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Over a year ago at IT Expo in Miami Panasonic debuted an Android based deskphone that combined the best of both worlds. Rock solid audio and video technology and access to the Android Play store library of apps. But, when better and more exciting options like the Mocet Communicator are out there, why take a step back, when you can take two steps forward.
Even before that I saw a prototype, and then a production model of the CloudTC Glass, a very well designed Android based deskphone, so needless to say, when Cisco rolled out their DX650 I was not jumping or shouting about it.
You see, companies like Cisco no longer have to innovate in order to bring income to the balance sheet. They just have to copy. Cisco can do this because the one thing that Cisco has that CloudTC doesn't have is the massive sales force and customers to get the product into the channel. So while CloudTC has secured solid distribution with VoIPSupply and others to reach the small business market, it's the direct sales clout of Cisco, or their channel partners who put the devices on the desks of the enterprise.
The Cloud TC is over $500.00 and you can't take it with you. While I'm not sure what the Cisco phone sells for, I'd still opt for a Mocet Communicator and an iPad. For $229.00 the Mocet + the iPad is a better solution because after one leaves the office, the iPad goes with you. I'm anxiously awaiting an iPad Mini version of the Mocet, or one that works with the Nexus 7. Then you have the right idea. If Cisco was smart, they'd pick off Mocet, put the team in place to be their hardware innovation team, and have something that really would be game changing. Our tests with the Mocet Communicator have been nothing but pleasurable.
Andy,
Have you actually used a Glass 1000? I had one for a few weeks last year. I found it basically unusable at the time. For one thing, the handset is intolerably light. This might seem like a small thing, but it’s a very real problem if you’re trying to create an impression of quality.
http://www.mgraves.org/2013/03/back-to-basics-a-telephone-handset-should-just-feel-good/
On the matter of Cisco as a non-innovator, I completely agree.
Micheal,
As you point out the Glass had some issues, while the Panasonic product even with older Android OS seemed snappier. Part of the issue with both is the lack of APIs for this kind of hardware which is why the Mocet is better in my book right now.
Hi, Andy and Michael:
Yes, we have a full API on the Communicator that would allow a developer to either add hardware control of the device to their existing app rather easily or to completely build a new app that would control the hardware. For example, we have several different partners that are looking to do simple things like light up the MWI when there is a message in their app. One is going much further and wants to build a trading floor turret based on the Communicator.
Ironically, this makes our device a more open platform than the Glass or Panasonic products in the way that Apple has made the iPad a platform with more than 200,00 unique apps.
Thanks
marc.