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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Cisco IP Phones

    Score9 out of 10
    N/ACisco began developing voice over IP (VoIP) communications and collaboration solutions in 1997. Currently, Cisco states they have more than 100,000 unified communications customers worldwide. The modern Cisco IP Phone portfolio includes VoIP and HD video phones designed to meet the needs of organizations.N/A

    Skype (discontinued)

    Score7.1 out of 10
    N/ASkype (the personal edition or Skype free) was a web meeting, video conferencing, and VoIP software, now superseded by Microsoft Teams' free edition and unsupported from May 2025.

    $2.99

    per month

    Pricing
    Cisco IP PhonesSkype (discontinued)
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    United States Subscription
    $2.99
    per month
    North America Subscription
    $6.99
    per month
    India Subscription
    $7.99
    per month
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Cisco IP PhonesSkype (discontinued)
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Cisco IP PhonesSkype (discontinued)
    Considered Both Products
    Cisco
    No answer on this topic
    Discontinued Products
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    100%
    Would buy again
    70 Answers
    86%
    Would buy again
    85 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    58 Answers
    93%
    Delivers good value for the price
    80 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    99%
    Happy with the feature set
    69 Answers
    85%
    Happy with the feature set
    84 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    98%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    56 Answers
    84%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    53 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    97%
    Implementation went as expected
    58 Answers
    96%
    Implementation went as expected
    70 Answers
    Features
    Cisco IP PhonesSkype (discontinued)
    Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software
    Comparison of Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software features of Cisco IP Phones and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    Cisco IP Phones
    -
    Ratings
    Skype (discontinued)
    6.2
    138 Ratings
    24% below category average
    High quality audio00 Ratings6.5135 Ratings
    High quality video00 Ratings7.2133 Ratings
    Low bandwidth requirements00 Ratings5.5130 Ratings
    Mobile support00 Ratings5.5118 Ratings
    Screen Sharing
    Comparison of Screen Sharing features of Cisco IP Phones and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    Cisco IP Phones
    -
    Ratings
    Skype (discontinued)
    6.2
    119 Ratings
    25% below category average
    Desktop sharing00 Ratings5.5118 Ratings
    Whiteboards00 Ratings6.960 Ratings
    Online Meetings / Events
    Comparison of Online Meetings / Events features of Cisco IP Phones and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    Cisco IP Phones
    -
    Ratings
    Skype (discontinued)
    6.0
    118 Ratings
    31% below category average
    Calendar integration00 Ratings6.185 Ratings
    Meeting initiation00 Ratings6.3106 Ratings
    Integrates with social media00 Ratings4.465 Ratings
    Record meetings / events00 Ratings7.077 Ratings
    Slideshows00 Ratings6.268 Ratings
    Online Events Collaboration
    Comparison of Online Events Collaboration features of Cisco IP Phones and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    Cisco IP Phones
    -
    Ratings
    Skype (discontinued)
    5.3
    111 Ratings
    42% below category average
    Live chat00 Ratings5.4110 Ratings
    Audience polling00 Ratings5.364 Ratings
    Q&A00 Ratings5.362 Ratings
    Online Events Security
    Comparison of Online Events Security features of Cisco IP Phones and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    Cisco IP Phones
    -
    Ratings
    Skype (discontinued)
    7.4
    101 Ratings
    9% below category average
    User authentication00 Ratings8.988 Ratings
    Participant roles & permissions00 Ratings7.183 Ratings
    Confidential attendee list00 Ratings6.260 Ratings
    VoIP system collaboration
    Comparison of VoIP system collaboration features of Cisco IP Phones and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    Cisco IP Phones
    -
    Ratings
    Skype (discontinued)
    6.5
    4 Ratings
    12% below category average
    Video conferencing00 Ratings5.64 Ratings
    Audio conferencing00 Ratings6.54 Ratings
    Video screen sharing00 Ratings6.14 Ratings
    Instant messaging00 Ratings7.94 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    Cisco IP PhonesSkype (discontinued)
    Small Businesses
    No answers on this topic
    ClickMeeting
    Score9.5 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Polycom Trio
    Score7.3 out of 10
    JioMeet
    Score9.9 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Cisco Unified IP Phone 6900 Series
    Score7.9 out of 10
    Webex Meetings
    Score8.7 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Cisco IP PhonesSkype (discontinued)
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.9
    (70 ratings)
    9.3
    (140 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    8.0
    (3 ratings)
    10.0
    (5 ratings)
    Usability
    8.7
    (14 ratings)
    6.0
    (4 ratings)
    Availability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Performance
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Support Rating
    7.8
    (57 ratings)
    10.0
    (42 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    7.0
    (2 ratings)
    10.0
    (3 ratings)
    Configurability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Contract Terms and Pricing Model
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Professional Services
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Cisco IP PhonesSkype (discontinued)
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Cisco
    We have found so many use cases for Cisco IP Phones and have not come across too many situations where they were not well suited, other than being mobile. We have moved to another Cisco Solution for Mobile communications. We have phones all over the place, in offices, in clinical areas, in lobby or public areas, and even in all of our conferencing and meeting spaces.
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    Having interacted with a new replacement tool, Microsoft Teams, it is challenging to recommend Skype, as it lacks some essential features, such as being less equipped with the latest updates, and it is not platform-independent, causing issues on PCs and phones, as well as during calls that might hinder work.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Cisco
    • Vibrant display
