Standalone IP Phones

There are two types of standalone IP phones for Microsoft Lync: fully featured phones, which require a user to be signed in all the time, and basic or common area phones, which can be used without a user credential in public areas or for hot desking with basic functions when a user logs in.

The fully featured phones include the following models and provide a premium experience for users requiring a handset:

• Polycom CX700

• Polycom CX600

• Aastra 6725ip

These phones enable a user to sign in and, if desired, connect the phone to a PC through USB to be used as a USB audio device for the Lync client. They offer a full-color LCD screen and some models include a touch screen.

For common areas or hot desking, there is a different class of phones, named Aries. This type of phone is new for Lync Server 2010 and fills a much-needed gap from previous versions of the product. These phones are generally lower cost and offer functions similar to most standard corporate desk phones available today. Models include the following:

• Polycom CX500

• Aastra 6721ip

Although these phones don’t have some of the advanced features of fully featured standalone IP phones such as the Polycom CX600, they offer the capability to be used in common areas and not tied to an actual user. They also have a lower price point that is comparable to traditional PBX phones.