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A Look at the Radical New Desk Phone You Never Knew You Needed

02/07/2019, Written by 0 comment

Written by Michelle White

Back in 2009, Gartner boldly stated that enterprise mobile phones would replace desk phones in the U.S. by 2011. Today, six years later, we can see that this statement never became reality. If you ask us, it never will.
It’s true that mobility has transformed communications. Nearly 80% of Americans now own a smartphone. Over 340 million minutes are spent each day using video calling apps like WhatsApp. Every minute, over 340,000 new apps are downloaded from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Mobile capabilities like texting, video, and collaboration apps may have changed the game, but they haven’t killed the desk phone. In fact, 65% of workers still prefer using desk phones. This even includes millennials, who rank the desk phone as one of their top communication technologies. For many of these younger workers, the device represents stability in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
If anything, the rise of mobility has ushered the desk phone into a new, digital era of seemingly limitless possibilities. One that combines the flexibility of mobile with the reliability of a traditional desk phone. That’s exactly why we at Avaya are so excited about our new multi-touch, customizable desktop device, the Avaya Vantage™ Device.
The Fundamentals
Avaya Vantage is available in two models—one with an integrated camera and one without, for privacy—that each offer a variety of essential functions:
8-inch, portrait-oriented, 800×1280 color display with capacitive touch
All-glass screen (no mechanical buttons)
Enterprise grade security and audio excellence
Compatibility with both cordless Bluetooth handsets and corded handsets
Message Waiting Lamp for message notification and visual call alerting
Hinged stand for smooth, multi-angle positioning
Power over Ethernet Class 3 (802.3af)
Single Port RJ45 Ethernet Connector
Integrated Wi-Fi (can be deployed over the Wi-Fi network)
Optional power adapter when deployed over Wi-Fi or when PoE data networking switch is not available
Fusion of Mobile Simplicity
Avaya Vantage is ideal for a collaborative, on-demand work environment. The device is inherently designed to deliver next-gen security, ease-of-use, and seamless integration—three major challenges of mobile reported by businesses across virtually every sector. Consider utilities, where 79% of executives believe they are exposed to more risks than they can effectively handle. Or, consider how data integration challenges are costing healthcare organizations billions.
It’s clear that a better communications solution is needed. Avaya Vantage works to bridge these gaps with a simple yet sleek appearance, seamless yet secure multimedia collaboration, and flexible application integration, supported by Android Marshmallow OS. The device preserves those desk phone features that users have come to know and love, while enabling integrated business workflows that support custom user experiences. That means no unnatural breaks in business processes, no need to own multiple devices to engage, and no costs associated with BYOD or system migrations.
SDK for Communication-enabled, Contextual Experiences
Avaya Vantage is an application platform that can be customized to meet the needs of the business. Think of it as a single pane of glass into the Enterprise. Avaya Vantage comes with out-of-box support for the Avaya Equinox™ Experience and the Avaya Breeze™ Client SDK. Customers can use ready-made applications from Avaya, install existing apps from the Google Play™ store, or embed custom communication features into workflows to meet their exact user and vertical needs. Executives can rest assured with administrator control over which applications can be installed, and all users can enjoy the convenience of single-step login for both the device and all communication applications.
Consider how Avaya Vantage can be strategically used across several industries. In hospitality, for example, the device can be leveraged to offer customers in-room help or recommendations, with the option to initiate and/or escalate to chat, video and voice. In healthcare, an application can be integrated with a hospital’s database to show a real-time view of patient and doctor schedule information.
The Bottom Line
The desk phone isn’t extinct—it’s evolving. Engineered for acoustic excellence, enterprise deployment and security, Avaya Vantage offers mobile simplicity with the necessary enterprise software tools to enable personalized, vertical-specific user experiences. The future of the communications experience is now, and Avaya Vantage is at the heart of it.

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