    • Retains mute functionality between headset and speakerphone
    • Consistent and incredibly clear audio
    • Energy saving mode, during nighttime hours
    • Mute light is physically linked with the button and the feature, if that light is on, you KNOW you're muted!
    • Variety of customizable ringtones
    • Supports up to 10 lines, if needed
    • Built-in camera provides quick and easy access to join any meeting or call in 720p HD
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    • The instant chat function is great. Very straightforward, easy to use, easy to learn, no technical issues.
    • Video calls are pretty easy also, user friendly and a mostly stable connection with no issues.
    • Voice calls are easy also, eliminates the need for an external landline or the need to use your cell phone. Clear connections, not really any dropped calls.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Cisco
    • So while the 6800 range may not offer slick features, it still provides all the core functionality that businesses have come to expect from their VoIP handsets.
    • Most of the handsets that make up the 6800 series do come with a greyscale display, which may be disappointing if employees are used to working with color VoIP solutions.
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    • Skype is a RESOURCE hog. People who have limited bandwidth will have poor call quality.
    • It is hard to figure out how to use emojis and upload images in the chat.
    • The background images do not fool anybody....it is clearly not your real background.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Cisco
    i think it's profitable and a good return on investment as a person who make an architecture based on VOIP with IP phones i really enjoyed the process of configuration of the router , the switch and everything and then when i had to test the communication between two phones I've configured it was a joy. Also it's a good phone to receive and give calls to our clients.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    I have given this rating as this need to give more than that as it's very helpful for us and makes our work more efficient and fast.
    Read full review
    Usability
    Cisco
    Easy to use Functions are self-explanatory Light Efficient I generally have no complaints about them as they get the job done. Just a few employments on maybe graphics or so otherwise they are really great 👍 no complaints... Maybe it is just because is just a user and doesn't implement them or something.
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    Skype is not as good as Facetime in terms of ease to glance at it and figure out how it works. I think that's a result of Skype trying to be too many things at once. A lot of the menu and UI could be streamlined, and I would jettison some of the additional functions that have been tacked on over the years to simplify. That being said, while some options are slightly hard to find, they all work flawlessly once found.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Cisco
    Support has always been friendly and quick. most reps are able to assist you on their own but if not they will escalate you to another engineer spending on the complexity or severity of your call. Over all I have always had fairly pleasant and respectful conversations with all the Cisco support representatives
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    I am not aware of the current support level for Skype for business, as I have never used even though I have the product. However, the support for Skype's personal paid users is not where it could be. Users who pay for Skype features do not have a clear path to reach out to support. So, rating 6, can be better as soon as I need to use Skype for business support and get a good experience. I will say that I will renew Skype for Business subscription, which is a significant inconsistency on my end. The explanation is that Skype for Business comes bundled with Office for Business, with no additional cost, so why not.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    Cisco
    It's complex to set up but with the help of New Era we were able to do it quickly and efficiently
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    It can be used on the phone via mobile application as well as on the desktop by logging in to the website. Easily installed and ready to use.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    Cisco
    The 8800 series phone is lighter and has a better build quality with all except the flagship phones from Yealink, Mitel, and Avaya. The Yealink S59 and Avaya Vantage have a touch screen interface the make them more akin to the old DX650 which is more high-end than the 8800 currently.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    We use Skype in combination with Grasshopper. While Grasshopper acts as a routing toll free number with extensions, if we are making calls directly, we do it through Skype. Skype's desktop and mobile apps are easier to use, and provide unlimited local calls at a flat, affordable rate. Allowing our team to use their existing mobile or desktop devices without additional hardware for business office phone calls is important, and Skype makes that possible
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Professional Services
    Cisco
    No answers on this topic
    Discontinued Products
    The service provided is up to date, as discussed before buying.
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Cisco
    • I set up the desk for new hires in our group - it is super easy to plug in this phone and have them up and running.
    • Having the ability to pre-program speed dial numbers ensures that new hires are able to reach help without having to search for a number.
    • The ability to program ring tones is great, so if we are in the shared space meeting and we hear a phone ring, we know who's phone is ringing - the meeting can go on without everyone leaving to check.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    • Skype made keeping in touch with an advisor in Mexico very easy. The initiative there resulted in 5 new partnerships.
    • Skype has helped me with account management for at least 3 customers in LATAM--usually it's a fast way to answer a question about a support renewal.
    • For about 9 months Skype helped me stay in touch with a colleague in Prague. We would meet once a week to go over sales activities.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    Cisco IP Phones Screenshots

    Screenshot of Cisco IP Phone 8865 with One KEM, CharcoalProduct screenshotScreenshot of Cisco IP Phone 8800 Series Desk Family, charcoalScreenshot of Cisco IP Phone 8800 Series Desk Family, whiteScreenshot of Cisco IP Phone 8865 with IP 8800 Key Expansion Module, whiteScreenshot of Cisco IP Phone 8865 with IP 8800 Key Expansion Module, white