The IP40 Provides Integration with Contact Center Software for Increased Collaboration and Workflow Management
Plantronics Inc. (NYSE: PLT), today continued its nearly 50-year history
of developing breakthrough products with the new IP40™, a Session
Initiation Protocol (SIP) endpoint device for the contact center. The
IP40 connects agent headsets directly to the Ethernet to unify contact
center software applications with all inbound and outbound call activity.
Because the IP40 SIP endpoint device connects directly to the Ethernet,
it eliminates the need for a costly desk phone while avoiding reliance
on the PC to process voice, previously the only other option. It is
designed specifically for the heavy traffic loads and premium voice
quality requirements found in contact centers.
The IP40 is a plug-and-play standalone device controlled by the contact
center routing engine. It registers with the SIP proxy upon start up,
and is controlled from the contact center software application.
Integrating the IP40 with contact center applications helps improve
collaboration and workflow management among agents and managers so they
can provide better customer service. For example, agents using the IP40
initiate all calls through the contact center software application which
ensures all call actions are accurately recorded for management.
“Robust, quality audio is critical for contact centers,” said Nick
Eisner, director of Contact Center Product Management at Plantronics
“Customers tell us they want to simplify and drive call control to the
workstation application to ensure that their quality systems capture
every move an agent makes. The IP40 leverages the customer’s investment
in VoIP and SIP, eliminating the telephone on the agent’s desk but
without compromising the robustness of the voice path. It also reduces
power consumption and optimizes audio quality for intelligibility; less
is truly more.”
Analyst and Customer Reactions
“One of the early payoffs for adopting SIP-enabled IP telephony in
contact centers will be the ability to dramatically lower agent terminal
costs,” said Drew Kraus research vice president at Gartner. “The ability
to directly connect agent headsets to the LAN, doing away with desk
phones or PCs as voice path devices, should be of great interest to
contact center planners and IT departments as they look to lower
infrastructure costs.”
The IP40 has already been tested at INOVO Telecom, a leading global
supplier of contact center solutions. “We simply love the IP40; it
provides a unique value proposition for any contact center,” said Eugene
Schalkwyk, chief technology officer at INOVO. “It not only significantly
reduces complexity for the operator but is very easy to install and
maintain. The market has been asking for a unit like this for a long
time and we can finally offer a high quality and cost effective SIP
device.”
The IP40: Reliable Audio Quality with Desktop Simplicity
The IP40 features and benefits include:
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Reliable and robust voice path independent of the PC or Deskphone
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Call control interface via the contact center software enables all
action to be captured
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Telephone not required which reduces footprint on desktop
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More economical and draws up to 2/3 less power than a contact center
telephone
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Dual Ethernet ports let PC share the IP40 network connection
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Device powered using standard 802.3af Power over Ethernet
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Compatible with Plantronics professional grade headsets
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Simple plug-and-play installation
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Provides control features such as transmit mute, receive volume
adjust, and call answer/end button with a remotely configurable
auto-answer option.
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Features presence-based automatic hold when the headset is detached
using the QuickDisconnect™ feature
Pricing and Availability
The Plantronics IP40 is now
available for a MSRP of $189 and can be purchased via Plantronics
authorized resellers.
Altec Lansing, Clarity, IP40, Plantronics, The Voice of Unified
Communications, and Quick Disconnect are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Plantronics, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of
their respective owners.
