Polycom Conference Phones: The Ultimate Guide
The recent acquisition of Polycom by HP has sparked a mix of concerns and optimism within the tech industry. As HP integrates Polycom into its operations, stakeholders are eager to see how this merger will impact product innovation, service quality, and the overall direction of Polycom’s renowned communication solutions – let’s do a deep dive into the company and their products.
For further information and pricing on phone systems, click here .
Polycom: Our performance rating out of 5 stars:
Our Overall Rating
3.9 out of 5 stars
Price
4 out of 5 stars
Usability
4.3 out of 5 stars
Features
4.2 out of 5 stars
Customer Rating
3 out of 5 stars
Speed
3.9 out of 5 stars
Useful links about Polycom from our article:
Benefits of Polycom
Downsides of Polycom
What Does Polycom Offer?
Polycom Products
Polycom Decision Making Guide
What Other People Think of Polycom
What Do Staff Think of Polycom?
Our Verdict on Polycom
How have we rated Polycom?
For every provider we assess, including Polycom, we rate them out of five stars on the five most important categories we have researched for the product / service offering. You can read about out review process & methodology here .
Why listen to our reviews?
With over ten years of experience in evaluating telecom products, our team brings a wealth of knowledge to understanding the market pros and cons. You can read more about our expert team here.
How Does Each Polycom Product Cater To Its Clients
Poly VVX 150
This is best for individual users in small offices or home offices needing a basic and cost-effective VoIP phone.
Pros : Affordable, compact design, ideal for basic calls and essential features.
Cons : Limited features compared to higher-end models (no touchscreen, limited call handling capabilities).
Poly VVX 350
Perfect for individual users or small teams who need a balance of basic features, ease of use, and good audio quality.
Pros: User-friendly touchscreen interface, HD audio, ideal for everyday calls and collaboration features.
Cons : Slightly more expensive than the VVX 150.
Poly VVX 500
We think this is best for busy professionals or team leaders who need a feature-rich phone for managing multiple calls, contacts, and collaboration tools.
Pros : Large touchscreen, integrated Bluetooth, advanced call handling features (conferencing, call recording).
Cons : Most expensive of the four models listed.
Poly Edge E450
This is great for employees who need mobility and flexibility in their workspace while maintaining access to VoIP calls and features.
Pros : Wireless connectivity (DECT), ideal for mobile professionals or flexible work environments.
Cons : May have a shorter range compared to wired phones, requires additional base station purchase.
If you need help choosing the right option for your business, we’ve created a handy table comparing the options side by side:
Feature
Poly VVX 150
Poly VVX 350
Poly VVX 500
Poly Edge E450
Price
Lowest
Low
Highest
Moderate
Display
Non-touchscreen LCD
Touchscreen LCD
Large Touchscreen LCD
N/A (Relies on base station display)
Audio Quality
Standard
HD
HD
Standard
Ideal For
Everyday calls
Collaboration
Busy professionals
Managing calls
Mobile professionals
Flexible work
Pros
Affordable,
Compact design
User-friendly
touchscreen,
HD audio
Feature-rich
Advanced call handling
Wireless connectivity
Mobility
Cons
Limited features
No touchscreen
Shorter range separate purchase
What Other People Think of Polycom
While the online user reviews for Polycom meeting solutions are limited, they offer mixed feedback. Some users praise Polycom’s high quality audio and video, ease of use, and reliability. However, there are also mentions of challenges with Polycom’s cloud video interoperability and limited technical support. With such a small sample size, it’s difficult to draw definitive conclusions, but these reviews suggest Polycom offers good audio/video quality and ease of use, but may have limitations in cloud integration and support.
Summary of Polycom: Real Reviews
Positive Polycom Customer Reviews
Negative Polycom Customer Reviews
Polycom Commercial Video
Polycom: What To Expect as a User
Don’t have time to watch the video guide? Here’s a visual of the Polycom interface so you know what to expect:
Polycom: The Design & How it Affects Users:
Polycom’s design philosophy emphasises seamless user experiences, high-quality audio and video communication, and robust integration capabilities. We’ve noticed many comments on their user-friendly interface and intuitive controls allow users to easily navigate and manage calls, making the technology accessible even to those who are not tech-savvy.
