When it comes to phones, you can choose analog or digital—each has its own set of choices and requirements.

Analog phones

Analog phones are traditional phones - the ones you'll find at the local store and probably use at home. These phones send and receive calls over standard phone lines. They're cost-effective, and usually offer simple features for basic needs. But many times, they don't have specific buttons for commonly used office functions such as conference calling.

Using Allworx and analog phones you can access these features with simple codes (e.g., pressing *33 to activate a conference call). You'll need a traditional (analog) phone port and a network port (for your PC) in each office.

Analog phones are a good choice for people who don't need to handle a lot of calls - and for common areas such as conference rooms, lobbies, and warehouses. They're also a better option when you:

• Are trying to minimize costs
• Currently have analog phones and want to leverage your investment
• Don't have Ethernet 10/100 MBs connections in your offices or find them too expensive to install
• Still want to take advantage of VoIP calling

Prices for analog phones range from $50 - $150.

VoIP phones

Digital phones transmit voice conversations over a data network using Voice over Internet Protocol ( VoIP). These phones deliver all the advantages of digital technology: rich features, automated functions, and great performance with many customizable options. A variety of advanced features are immediately accessible with the touch of a "soft key" right on the display. Another key benefit is using a single network - like Allworx - to transmit voice and data. This also simplifies wiring, since you don't need both analog and network ports in each office.

Businesses that don't have existing analog lines and/or those that want to take advantage of VoIP technology are good candidates for digital phones. VoIP is the right choice for users who need to manage a high volume of calls at the same time (e.g., receptionists, assistants, managers, or customer service). They're also great for remote users. The key benefits of VoIP phones include:

• "Curb" appeal - they are available in sleek, updated styles
• Advanced features, such as multiple programmable buttons for line or call appearances, BLF (busy lamp field), automatic call directory, conference calling, etc.
• Portability - you can use the same phone locally or remotely, and it retains its custom settings
• Connecting remote users through the main office's phone system

Prices for VoIP phones range from $150 - $400 on average.

Mix and match

Allworx lets you use a combination of digital and analog phones. Your Allworx technical representative can help you decide which is best for you, but here are a few things to keep in mind:

• The Allworx 10x supports up to 100 users, 100 extensions and up to 9 Central Office (CO) lines (standard telephone lines). The Allworx 6x supports up to 60 users and 60 extensions and up to six CO lines. The Allworx 24x supports up to 100 users, 100 extensions and up to 3 CO lines.
  * The number of CO lines can be expanded via 3rd party products
• To determine the number of ports necessary, first decide how many incoming lines you need. This will tell you how many open ports need to be available for analog phones.
• Consider all the employees who will need phones and how they will use their phones. Then you can determine the type of phone that best suits those needs.
• You may want to reserve high-end digital phones for users who make or manage large volumes of calls. Then you can use analog phones for common areas (e.g., break rooms, conference rooms) or areas that need simple phone usage (e.g., loading docks) or have low-volume users.
• Most important, even if you have analog phones, you still get VoIP capability with Allworx because it converts all calls to VoIP automatically.
• Whatever you decide, it's best to select only one or two types of phones across your organization. Since each type/model is slightly different (e.g., hold buttons in different places), it's best to be consistent so that users are familiar with phones, whether they're at their desk, in the conference room, or back on the dock. This makes training and ongoing support much more effective and efficient.

However you decide to configure your phone system, you can be confident that Allworx will support each user with equal efficiency and reliability.