Professional KIRK DECT Versus High Street DECT
Polycom KIRK handsets are tested for use in the workplace against independent third party tests and are thus extremely durable unlike consumer-grade phone designs.
Choosing a DECT solution - the issues
When an organisation wants to provide workplace mobility for an employee a high street DECT telephone is often the first option it considers. It will typically;
- Overlook the opportunity to increase productivity which a DECT system can provide
- Accept the coverage provided by a high street DECT solution as the best which can be achieved.
- Plan to use multiple systems to provide mobility for several employees
The issues of productivity, coverage and stability are often not considered until after the high street DECT solution has been installed. It is then that the experience of using the high street DECT equipment highlights its limitations and it becomes apparent that;
In contrast a professional KIRK DECT solution provides a stable quality of service, the potential for greater productivity, and will be specified to provide a coverage which matches exactly that required. KIRK DECT solutions are scalable add-on solutions which are customised to the individual customer. Moreover, a KIRK solution will be professionally specified and installed and can be used to deliver more than simple handset functionality. A company's experience of using high street DECT telephones in its business and its reasons for changing to a profesional KIRK DECT solution can be read here. |
KIRK 5020 handset |
The difference
The important differences between a typical high street DECT telephone and a KIRK DECT solution are described below.
Professional KIRK DECT |
High street DECT (Typical performance) |
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Simultaneous calls |
Scalable to 1500 (Depending on system) |
One (max) |
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Talk time |
20 Hours | 10 Hours | ||
Stand by time |
200 Hours | 100 Hours | ||
Coverage/Range |
Coverage planned for the site | Limited | ||
Robustness |
Handsets built for constant use in the work place. |
Handsets built for occasional use in the home |
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Reliability |
Built and tested to industrial usage standards of reliability | Reliability suited for home use | ||
Choice |
Designs range from styles suited for office handsets to those for hazardous environments |
Handset styles designed for home use |
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Stability |
Specified for the work place to provide a stable quality of service |
Multiple base stations can interfere and cause system instability |
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Functionality |
Adds optional functionality | Can not add functionality | ||
No of handsets |
Scalable to 1500 (Depending on system) |
Max 5 (typical) |
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Integration with PBX |
Analogue, ISDN, IP interface options | Analogue | ||
Compatibility with VoIP |
Can be installed on compatible VoIP telephone systems and offers an alternative to using voice over Wi-Fi |
Not compatible |
Adding functionality with a KIRK solution
A professional KIRK DECT system can deliver more than handset functionality for voice calls. It can;
- Integrate with alarm systems to automatically warn of activation of fire, entry, or machinery alarms
- Be used as a lone worker solution to provide notification to a central desk of an employee in trouble or other emergency event
- Be used as a site paging system
- Provide an inter-company text service
Professionally specified and installed
A KIRK DECT system will be specified and planned for the customer’s workplace. A survey of signal strength and usage is the key to the design of the solution which will provide a high quality of service in doors and out and is able to handle the expected number of simultaneous calls.
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Read about a customers experience of using a high street DECT telephone in its business. |
