about 200 feet from our office. It was a little windy and I had the SoundTube model, so the noise from the wind was picked up, but I'm sure that wouldn't have happened with the noise-canceling microphone model.

Sound quality on the receiving end was good, according to my office-mate who was helping me test the unit.

All things considered, the GN 9120 is a pretty slick little unit. No headset wires, cool looking base unit, built-in headset-in-use indicator on the base AND headset. Nice.

I guess another bonus - they're a little less expensive than the CS50 as well.

GN Netcom's also got some really cool stuff on the horizon, so you'll be hearing more about it soon.

Polycom SoundStation 2W Battery Recall

Following up from my post earlier this month, Polycom's SoundStation 2W batteries are being recalled.

You can remove the battery and continue using the conference phone with the AC adapter.

For details on how to do this, and for other information on the recall, here's the URL:

http://www.polycom.com/resource_center/1,,pw-13752,FF.html

Here's the link to the FAQ:

http://www.polycom.com/resource_center/0,,pw-13753,FF.html?trackID=13753

Here's the link to the US Consumer Safety Protection Commission's document (PDF):

http://eknowledge.polycom.com/media/SoundStation2W/polycom%20phone%20battery2-14-06.pdf

Polycom VTX 1000 - Full Spectrum Conference Phone

Trying to keep up with the myriad of products available for the telecom consumer is challenging at best. I'm trying to figure out how I missed out on this product though.

I've been party to the occasional conference call and haven't been really impressed with the hardware used. The voice quality wasn't always what I expected. Sometimes it was tinny, sometimes distorted, sometimes far away depending on where the speaker was positioned on the other end of the call.

Makes me wish we were using Polycom VTX 1000 Conference Phones back then. These models are designed to be able to pick up speakers up to 20 feet away from the microphones and offer full-spectrum sound. This is kind of neat - because full-spectrum sound refers to the hearing frequency range of us humans. The Polycom VTX 1000 can reproduce frequencies from the bottom to the top of the human hearing range, resulting in fuller, richer sound reproduction. Polycom says it's like having the other person in the room with you.I can't vouch for that, but it sounds like a really great idea. I can't wait to get my hands on one. I know we've sold a bunch of them lately. That's probably because there's a $100 rebate on them from Polycom. So, buy one from us and you'll get a cheque from Polycom for $100. The special lasts until March 31 and applies to the Polycom VTX 1000 and the SoundStation 2 EX.

For the first time - pricing!

Well, this is a huge development in the history of Telephone Magic's website.

You see, because our prices fluctuate often - sometimes daily - and depend on the volume of product purchased, management felt that it wouldn't be in our customers' best interest to post a single fixed price on the website.

However, I've bugged them for a while and am pleased to announce the introduction of pricing on the website. It's a first - and I'm pretty proud of it.

We're doing a test in the phone headset section as a trial to see how it goes. In other words, does adding pricing make it easier for people to make a decision about buying from us? Does it reduce the friction in the purchasing process? Or does it encourage tire-kicking?

I don't know the results yet, but prices are here at least.

The biggest difference though is we have stated a maximum price. In other words, the price shown on the website is the most you would pay if you ordered a single unit. If you were to order more than one headset, or combine it with a telephone purchase, the price would likely drop a bit. That's why it's only a maximum price.

That way, we can still offer the best prices possible to our customers while making sure we don't overcharge for items that we get special manufacturer pricing on.

What a deal! I hope you visit what we consider one of the Internet's leading telecommunications product websites today. Thanks!

Visit www.TelephoneMagic.com for all your business telecom requirements.

Polycom SoundStation 2W Shipments on Hold

Polycom has announced that for the present time, shipments of the popular SoundStation 2W wireless conference phone are on hold due to a potential issue with battery safety.

This situation only affects the SoundStation 2W as other Polycom products use a different battery pack.

If you HAVE a SoundStation 2W, you can still use it safely if you remove the battery and use the AC adapter instead.

Keep the battery and store it in a safe place. Polycom will be issuing further instructions soon. They say their next information update on this situation will be no later than February 10, 2006.

Telephone Magic carries other wireless conference phone options from ClearOne (ClearOne Max & ClearOne MaxAttach).

Konftel Conference Phones - SoundStation Replacement!

Konftel is a European manufacturer of conference phones. They've got a very innovative line of quality conference phones and Telephone Magic is pleased to be featuring them now.

The Konftel KT100 model is a model designed to fill the void left when Polycom discontinued the SoundStation conference phone. Good looking and reasonably priced, this is a solid performer that you should consider when looking to acquire a new or replacement conference phone.

Other Konftel models feature Bluetooth connectivity to computers, cellphones etc. giving them unparalleled flexibility in connection options. Check out the Konftel line of conference phones on TelephoneMagic.com today!

TalkSwitch Unveils New Phone

The TalkSwitch VoIP-capable PBX is a great unit for small businesses as well as companies with multiple locations looking to cut down on long distance costs.

TalkSwitch has just released their much-awaited TS600 business phone - a great model which will look great on any executive's desk. Even "the Donald's".

Have a look today at the innovative TalkSwitch system. It's packed with features and very reasonably priced.

EnGenius Updates

For those of who've been considering an EnGenius long range cordless phone, just wanted to let you know the SN-920 and EP-490 long range phones have been discontinued and replaced by the DuraFon 1X and DuraFon 4X models, respectively.

Yes, somewhat old news, but we get a lot of requests for the SN-920 and EP-490 so obviously people are still looking for them.

Have a look at our revised long range cordless phone page for information on these new EnGenius models.

Nortel Re-Brands the CallPilot 100 & 150 (yawn...)

