Skype Hardware - IST Recommendations
- Barb Yantha
- Robby Szolgyemy
- Rohan Raghavan
- Anson Huang
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
Headset and handset compatibility • Dedicated RJ-9 headset port • Hearing aid compatibility to ITU-T P.370 and TIA 504A standards • Compliant with ADA Section 508 Subpart B 1194.23 (all) • Hearing aid compatible handset for magnetic coupling to hearing aids • Compatible with commercially available TTY adapter equipment
Call handling features 1 • 12 lines (programmable line keys) • Shared call/bridged line appearance • Busy lamp field • Flexible line appearance (1 or more linekeys can be assigned for each line extension) • Supports compatible USB headsets • Distinctive incoming call treatment/ call waiting • Call timer and call waiting • Call transfer, hold, divert (forward), pickup • Called, calling, connected party information • Local 3-way audio conferencing • 1-touch speed dial, redial • Remote missed call notification • Do not disturb function • Electronic hook switch capable • Local configurable digit map/dial plan
Network and provisioning • SIP protocol support • SDP • IETF SIP (RFC 3261 and companion RFCs) • Two-port gigabit Ethernet switch - 10/100Base-TX across LAN and PC Ports - 1000Base-TX available on VVX410 - Conforms to IEEE802.3-2005 (Clause 40) for physical media attachment - Conforms to IEEE802.3-2002 (Clause 28) for link partner auto-negotiation • Manual or dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) network setup • Time and date synchronization using SNTP • FTP/TFTP/HTTP/HTTPS serverbased central provisioning for mass deployments • Provisioning and call server redundancy supported1 • QoS Support – IEEE 802.1p/Q tagging (VLAN), Layer 3 TOS, and DHCP • VLAN-CDP, DHCP VLAN discovery, LLDP-MED for VLAN discovery • Network address translation support for static configuration and “keep-alive” SIP signaling • RTCP and RTP support • Event logging • Syslog • Hardware diagnostics • Status and statistics reporting • IPv4 • TCP • UDP • DNS-SRV Security • 802.1X authentication and EAPOL • Media encryption via SRTP • Transport layer security • Encrypted configuration files • Digest authentication • Password login • Support for URL syntax with password for boot server address • HTTPS secure provisioning • Support for signed software executables Power • Built-in auto-sensing IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet • Energy-saving after-hours mode • External universal AC adapter (optional), 48VDC 0.3A
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Portable Speaker/Conference Options
These devices are good for those people you need to pick up and go to a meeting room. Could also be shared by individual groups or units where numbers warrant.
Jabra SPEAK 510+ MS 
| Why we like it: Compact design and a travel case that make it well-suited for transport. Whether it's setting up a quick conference call in someone's office, or taking it along on the road, collaboration is made easy. Outstanding sound quality (good volume) and a plug-and-play solution that can connect to your PC/Mac, tablet or smartphone via USB or Bluetooth. Microphone is sensitive enough and the speaker is loud enough to literally turn any room into a conference room. |
Logitech Mobile Speakerphone P710eLogitech Mobile Speakerphone P710e 
| Why we like it: Compact design and travel case make it well-suited for transport. Like the Jabra Speak 510 (above), this is a good option for a quick conference call in a meeting room, someone's office or on the road. However, this device is more useful as a personal speakerphone device as opposed to a device that you would share in conference room with many participants. Great for those who need to use a mobile phone or tablet to make audio and video conference calls (wish it could charge the device while in use though). |
Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam 
| Why we like it: A portable video conferencing system. Remote control video with zoom allows the video conference to share room whiteboard content as well as presenters and/or participants. Excellent speaker and microphone quality means that this device can be used in a large space. Video camera height is adjustable from the base. |
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