You’ve probably seen one if you’ve worked in an office in the last 30 years. Everyone trusts the “starfish” or “triangle” phone in the middle of the conference table to make a call that matters.
That phone is a Polycom conference phone, which is a brand that a lot of people know.
Polycom phones are special for more than just their famous three-legged speaker. They are a legacy of new ideas, good build quality, and, most importantly, clear audio that has become the standard for business communication.
But what about now? Things are different in the job market now. In the world we live in, we have both Microsoft Teams meetings and Zoom calls. The business “Polycom” has changed over the years. It first combined with Plantronics to become “Poly,” and then HP bought it.
So, do Polycom phones still work? Yes, the answer is a big yes. Their main technology is more important than ever at this time. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the brand, including its history, its current product lines, and why it’s still the best brand for any business that cares about its voice.
Part 1 – What kind of phone does Polycom make? (And Why Are They Now Called “Poly”?)
This is the most important thing to say. If you want to buy phones today, you should get Polycom ones.
To be clear:
- Polycom (The Legacy): Polycom started in 1990 and quickly became the best company for sound in conference rooms. Their “SoundStation” conference phone changed everything. They also made a lot of good VoIP desk phones.
- The Big Merge (2019): Polycom and Plantronics, another big audio company (you’ve probably used their headsets), worked together. They started a new company called Poly with what they knew about business phones and personal headsets.
- The Acquisition (2022): In 2022, HP, a large tech company, bought Poly. This move makes Poly’s professional-grade audio and video gear, like all the polycom phones, a key part of HP’s huge hybrid work portfolio.
This means that if you buy a “Poly” phone today, you will get the most recent model of a Polycom phone. It has the same engineering DNA, the same focus on sound quality, and the same rock-solid dependability. It has a different name and is supported by a global tech leader, but that’s all that’s different.
Part 2 – What makes a Polycom phone better?
Why do companies pay more for polycom phones when there are so many other phones that are less expensive? It’s not about things you won’t need. It’s about a few big promises that they always keep.
1. Legendary Quality of Building
A desk phone from Polycom is a strong phone. They are made with strong plastics and parts that can last for years at work, even if they are used and abused. The bases are strong, the buttons click firmly, and the handsets feel good in your hand. You can’t just throw this away; it’s an investment for the long term.
2. Sound Quality That Can’t Be Beat
This is what sets them apart. Poly’s audio engineering is definitely some of the best in the world. A Polycom VoIP phone is more than just a phone. You get a lot of great audio tools.
- HD Voice: This is the lowest level of HD Voice. Polycom was one of in the first companies to use wideband audio, which makes conversations sound more natural and less “tinny” by picking up a wider range of human voices.
- Poly Acoustic Fence™: This is the most important thing, especially for Polycom desk phones. Have you ever had to talk on the phone in a busy office? Acoustic Fence uses a lot of microphones to make a virtual “bubble” around your mouth. It hears your voice but not any other sounds that are outside of that bubble. The sound of a barking dog, a conversation nearby, or a keyboard clacking all go away for the person on the other end.
- Poly NoiseBlockAI™: This is what makes Polycom conference phones work. By listening to the sounds in the room, it can tell the difference between a human voice and a noise that isn’t human. Is someone speaking? The microphones are working. Did they stop talking to think? The microphones are still working. But is someone typing loudly, moving papers around, or tapping a pen? During those breaks, NoiseBlockAI smartly mutes the microphone and unmutes it when someone starts talking again. It works really well and gets rid of all the annoying sounds in the background.
3. Everyone can use them together (they work with all kinds of devices)The name Polycom comes from the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) standard. This “open” standard lets their phones work with more than one service provider.
Polycom SIP phones have been tested and proven to work with almost all of the world’s major cloud phone systems and UC (Unified Communications) platforms, such as:
- Microsoft Teams
- Zoom
- RingCentral
- GoTo
- 8×8
- …and a lot more.
You don’t have to worry about whether or not the phone and service provider will work well together.
Part 3 – A Guide to the New Poly (Polycom) Phone Lines
People still use some older Polycom VVX models, but the newer ones are where the real changes are happening. The two most common types of desk phones are VVX and CCX.
1. The Poly VVX Series (The Workhorse)
The VVX line is the next generation of polycom phones. These are SIP-based workhorses that will last a long time.
- The Poly VVX 150 is a good phone for people who are just starting to use phones. Great for break rooms, lobbies, common areas, or the walls of a warehouse. It works with HD voice, is easy to use, and lasts a long time.
