There comes the day when it's time to get a new phone. Telephone systems have switched to VoIP and good old analog telephone sets can no longer be used. But what type of phone should you choose?
Softphone or hardphone
The old telephone provided good service for many years. And we don't talk about the really old sets with a dial. No, we already had a keypad and the new VoIP hardphone even looks similar – with keys and a few assignable special buttons.
And yet the question still arises: does it have to be a set with a receiver and keypad again, which has to be dusted from time to time? Or preferably a softphone, which in principle is only software installed on a computer or laptop. A softphone is usually operated with a mouse and keyboard, if need be, touch input is also available. There is a keypad which you use to select the telephone number, and you initiate dialing by pressing the Enter key. Then you make a phone call via the headset, either near the computer if you are using a corded headset, or you can run around while making a call if you are using a wireless headset. If telephone directories are integrated, telephone numbers can be dialed directly from the directory using either a softphone or a hardphone with a display.
Advantages of a softphone
For a start, the softphone is not a separate device, but part of a computer, laptop or tablet and is therefore always with you when you travel with your laptop, for example. Thus, softphones offer more flexibility with regard to mobility. Provided that you are connected to the Internet, you can make a phone call wherever you are, at the airport, train station, hotel etc. With regard to acquisition costs, a softphone with a headset is also less expensive than a hardphone. Integration in other application programs is increasingly proving to be an effective advantage. More and more computer applications can be integrated with the softphone, so that you can call subscribers from other programs, e.g. the widely used Outlook.
Many people still appreciate the good old telephone set and don't want to change over to a new system. The hardphone is easier to use and is independent of the computer. With a softphone, if the computer has been shut down or is in standby mode, it is not possible to make calls. There are also many areas of application today where we find a telephone, but no computer. These can be emergency phones, workplaces which require a telephone but not a computer, or workplaces where on-site employees often change.
Our conclusion
Depending on the workplace or field of application, a hardphone or a softphone may be more suitable. An attendant console, for example, is much more effective with the use of a softphone. Today, it is even possible to dispense with separate software on the computer (software client) and directly use telephony functions in the Internet browser. The use of the standardized WebRTC protocol is a welcome invention which enables the modern operation of such solutions like an attendant console.
But one thing is clear: before buying a new phone, the various requirements must be clarified precisely.
