Cisco - 7940 IP Telephone Review

Telephones continue to change and it seems like new phones and new versions of old phones pop up faster than one can press the redial button. Business phones change even more quickly then other phones and one technologically up- to- date phone that I have used on the job is the CISCO IP Phone 7940, a phone that connects to the internet. 

Telephone Commentary:

This CISCO phone is designed for office use with multiple functions that make it very useful for phones that are used for business purposes. CISCO makes this phone so that its viewing screen stands up at roughly a 60- degree angle, allowing the user to view the panel and the buttons with ease. The handset is small and is placed on the left hand side of the phone. There is also a headphone jack, an internet connection jack, and a speaker phone. The panel on the CISCO IP 7940 phone features a black LCD display with four programmable buttons below the panel and two programmable buttons on the right side of the panel.  

CISCO IP 7940 is an internet protocol phone: a type of phone that is quickly gaining favor in businesses across the land. The reason this phone is gaining favor with businesses is because of the advantages that this type of technology brings. The phone connects to the internet, allowing the individual user the opportunity to program certain functions. It also allows users the option to send phone voice mails to their e-mail accounts and then listen to them through media player. 

Cisco IP Phone 7940 offer many extra features and consumers will like many of them very much. One of them is the fact that that this phone includes two separate programmable lines. The lines are accessed with the touch of a button. They need to be programmed before they work properly, but if you are the type who uses his/her phone frequently, then this added line will come in very handy. Another positive quality is the phone’s storage of numbers. Not only does it store the last few numbers dialed and received, it also includes a full directory of the people in the workplace. This makes it very easy to track down a fellow worker.

This phone has a nice, professional look and feel as well as a large LCD display that continuously shows the time, date, and individual’s phone number. The connectivity to the internet is nice because it allows the user to change individual phone settings by simpling logging in to the world wide web. But as great as thinsg sound, there are a few disadvantages with this Cisco phone. One problem is the tenedency of the receiver to fall off the base. With the base extended as far as it can go, the phone itself will stand at a 60- degree angle to the table or desk beneath it. This may not sound too bad, but the steepness is greater than most realize. At this level, the phone hand set is likely to fall off its hook with the slightest bump. Moving the base takes some effort, but it needs to be done to get the phone at the desired angle. At first, I didn’t even know this phone’s base was movable because I couldn’t get it to budge. It took some time, but it finally moved and I got the angle just right. 

One other potential disadvantage with this phone is that its functionality is limited based on internet linkage. If the internet goes down, certain features of the phone will no longer work. So, based on the reliability of your web connection, CISCO IP 7940 phone may or may not be very practical. It is also costlier than most, and this fact alone could discourage many small businesses from making a purchase. 

Bottom Line Viewpoint:

CISCO IP Phone 7940 is a good, practical phone for office use. Its professional appearance, dual phone lines, and internet connection make it a good choice for the modern office. There are a few qualities about this phone that need to be changed, but I generally like this CISCO phone and recommend its use to any office that can afford it.