When deploying a VoIP system, you have a choice whether to deliver power to your phones via a Power over Ethernet (POE) switch. VoIP phones require electrical power and differ from your analog phones, which receive their power from the copper phone lines. POE switches can deliver the necessary power to the phones, thus eliminating the need for the AC power cords at the work stations. However, POE switches run around 70% more than traditional managed switches.
So, is such an expenditure a luxury when you are deploying VoIP? Obviously, every individual company deploying VoIP has their own perspective on this. There are a few considerations for going with the POE option:
- Elimination of the power cords at the desk removes cord clutter. You may also be challenged with available electrical outlets and would need to buy power strips. Finally, the location of the electrical outlet and Ethernet outlet may force the placement of the phone at a spot that is different for the employee. As some employees may be resistant to the change in the first place, why create another reason for them to complain?
- Power outages are not that common, but the phones will not work if the power goes out. Analog phones typically survive power outages with their power delivered over a separate source. Because the POE switches are located in a central place and deliver power throughout the building to the phones, you can power the POE switches to the universal power supply that you likely have your network gear connected to already. Thus, if there’s a brief power outage, your phones will remain operational via the UPS battery backup.
- For conference room or wall mounted phones, not having a power cord to the phone is more of a necessity than a luxury. You could select a single port POE switch for each of these phones, but a couple of them would drastically cut into the premium you are paying for the central POE switch for all phones.
- Finally, your hosted VoIP provider or IT support will love you, as it makes the installation of the phones MUCH easier!
If you have any other questions surrounding the deployment of such switches on your network or if you need to discuss any other impacts of your decision to go with VoIP, contact your hosted VoIP provider, as they should be well versed in such topics.
About the author: Mark Greim is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at sipVine, a provider of a variety of digital phone solutions and services. Mark has extensive experience working for start-up or entrepreneurial organizations and has a passion for affordable, reliable, and purposeful technology solutions in those environments.
