Despite the increase in popularity for UC conferencing devices, a high percentage of conference speakerphones sold today are still analog. If you are one of the many who are still looking to procure an analog conferencing speakerphone for your personal or small meeting uses then this post will give you a few options to consider.
Option 1: ClearOne Chat50 USB Plus
A personal speakerphone that connects to a variety of devices (including computers, telephones, mobile phones, MP3 players etc) for clear, full-duplex and hands-free communication. Being full-duplex, it lets you listen and talk at the same time without cutting in and out of audio. The sensitive microphone array has 120-degree audio pickup up to 8 feet away so you can talk comfortably. The ClearOne Chat50 also has built-in echo and noise cancellation to prevent unwanted noises.
For analog use, you would connect the Chat50 to your telephone’s headset jack via the provided 2.5mm cable (it’ll also connect with cell-phones). The Chat50 is small, slightly larger than a pack of cards so it takes up minimal footprint and is easy to take for travel. The Chat50 is recommended if you want a good quality, no-fuss, simple-to-use conferencing speakerphone with an economical price. The great thing about the ClearOne chat50 is you can also use it with your computer for webinars or Skype calls so it is more versatile.
Option 2: Konftel 100
Konftel 100 brings you a great conferencing solution for smaller meetings up to 6 people. This device uses Konftel’s proprietary OmniSound HD technology which provides full-duplex natural sound. The 360-degree pick-up and reproduction let you walk and talk freely in the meeting space (up to 300 sqft range). The Konftel 100 also comes with ultra-sensitive omni-directional microphone with 3 built-in surround speakers to provide clear reception throughout the meeting space.
Konftel 100 comes with dial pad and call control (volume, mute, flash, conference etc) buttons right on the front of the unit so you can make and manage your conference calls easily. It plugs directly into your analog jack (bypassing the need of a separate deskphone), or to your phone system with an analog card via a modular 6/6, RJ11 port. Because Konftel 100 only connects via analog, this is recommend if you are looking for a dedicated analog conferencing solution that’s practical, simple-to-use and is great quality. If you would like to try one out, there is currently a 30-day trial offer on Konftel conference phones.
Option 3: Polycom VoiceStation 300
A 3rd option would be the Polycom VoiceStation 300. Similar to Konftel 100 it provides 360-degree room coverage but only up to 7 feet in range. The Polycom VoiceStation 300 is more suited for personal and smaller conferencing with less than 4 participants. The VoiceStation’s Dynamic Noise Reduction (DNR) actively removes background noises and Polycom’s Acoustic Clarity technology delivers clear, natural 2-way conversations.
The VoiceStation 300 also comes with dial pad and call controls (volume, mute, flash, hold etc) buttons on the front of the device and a handset phone can be plugged in for a more private conversation. To use, simply connect the Polycom VoiceStation 300 into any analog phone jack. The Polycom VoiceStation 300 is recommended if you only need analog connection for smaller or personal conferences and are more comfortable going with the Polycom brand.
I hope the options above will help you get started in selecting your analog personal audio conference phone. If you’re looking for a personal conferencing device for your computer webinars or bluetooth devices instead, look forward to our next blog post which will go over just that. If there are any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below or contact us at sales@thetelecomspot.com.
