Skype Hardware - IST Recommendations
The following Skype for Business hardware are supported and recommended options for UWaterloo staff. (Note: the hardware is provided to you through your department administrator.)
On this page:
Headsets
Headsets are ideal for those who need to work on their computer while in a conversation on the phone. If you use the speakerphone option a lot and are moving to an open concept office, a headset would be preferred.
IST has tested and is recommending more than one make and model to address an individual preference component - above and beyond function.
Duo headsets (two ear-pieces) are ideal for people who use their computer while on the phone and for those who want to block out surrounding noise when on the phone or at their computer (listening to music or watching online content such as webinars)
Mono headsets (one ear-piece) are ideal for people who use their computer while on the phone and may need to converse with somebody on the phone and relay information to someone in the office at the same time. Also useful if you need to hear interactions around you while also on the phone or on hold.
JABRA UC VOICE 750 MS DUO DARK or LIGHT
JABRA UC VOICE 750 MS MONO DARK or LIGHT
| Device Specifications/Features
Why we like it: Small, very light weight, portable and comfortable headset. Fully adjustable microphone boon. Good voice quality. 7 foot cord is long enough and does not get tangled. Controls well placed - 32" from the earpiece. The most portable headset we tested - the best option for someone who needs to pack up their headset and go. Some drawbacks: Control markings are not clear (especially in lower light). Music audio quality is okay but not great (some found it a bit "tinny"). |
*These Sennheiser headsets are our number one choice for audio quality, comfort and function. Sennheiser SC 660 USB ML (Duo)
Sennheiser SC 630 USB ML (Mono)
| Device Specifications/Features
Why we like it: Solid, very comfortable headset with very good audio quality (both voice and music). Control markings are well designed and can be mounted to the desktop via magnetic strip. Some drawbacks: The cord may be too long for some (9.5 feet) and the control unit is located farther away from the earpiece (39") than on other headsets. As a result, the cord is prone to tangling and gets in the way (unless anchored). Headband is not padded.
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Webcam
For people who do not have monitors with built-in webcams
Logitech HD Webcam B525
| Device Specifications/Features
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Deskset
This option is for people who cannot run supported Skype for Business client software on their computer or simply prefer a traditional phone and generally don't work on their computer while on the phone. Anyone who frequently needs to reboot their primary workstation during a phone call should also use a desktop phone.
Polycom VVX410, 411
| Device Specifications/Features User interface features • Backlit 3.5 in color LCD (320 x 240) resolution • Voicemail support1 • WebKit-based browser • Adjustable base height • Single USB port (2.0 compliant) for media and storage applications • Unicode UTF-8 character support. Multilingual user interface including Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English (Canada/ US/UK), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish
Audio features • Polycom® HD Voice™ technology delivers lifelike voice quality for each audio pathhandset, the hands-free speakerphone and the optional headset2 • Polycom® Acoustic Clarity™ technology. Providing full-duplex conversations, acoustic echo cancellation and background noise suppression - Type 1 compliant (IEEE 1329 full duplex) • Frequency response – 150 Hz – 7 kHz for handset, optional headset and handsfree speakerphone modes • Codecs: G.711 (A-law and μ-law), G.729AB, G.722.1, iLBC • Individual volume settings with visual feedback for each audio path • Voice activity detection • Comfort noise generation • DTMF tone generation (RFC 2833 and in-band) • Low-delay audio packet transmission • Adaptive jitter buffers • Packet loss concealment
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