Grandstream GXP-2000 Multi Line VOIP Telephone
SOHO IP Phone Can Use Several Service Providers to Save Money
Aug 29, 2009
This large VOIP telephone is designed for business use rather than home use, taking in up to four Voice Over IP phone accounts. All of these can be provided over a single broadband connection, opening up opportunities for home office workers and small enterprises. The large display shows which line is currently in use, and there are bright LEDs associated with the line keys, emulating the functionality of the old key and lamp units of business switchboards.
Advantages of Multiple Phone Lines For Small Enterprises
The big advantage of having several phone lines terminated on one phone as a mini switchboard is that the business can qualify customers by which number they dialed. At the simplest it can be used to separate family calls on the home line from business calls, so that business callers can get a more professional response along the lines of 'ABC enterprises, how can we help you.'
With four lines available the business can separate out sales calls from support calls by using a separate number for each business function.
Grandstream GXP-2000 Features And Functions
The GXP2000 is quite a large phone with big, positive keys and seven multifunction keys that can store memories. There is a side-car accessory, the GXP-2000-EXT which can another 56 of these multifunction quick dial keys, two of these can be cascaded to provide direct access to 112 numbers.
Each of the four lines can be selected by the line keys just under the display. A LED associated with the keys lights to show which line has an incoming call, or is active for an outgoing one. The calling number and which line is being called is also shown on the large white and blue LCD display at the top, which can be tilted for better readability. It is possible to handle more than one call at a time, using the line buttons to transfer between calls, and calls can be transferred to other destinations, so the GXP2000 can be used by a receptionist in the traditional way.
Basic set-up such as IP address and the myriad of VOIP servers can be set via the keypad menu and LCD screen, however it is much easier to set the phone up by accessing it with a web browser. The factory default password for the administrator is admin, and the IP address of the phone is shown on the bottom line of the LCD screen.
The speakerphone works very well, and the phone can also facilitate a three-way conversation via the dedicated 'conf' conference key.
The phone is powered by a wall-wart plug in power supply, or alternatively it can be powered over a PoE (power over Ethernet) network connection if available.
Like Any VOIP Phone, the Grandstream GXP-2000 Needs a Good LAN
LAN switches should be configured so that they do not auto-negotiate speed or try to work out which end uplinks, else drop-outs can occur. Although VOIP only requires 128kbit/s cheap LAN switches can cause infuriating drop-outs if they auto-configure, it is worth using at least semi-professional grade network switches that allow auto-negotiation to be turned off. This is not an issue with the Grandstream GXP2000 but more a requirement of VOIP - short interruptions to the data path are not noticed in normal computer usage live browsing, email or even file transfer but are very noticeable in a phone call.
Reduce Inbound and Outbound VOIP Call Costs with Multiple VOIP Providers on the GXP2000
The Grandstream GXP-2000 is a good choice for users looking for a VOIP phone that can support multiple lines. The accounts do not all have to be with the same provider, so differences in tariffs can be exploited. Some providers offer numbers that are cheap to call but their outgoing rate may be more expensive, whereas others are dearer to call but offer good outgoing rates. By configuring the cheaper outgoing rate to Line 1, callers to the low-cost providers on Line 2 can be received seamlessly while routing outbound calls through another service to reduce costs for the business and its customers.
With its multi line capability, good speakerphone capacity and clutter-free user interface the Grandstream GXP-2000 is a good choice for small businesses wanting to provide a professional response to calls to more than one department. The expansion unit means that the Grandstream GXP-2000 can also provide many of the functions of a traditional key and lamp unit.
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