Some of our clients like to take a more active role in the process, and like to know why we
make some of the choices we do. And that's great – we love talking about our work! (Says the blogger...) Plus, every now and then, a question comes up that seems like it's worth addressing in a blog, so we can talk with everyone about it.
For businesses that care about every detail of their workplace, a simple question like “which phone is best?” is really of importance. After all: phone systems are one of the most-used pieces of business equipment. A good telephone that saves 5 seconds every time you use it could end up saving you days of time by the end of its life. Now multiply that by all your employees.
So, when we have someone wondering whether to buy a Polycom or Aastra (now Mitel) phone, it's worth talking about for a minute. Mostly, it has to do with where your business is going and your focus.
Polycom Vs Aastra(Mitel) Phones In Terms of Practical Use
I. A Polycom Phone
Polycom is one of the big players on the market in business telephones. Everyone has heard of them. They have a vast product line encompassing virtually every possible business need, and their quality is usually pretty good. They are pretty much what you'd expect from the big player in an electronics manufacturing firm.
That goes for the dark sides as well – they're distant, and their customer service rarely receives much praise. Not all of their products are as well-engineered as others, and some of their low end tends to feel suspiciously like it was outsourced to a cut-rate plant. The feature set in their phones, again especially on the low end, often aren't optimal for most business use.
On the other hand, if you want high-tech, they are the giants. They have the newest technologies, and their high-end line is quite well-tailored for executive use.
Further, their entire line is unified, so in theory someone could start with a single Polycom phone and move up to multinational status while always using the same basic software load. If you're loyal to the brand, they have so far been good about keeping their end of the bargain – if you're willing to accept some rough edges that result from their “one brand fits all” approach to phone design.
II. An Aastra Phone
Aastra isn't as well-known in America, but there's still a good chance you've used an Aastra phone – they do huge business in the hospitality industry and other applications that involve deploying telephones for third-party use. They'r
e also one of the biggest names in business telephones in Europe and probably Canada.
Aastra doesn't have the big name of Polycom or the dizzyingly vast range. What they do have is a smaller selection of phones that are more precisely designed for their use, trying to make each tool better fit the process. Along with hospitality, they also focus more specifically on phones for small-to-medium sized businesses. While they have a high end, it's not as well-regarded as Polycom's.
However, in the mid-range, their products compete with Polycom's feature for feature, with arguably better sound. On top of that, better design and feature selection often make them more effective for daily use. Plus, Aastra phone is generally less expensive than Polycom's.
Look To The Future
At the end of the day, either Polycom or Aastra systems will serve you well – the differences are in the details. Which of those details matter to you mostly depends on where your business is, and where you see it going.
For more advice on phone systems, feel free to drop us a line!