- The Poly VVX 250 is a “modern” phone that is easy to use. It has a color screen and is the best regular phone for a small business or a “knowledge worker” in general.
- The Poly VVX 450 is the best phone for people who use their phones a lot. This is for people who use their phones a lot. It has a 4.3″ color screen and 12 line keys, so it’s great for busy managers or professionals who get a lot of calls.
2. The Poly CCX Series (What Will Happen)
The CCX series is the new standard, built from the ground up for the cloud-first and hybrid work world we live in today. They have a powerful Android OS that lets them work together in amazing ways.
- You should buy the Poly CCX 400 first. This is the first one in the line. You can use it as a “Generic SIP” phone or a Microsoft Teams phone.
- The Poly CCX 500 is the best of the group. It has a 5-inch color touchscreen and built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. You don’t need a computer to use all the software because it’s meant to be a “native” Teams or Zoom phone.
- The Poly CCX 600 and 700 are the models that executives use. These are basically places where a manager can watch videos and work with other people. The screen is 7 inches big. The CCX 700 even has a camera that can take pictures in 4K.
Part 4 – The Polycom Conference Phone and the Icon
We should give the legend a role. The “starfish” phone, also known as the first Polycom SoundStation, was the first of its kind. The Poly Trio series is the next version of this product.
The Polycom Trio (now called Poly Trio) is a smart hub that improves your meeting room.
- The Trio 8300 is the best IP conference phone for rooms that are not too big or too small. It has that strong, classic sound that comes from every direction.
- The Trio C60 is the best phone for making conference calls. This is the best one.
- NoiseBlockAI makes this speakerphone sound great.
- You can use it to control Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or RingCentral rooms. It has a big touchscreen. You can join a meeting with just one tap.
- You can connect it to a room PC with a USB cable.
- You can use Bluetooth to connect your phone or laptop to it without wires and use its better speakers and microphones.
The modern Polycom conference phone is the most important piece of technology in the meeting room because it connects everything else.
Part 5 – Polycom Phones Now That Teams and Zoom Are Here
Polycom phones are really great at this right now. In the past, you had to use a laptop to call someone on Zoom or Teams. You’d have to deal with the bad microphone and the tiny, tinny speaker, or you could use a USB headset.
Poly has created a “native” experience.
Polycom makes phones that are “Zoom-Certified” or “Teams-Certified.” This means that the phone already has the Teams or Zoom app installed.
- The phone’s touchscreen looks more like your Teams or Zoom calendar than a regular dial pad.
- You can see your meetings, get a pop-up reminder, and join a call with just one click.
- It’s great that you can join with just one touch and that the sound quality is so good. It has the best of both worlds.
- You can even “handoff” a call, which means you can start it on your cell phone and then move it to your desk phone when you get to work.
Part 6 – How to Choose the Right Polycom Phone for You
There are 2000 words in this guide. Let’s make it easier. How do you make a choice?
- For a small business or home office:
- The Poly VVX 250 is a good phone. This IP phone has a color screen and is strong and reliable.
- The Poly CCX 500 is better. A phone with a touchscreen that works with Teams and Zoom. One touch makes your day easier and more professional.
- In a normal business, a “Knowledge Worker” is someone who:
- Both the Poly VVX 450 and the Poly CCX 500 are great. It all comes down to whether you like buttons (VVX) or a touch screen (CCX).
- For a receptionist or secretary:
- The VVX Expansion Module is a sidecar that goes with the Poly VVX 600. This setup gives the receptionist a strong phone and a separate screen so they can watch more than 40 other lines at once.
- If there are two to four people in the Huddle Room:
- The Poly Trio 8300 is a great deal and has enough power to fill a small room with clear sound.
- For a meeting room that can hold 5 to 15 people or more:
- The C60 Poly Trio. This is the most important one. You can add more microphones to cover even the longest boardroom tables because it can pick up sound from 20 feet away. You will have all of your meetings there.
Part 7 – The Bottom Line: Making Money Clear
When people work from home and teams are spread out all over the world, how clear your voice is is your new first impression. A call that is full of static and drops out is not only annoying, but it can also hurt your business. It makes you look unprofessional and can cause mistakes that cost a lot of money.
Polycom phones, even the newer Poly/HP models, are a good buy because they make it easy to talk to people.
You aren’t just getting a piece of plastic to put on your desk. You’re getting a piece of high-tech audio gear that can cut through the noise of an open office. You’re getting a tool that works on all platforms. And you’re getting a product that has been the only one to choose for 30 years when the call has to be perfect.
Even after all these years and all the changes that have happened, polycom phones are still the best.
