Item: Cisco IP Phones
Rating: 10
Author: Edward Marshall

Overall Satisfaction with Cisco IP Phones

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Great phones. We have them deployed over the whole campus, and they can be remotely managed and configured individually or in groups. Using Cisco's CDP protocol across our access switches, we can also track and find phones based on their serial number or MAC address. End users also have some customization of their phones which can be done through a self-service portal.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Remotely managed and configured
End user customization through Self Service Portal
CDP across whole Cisco network

Cons

Price is high for these phones but ultimately you get what you pay for

Return on Investment

They won't die! Haven't had a single phone break since we rolled them out.
Multi-purpose: Recently also linked them to our Tannoy system to make campus-wide announcements.
Easy to use, even for non-IT literate users

Alternatives Considered

Grandstream GAC2500

Compared to the Grandstream phones, the Cisco phones are much better built and reliable. The extra costs are worth the benefits.

Call and Conferencing Quality

Quality is everything, and the Cisco IP Phone 8800 series phones delivers on this.

Support Rating

I never needed to RMA or return a phone, but I know generally, Cisco's support is very good.

Key Insights

Do you think Cisco IP Phones delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Cisco IP Phones's feature set?

Yes

Did Cisco IP Phones live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Cisco IP Phones go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Cisco IP Phones again?

Yes

Other Software Used

Singlewire InformaCast, Kurmi Enterprise Suite, Microsoft Teams

Likelihood to Recommend

In the office or as a meeting room conference phone is ideal. The 8851 comes with a camera. We have used them for impromptu meetings and access control for our security who use them for user ID and linked to IO panels for door access (pressing a dial tone for door access once the udder is verified).

Using Cisco IP Phones

Users and Roles

100 - Internal and extrnal calling within the Cisco ecosystem

Support Headcount Required

2 - 1 Dedicated technician and a backup technician. Need to have experience with the hardware and call manager / servers

Business Processes Supported

Internal Calling with phone directory
External calling with private phone director
Single number reach
Voicemail, with advanced features

Innovative Uses

Looking at integration with teams via Kurmi provisioning

Future Planned Uses

Video calling

Likelihood to Renew

We really liked the Cisco phones and will renew them with a similar model at the end of their life

Evaluating Cisco IP Phones and Competitors

Products Replaced

Key Differentiators

Scalability
Ease of Use

Ease of use - we have a lot of people who are less IT-literate (young students for example), so the devices need to be easy to use and manage

Evaluation Lessons Learned

Cisco IP Phones Implementation

Implementation Rating

It's complex to set up but with the help of New Era we were able to do it quickly and efficiently

Implementation Details / Implementation Partner

Implemented in-house
Third-party professional services

New Era Technologies

Implementation Phases

Change Management Lessons

Change management was minimal - None

Implementation Issues

Setting up call manager
learning the Cisco UC backend

Cisco IP Phones Support

Cisco IP Phones Customer Support Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Quick Resolution Good followup Knowledgeable team Problems get solved Kept well informed Immediate help available Support understands my problem Support cares about my success Quick Initial Response	Escalation required

Using Cisco IP Phones

Usability Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Like to use Relatively simple Easy to use Well integrated Consistent Quick to learn Convenient Feel confident using	Requires technical support Lots to learn