In case you missed it (like 99% of the rest of the world), Nortel Networks re-branded their popular CallPilot Voicemail systems. This re-branding took place on May 1, 2005 and was widely missed by pretty much everyone.

There have been no changes to the product, its functionality, looks or anything else like that. Just the name.

Are you ready for the big change? Here it is:

CallPilot 100 is now Nortel Messaging 100

CallPilot 150 is now Nortel Messaging 150

Very exciting changes that we thought we'd mention.

Of course, to keep things interesting, Nortel Networks has another CallPilot product, which is a unified messaging solution for large enterprise systems and has NOTHING TO DO with the Nortel Integrated Communications System platforms.

In case you're wondering, we still call these products by the "CallPilot" moniker as it's still the way the rest of the world knows them.

Mitel Ensemble Voice Mail Replacement

For those of you who have been using Mitel phone systems, this might apply to you.

The Mitel SX-50, SX-200 and SX-2000 phone systems often use the Mitel Ensemble Voicemail system. However, the Ensemble hasn't been produced for quite a while and is virutally impossible to find, despite the fact that it's very good voicemail system. Actually, that's probably why it's so hard to find - everyone's still using it!

The Ensemble has been replaced by the DuVoice DV4 or DV2000 series unified messaging solution which has the power to consolidate your voicemail, fax and e-mail communications and send them all to e-mail.

The DV4 is scalable to 8 ports and the DV2000 is scalable to 48 ports for enterprise applications. These systems build on the strengths of the Ensemble voicemail system and are worth a serious look if you're in the market for voicemail solutions.

The DV4 and DV2000 can integrate with most any phone system, including those from Avaya, Nortel, Mitel and Vodavi.

For more information, call us or visit the website. Thanks!

Nortel M7310 BLF Issues

The M7310 Busy Lamp Field (BLF) module is a great tool. However, Nortel M7310 users need to be aware that the BLF module doesn't work on all generations of ICS software.

The BLF module only works on KSU software versions 6.0 and LOWER. It will NOT work on versions 6.1 or 7.0.

This problem is also evident on older M7310 phones (1st generation), where adjusting the contrast on the BLF will only show 4 levels of adjustment versus the NINE levels of adjustment that are available on newer phones.

If your Nortel ICS phone system uses software revision 6.1 or 7.0, you'll need a T7316 phone and a KIM CAP module instead of the M7310 and a BLF module.

Thought you'd all like to know.

Important Avaya IP Office Tip

I'm back from a month away from the office, so thought I'd start this up again.

VERY important tip for those of you who have Avaya IP Office modules.

The power adapters must be attached in a very specific order, as follows:

First, with the power adapter disconnected from the power cord, plug the power adapter into the back of the module.

THEN, plug the power cord into the power adapter.

THEN, plug the power cord into your 120V power receptacle.

It is important because doing this in the wrong order can possibly blow the power connection in the module which Avaya does not warranty. In case you're wondering, Avaya technicians can tell that you didn't power it up properly, thanks to a little trip ciruit that's inside the machine.

Consider yourself warned.

Mitel Phone System Equipment Online

Well, as promised, Mitel SX-50 and SX-200 phone system equipment is now online.

We also have the Mitel 4000-series Supersets available at wholesale prices.

I was going to make some witty comment about how Mitel's stock price probably increased as a result of these additions, but since Mitel's a private company (nice to be a billionaire eh, Sir Terence?), no witticisms of that nature are forthcoming today.

Regardless, I hope you all enjoy your respective Thursdays.

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday!

We've been selling Mitel phones for years through our dedicated hospitality division Hotel Telecom. While we dominate the search engines when people are looking for hotel phones, we've been focusing on making our main Telephone Magic Inc. website work as effectively as possible.

We'll be adding Mitel's SX-200, SX-100, SX-50 and SX-20 information to our websites shortly.

As Rafiki said in the Lion King - "It is time."

I'll keep you up to date as it happens...

As a side note...

The customer mentioned in the previous post had 6 analog ports available on his PBX.

If he didn't, he wouldn't have been able to use the analog long range cordless phones as they would have been incompatible with the digital PBX.

Solution: digital-analog adapters. There are a couple of options.

Most phone systems have Analog Terminal Adapters (like Nortel's ATA2). These are a good option, but another option is the EnGenius digital to analog adapter.

Just another idea for everyone who needs to add analog equipment to a digital phone system. This will work for fax machines, answering machines etc.

Interesting long range phone application

An interesting application we came up with today.

Customer has two factory buildings about 1000 feet apart. Main building has a phone system, second building doesn't - and there is no phone service to the second building at all. Customer wants to have 8 phones installed in the second building that are extensions of his existing phone system.

Solution: Six Voyager long range cordless phones (Alpha CL-2200XP with Caller ID), two 11dB directional Yagi roof antennae and two 3-way antenna combiners.

Here's how this works:

The customer has a PBX system already with six analog ports available. The six Voyager Alpha base units plug into the analog ports, so there is one digital extension per long range phone system. Three base units are plugged into the 3-way antenna combiner and attached to one of the 11dB Yagi antenna. Each Yagi antenna is pointed in the direction of the second building.

The Voyager long range cordless phone handsets and chargers are located in the second building. The signal strength of the Voyager base units combined with the Yagi antenna is sufficient to reach each of the handsets in the second building, providing complete cordless mobility in the second building, while keeping each handset an extension of the main PBX.

This solution saves the customer money in the long run, because there is no need for a second PBX or monthly phone service in the second building.

Why did we select a Voyager solution instead of an EnGenius system? Primarily because of the Yagi antenna available with the Voyager system, as well as the option to add a signal booster to each antenna if the signal wasn't sufficient for some reason. However, since the second building's only 1000 feet away, the directional signal provided by the Yagi antenna should be just fine.