User Manual

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Tip Softkeys point to feature options displayed along the bottom of your phone’s screen. Softkeys
are flexible—they change depending on the status of your phone. For example, you can see
one set of softkey options when you pick up the handset, and another set when the phone is
not in use.
Headset Information
To use a headset, connect it to the headset port on the back of your phone.
Although Cisco Systems performs some internal testing of third-party headsets for use with the
Cisco IP Phones, Cisco does not certify or support products from headset or handset vendors. Because
of the inherent environmental and hardware inconsistencies in the locations where Cisco IP Phones are
deployed, there is not a single "best" solution that is optimal for all environments. Cisco recommends
that customers test the headsets that work best in their environment before deploying a large number
of units in their network.
In some instances, the mechanics or electronics of various headsets can cause remote parties to hear
an echo of their own voice when they speak to Cisco IP Phone users.
Cisco Systems recommends the use of good quality external devices, like headsets that are screened
against unwanted radio frequency (RF) and audio frequency (AF) signals. Depending on the quality of
these devices and their proximity to other devices such as cell phones and two-way radios, some audio
noise may still occur. See the “Using External Devices with Your Cisco IP Phone” section on page 14
for more information.
The primary reason that support of a headset would be inappropriate for an installation is the
potential for an audible hum. This hum can either be heard by the remote party or by both the remote
party and the Cisco IP Phone user. Some potential humming or buzzing sounds can be caused by a
range of outside sources, for example, electric lights, being near electric motors, large PC monitors. In
some cases, a hum experienced by a user may be reduced or eliminated by using a local power cube
(CP-PWR-CUBE-2). See the “Using an External Power Supply” section on page 14 for more
information.
Subjective to the User
Beyond the physical, mechanical and technical performance, the audio portion of a headset must
sound good to the user and the party on the far end. Sound is subjective and Cisco cannot guarantee
the performance of any headsets or handsets, but some of the headsets and handsets on the sites listed
below have been reported to perform well on Cisco IP Phones.
Nevertheless, it is ultimately still the customer's responsibility to test this equipment in their own
environment to determine suitable performance.
For information about headsets, see:
http://vxicorp.com/cisco
http://plantronics.com