asterisk users - Oct 2007 - Best USB Handset and Softphone Combination

I have a client that want to try the softphone with USB handsets route 
to see if hardphones will even be needed.  I always push for hardphones 
(Polycom) so I am not sure about softphones or USB handsets.

This is going to be for a 300+ seat call center onsite and many offsite, 
I plan on using OpenVPN for the offsite machines.

Any advice on softphones, handsets, or practical experience with this 
sort of deployment?  It would be very nice if there was a central way of 
provisioning the phones.

All machines are fairly new (newer than two years), they have very 
strict policies on downloads and streaming.

Thanks in advance.

Thanks,
Steve

On 10/19/07, Steve Totaro <stotaro at first-notification.com>
wrote:
>
> Any advice on softphones, handsets, or practical experience with this
> sort of deployment?  It would be very nice if there was a central way of
> provisioning the phones.
I've deployed several setups internally using X-Lite and these headsets:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826275009

Haven't heard of a single problem thus far.

-erik

Hello Steve,

I personally use an 'ultra-portable' headset from Logitech, I would
recommend this for any end-users that have laptops:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/webcam_communications/internet_headsets_phones/devices/223&cl=us,en

There is also this model for desktops:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/webcam_communications/internet_headsets_phones/devices/3622&cl=us,en

I've been using Counterpath Eyebeam with the USB headset for a year,
and I never had a problem. Eyebeam automatically switches it's profile
to use the USB mic and headset when it detects thats it's plugged in.

We haven't deployed Eyebeam to our clients because of the risk
involved with running a phone on an unmanaged desktop. Most of our
customers have little desktop management, if any. But I would
recommend either Eyebeam or Bria, they have a provisioning system for
easier management and the phones can be rebranded.

Good luck ;-)

Omar

On 10/19/07, Steve Totaro <stotaro at first-notification.com>
wrote:
> I have a client that want to try the softphone with USB handsets route
> to see if hardphones will even be needed.  I always push for hardphones
> (Polycom) so I am not sure about softphones or USB handsets.
>
> This is going to be for a 300+ seat call center onsite and many offsite,
> I plan on using OpenVPN for the offsite machines.
>
> Any advice on softphones, handsets, or practical experience with this
> sort of deployment?  It would be very nice if there was a central way of
> provisioning the phones.
>
> All machines are fairly new (newer than two years), they have very
> strict policies on downloads and streaming.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Thanks,
> Steve
>
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