Polycom: What Sets it Apart From Its Competitors?
Polycom distinguishes itself to us from competitors through its commitment to delivering superior audio and video quality, comprehensive interoperability, and innovative collaboration features. One of the key differentiators is Polycom’s use of advanced audio technologies like HD Voice and Acoustic Fence, which provide exceptional sound clarity and reduce background noise, creating a more professional and effective communication environment.
We also like Polycom’s extensive compatibility with various communication platforms, including Microsoft Teams and Zoom, ensures that users can integrate Polycom solutions seamlessly into their existing workflows.
What Do Staff Think of Polycom?
While Polycom boasts a positive company culture on Glassdoor, with supportive colleagues and work-life balance, there are concerns about leadership. Reviews mention bad management and weak leadership at the board level. Compensation and stability are also issues, with reports of low salaries, limited growth opportunities, and frequent layoffs. Ultimately, the experience at Polycom could vary depending on your specific team and manager, but the overall sentiment suggests potential downsides to consider.
Polycom Awards
October 20, 2022: Poly wins Unified Communications Solution Provider of the Year
October 17, 2022:
AOD PRO Award and a 6/6 rating in the meeting device category – Poly Studio R30
AOD PRO Award and a 5/6 rating in the meeting device category – Poly Sync 10
AOD PRO Award and a 5/6 rating in the monitors category – Poly Studio P21
AOD PRO Award and a 4/6 rating in the headsets category – Poly Savi 8220
July 12, 2022: 2022 UC Product of the Year Award – Poly Studio E70
July 11, 2022: Expert Reviews Remote Working Awards 2022 Best Conference Headset (UK) – Poly Voyager Focus UC
July 08, 2022: UC Awards 2022 Best Meeting Room Product Finalist (UK) – Poly Studio E70
Improvements of Polycom over the Years
Over the years, Polycom has consistently proven to us its commitment to keeping up with technology, as they have advanced their product offerings to meet the evolving needs of business communications. Significant improvements include the integration of advanced audio technologies like HD Voice and Acoustic Fence, which enhance sound clarity by reducing background noise and ensuring high-quality audio. We’ve noticed Polycom has also expanded its video conferencing capabilities, introducing high-definition video and immersive telepresence solutions that provide lifelike interactions.
Issues of Polycom Over the Years
Despite its advancements, Polycom has faced some challenges and issues over the years. One of the recurring issues has been the complexity of setup and configuration, which can be daunting for users without technical expertise or for very small businesses. Additionally, some users have reported occasional software bugs and stability issues, particularly with firmware updates that sometimes introduce new problems while resolving others. Cost is another concern, as Polycom’s high-end solutions can be expensive.
How to Purc hase Polycom
Via the Polycom website here .
Our Verdict on Polycom
While we do think Polycom stands out as a leading provider of business communication solutions, offering high-quality audio and video technologies that enhance collaborative experiences. The acquisition of Poly by HP has raised several concerns to us about the future of Polycom and its products.
One of the primary concerns we have is whether the integration with HP will lead to significant changes in Polycom’s product line and service quality. Historically, mergers and acquisitions can result in strategic shifts that may alter the focus on core products or lead to resource reallocation, potentially impacting product innovation and customer support – definitely something to consider if you’re thinking of buying their products and integrations.
However, the company’s commitment to innovation is evident in its advanced features like HD Voice, Acoustic Fence, and RealPresence, which set a high standard in the industry. Despite some challenge that we mentioned above, the overall reliability and performance of Polycom products make them a worthwhile investment for businesses looking to enhance their communication infrastructure.
Other Useful Links About VoIP
Hi, I’m Ally Cox , a senior copywriter and blogger at CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, the UK’s trusted platform for comparing business services.
With over a decade of experience in the B2B sector, I specialise in simplifying complex topics like leased lines, VoIP, business energy, HR and payroll solutions, accounting software, and EPOS systems .
Before joining CompareYourBusinessCosts, I worked across various industries, gaining hands-on experience in HR, copywriting, and business operations- from clocking-in systems to card machines and office technology .
My goal is simple: to help UK businesses make informed, confident decisions when choosing products and services that improve efficiency and save money.