Overview
A Cisco VoIP desk phone is the standard physical telephone used across the district. It plugs into the campus data network rather than a traditional phone line, and it works on its own without a computer. This article explains what the desk phone is, which models are deployed where, and what each one is best suited for.
What a VoIP desk phone is
VoIP stands for Voice over IP, and IP stands for Internet Protocol — the same networking protocol computers use. Cisco VoIP phones are effectively small networked computers. Instead of a dedicated telephone line, they use the district data network, which is configured to give voice traffic priority over ordinary data traffic.
Because of this, your desk phone shares the network cable that used to go directly to your computer. The blue cable from the wall goes into the phone, and a second black cable runs from the phone to your computer. This is normal and intended. See Troubleshooting Your Desk Phone for what this means day to day.
Models deployed at FHDA
Cisco 8841
Where you'll find it
Standard employee offices
Best used for
Most staff and faculty offices
Key details
- Color display
- Supports up to 4 unique phone numbers
- Call waiting
- Conference
- Speed dials
Cisco 8851
Where you'll find it
Offices that manage several lines, such as division and department front desks
Best used for
Administrative assistants, reception desks, anyone covering multiple lines
Key details
Same features as the 8841 but supports up to 5 unique numbers. With a side-car expansion module attached, up to 37 unique numbers
Cisco 7841
Where you'll find it
Classrooms
Best used for
Classroom and instructional space calling, including emergency calls
Key details
Black and white LCD display
Cisco 8831
Where you'll find it
Conference rooms
Best used for
Meetings with several people in the room
Key details
Two-piece teleconference unit that includes a display control keypad plus sound base. Supports conference calls of up to 6 people and optional wireless microphones.
What the desk phone does well
- Multiple lines on one device. If you answer for a manager, a department main line, or a shared line, the desk phone shows each as a separate line button.
- Speed dials. The bottom three buttons to the left of the display can be assigned as speed dials, and you can create up to 99 numbered speed dials in the Self Care Portal.
- Busy Lamp Field. You can see at a glance whether a colleague whose line appears on your phone is currently on a call. The soft phone cannot do this.
- Call park. Put a call in a numbered parking slot and pick it up from any other Cisco phone in the district.
- Emergency broadcast. Desk and wall phones receive Informacast emergency broadcast messages through the phone speaker. These override volume and Do Not Disturb settings.
- Independent of your computer. If your computer is off, restarting, or having problems, your phone still works.
What the desk phone cannot do
- It does not travel with you. If you work from another location, you need to forward the line, use Single Number Reach, or use Jabber. See Working Remotely with Your District Phone.
- Instant messaging, chat, presence and one-to-one video are not on the phone itself — those come from the Jabber application on your computer.
- Hands-free headsets are not provided with desk phones. Most Poly (Plantronics) headsets work with Cisco VoIP desk phones, though some models require an adapter.
Buttons and features at a glance
| Button | Button Image | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Line buttons | Line 1 selects your primary phone line. Line 2 may be a secondary line or a speed dial. | |
| Messages | Logs you into voicemail. | |
| Directory | Access the corporate directory, your personal directory, and your missed, received and placed call logs. | |
| Settings | Set user preferences. | |
| Volume | Adjusts volume up and down. Press the Save softkey to keep the change. | |
| Headset | Enables the headset. | |
| Mute | Mutes the microphone. | |
| Speaker | Enables the speakerphone. | |
| Softkeys | The row of buttons under the display. What they do changes with what the phone is doing. Press the button under the dots (…) to see more options. | |
| Transfer | Transfers a call to a different extension. | |
| End Call | Ends the current call. |
|
| Hold | Places the current call on hold. |