I’ve admittedly not followed the IP phone market all that much since leaving my Mitel days behind 3 years ago, but Phil Wolff over at Skype Journal published a good article today outlining what Grandstream has done with integrating Skype into their GXV3140 IP phone.
In his post, Phil walks through a range of screenshots showing how the client works inside the IP phone. It’s worth a read to see how Grandstream chose to integrate Skype with their set.
- DUAL CLIENTS (SIP AND SKYPE) – The IP phone is now both a regular extension on a (presumably SIP-based) IP-PBX and a client of the Skype network. Two different networks in the one device.
- GOOD USE OF VIDEO – As people start doing more video calls (I know I have been doing more), it makes a lot of sense to take a desk phone with a camera and let it talk to other people out there on other systems (rather than just the one it is connected to).
- TEXT CHAT? – Phil shows screenshots of Skype chat sessions and how you could chat… I’m personally not sure I would see people doing that much of it on the phone given that you have to use the numeric keypad. I would assume that an IP phone like this is on a desk where there would typically also be a computer with a real keyboard… so why not just use that keyboard for chats?
- PERFORMANCE? – Given that it supports chats, I would be curious to see how it would actually work with someone like me who HEAVILY uses Skype chats. I’ve found that the degree to which I use chats pretty much kills the performance of Skype clients on, for instance, mobile devices like the iPhone.
All in all an intriguing move by Grandstream. I don’t know how many folks will want to buy this phone, but the ~$250 price point is definitely competitive. Will be interesting to see… and thanks, Phil, for giving us this tour.
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