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- Verified Buyer
I purchased this VoiceStation for a home office based on reviews. I had a Blackberry phone (Storm, which I hated) and because i had Verizon was holding out for an iPhone. Well, another 8 months until Verizon Wireless carries it, so I got myself a Droid X to replace the Blackberry Storm.As for the Storm, the VoiceStation worked well. It paired and connected quickly and it was easy to dial from the VoiceStation to place calls. You did not even need to plug this into a landline- just the outlet.The only complaint I had when I was able to use this unit was that the low volume did not seem low enough at times. I was using the VoiceStation in a home office that was quiet without background noise, so I did not need for the unit to be super loud. I did not seem to be able to lower the volume as low as I'd have liked. Other than that, it worked well. My connecting parties could hear me well and I could hear them (albeit loud in my setting - this is coming from someone who sets their cell phone volume at the loudest setting!!).As for the Droid X - it is true, it CANNOT connect to this expensive coneference phone. I've searched the Internet to see if I could find a Bluetooth version I could download (even if older), and so far unsucessful. The real kicker is I called Polycom and the "customer service" could not have cared less. Holy cow!! The guy said "Yah, we know that's a problem, it's not like this is a new product. We cannot promise that every new device that comes out after this will connect." So I pointed out if they KNEW this, why did they not at least disclose it in some of their latest descriptions, that sometimes Bluetooth software varies, and that it does not always connect? He said "I dunno, but it doesn't connect to your phone, I don't know what to tell you except to use a microphone wire to attach the phone to your Droid or to use a land line."HUH?I bought this thing to use specifically with a company-based cell phone. It's the ONLY bluetooth conference phone they carry. At this price/investment, I think they should make it known to their customers. At this point i cannot return, as it's been too long since I bought the unit.Bummer, overall, I'd rate it 4 stars if I could actually connect to the blasted thing.BOTTOM LINE: Be sure your phone/Bluetooth version can connect, otherwise, buy the cheaper unit (by far) that does not "PROMISE" Bluetooth compatibility. If it can, decent unit. If it cannot, buy the VoiceStation 300 at a much lower cost....I'M DISAPPOINTED FOR SURE!At my last job, our conference room had this phone, and as a telecommuter, I got to enjoy being on the other end of the line from this phone quite a bit. The company was a cheap start-up and so we often used Skype for conference calls with this unit plugged into a computer. The audio quality of this compared to the $100 Skype Polycoms is night and day--this wipes the floor of anything in that price range.I recently purchased this phone for my home office. I spend a lot of time on the phone and was starting to feel some pain and discomfort from my cordless headsets that I had been using with my landline. I am not interested in the Bluetooth capabilities at this time, but it's nice to have the option. Audio quality is excellent for parties on both ends of the conversation, and I have found people can hear me even if I have my back to the phone from several feet away. And best of all, I don't have anything in my ear.The usual Polycom features are found on this phone: The giant wall-wart, the single cable that consolidates power and phone signal, the sturdy plastic construction, firm buttons with good tactile feedback, green LEDs when "on air" that change bright red when the mic is muted, full duplex conversations, and a nice sounding ringer. The cord is good 20 ft or so, I think--I haven't unrolled it all the way. There is a little audio jack on the phone for wired interfacing with a computer or phone. The range is good too--people on the other end can hear me from anywhere in my 26 x 14 ft office.If you have a small conference room, spend a lot of time on the phone, want a good speakerphone for Skype or your cell phone, this phone is worth the money.P.S. One small nit--the "Flash" button is right next to "hang up". This can be embarrassing if I'm not careful when trying to bring a 3rd party onto the line.I purchased the Voicestation 500 primarily as a full duplex speakerphone replacement for my home office phone and mobile phone. The sound quality and the full duplex feature have lived up to expectations. The Bluetooth link feature is good and works well but doesn't auto connect so I have to reconnect from my iPhone frequently. Most of my other Bluetooth devices auto connect when in range and allow control of the phone from the device, but not on the VoiceStation 500, which is not a serious issue for me since my iPhone is typically on the desk next to the Voicestation. The Voicestation footprint on my desk is also nonobtrusive. I had more trouble finding space on an existing power strip for the power unit, but even its size is manageableDownsides. The Voicestation is pricey for what it is. It also lacks a digital screen to see the number and access features. I don't understand why the screen was left off since that has been a standard feature on phones now for decades. I would also like a back or delete button to correct number entries as is common with most phones. There is also no call cancel button that clears any type ahead number entry, which can sometimes cause issues. There is also no stored number or quick dial capability, a feature I would have expected for a unit in this price range. Having said that, I purchased it as a full duplex speakerphone for which it excels. These missing features can be handled from my iPhone and only impact land line use.Even at the price, I recommend the unit.
