The IP335 has been rumored for quite some time. Presumably it will replace the SoundPoint IP331 phone, the current entry-level SoundPoint phone. The IP335 has a list price of $199 and includes the HD Voice codec. That means the entire SoundPoint IP phone line now has HD voice support. The Phone also has a backlit (2 line) display and a dedicated headset jack. The phone looks the same as the current IP331 phone and is designed for a SIP environment. The small display limits the information and application options, but there are lots of situations where that makes sense. The phone could be combined with a rich desktop application such as Digium's Switchvox Switchboard, or placed in a common area such a break room. 

The CX300 phone is another USB accessory for a Microsoft OCS environment - it is not a stand-alone IP phone. This phone natively connects to Windows enviroments. It provides a hard phone illusion for OCS users that aren't sold on soft phones. The device includes a speaker phone, handset, and headset jack. Users can initiate calls from the PC or dial from the CX300 dial pad. The phone utilizes the RTAudio Codec, which adapts from wideband to narrowband depending on the bandwidth. However, unlike the G.722 codec, the wideband audio is limited within OCS environments. The phone also sports a backlit 2 line LCD display and enhanced presence for intelligent routing. The list price is $169.

 

Although branded Polycom, the phone is designed by Microsoft (like all the CX devices). I am hopeful that someday Polycom will introduce a single phone capable for SIP and OCS environments - merging experience from the CX and SoundPoint lines. OCS requires more processing power, however a single model will drive down some costs and provide end-user versatility.

The Polycom flagship phone - the VVX-1500 IP business media phone (video appliance) got a new version, known as the VVX1500D. The D version adds H.323 video support to is SoundPoint SIP capabilities. But it isn't either/or; its both. The phone was originally launched about six months ago, but I wasn't a fan because it worked on so few systems. But that is changing pretty quickly. I've been using the VVX-1500 on a Mitel environment for crisp desktop video calls. I've also used it with SIP URI dialing to remote locations pl;us it is gaining traction in the hosted space. I've been thinking it would be great if it could also connect into a boardroom environment which was only possible via a SIP/H323 gateway.

 

Evidently Polycom had the same thought and added H.323 to its native capabilities. The nearest direct competitor to the VVX1500D is the Tandberg 150 MXP which is more than double the price. This phone will definitely creep into the high-end video tele-presence market dominated by Cisco. Polycom also reports a SIP 3.2 release later this month which will (in theory) enable video on Asterisk based systems. At about $1,000, this isn't an inexpensive phone - but unlike other high-end SIP phones it offers truly more capability. As production quantities and supported platforms increase, it is going to be difficult for other manufactuers to catch-up to this innovative phone.