The 3101 Basic is black with lighter grey buttons and weighs 827 grams. The main keypad buttons are round with a slightly convex surface -- a similar shape to the NEC keypad buttons. The numbers stand out very well on the light grey background.
The handset itself weighs in at 191grams, and while this appears to be quite weighty due to the design, the unit itself feels quite well balanced in the hand. There is a small LCD panel and the unit has four programmable buttons.
This is the entry-level unit and only really differs from the 3101SP in that it does not have a speakerphone function. This handset is most suitable for the occasional user or for use in low-traffic areas.
3Com 3101SP Basic Speakerphone
As mentioned before, the 3101SP is identical to the 3101 Basic
handset, however, this model offers a speakerphone function and
weighs in at 837 grams.
3Com's VoIP gateways are H.323 and SIP compatible, but the SIP compatibility only extends one way -- you can plug other SIP compliant handsets into 3Com's gateway, but you can't plug its handsets into a SIP gateway yet.
The 3101SP is most likely the phone of choice for most enterprise users of 3Com systems as speakerphone functionality is a must in many situations.
3Com 3102 Business
The 3102 Business has the same colour, buttons, handset, and
display as the 3Com 3101SP and 3101 Basic models. It does,
however, differ from other models in several areas.
The weight is 1027 grams and the footprint is 180 x 260 x 100 x 160mm (with the use of the adjustable stand). It also has 18 programmable buttons on the left-hand side, whereas the 3101 and 3101SP only have four programmable buttons.
The 3102's keypad buttons are also slightly different from its siblings being a little softer to the touch. The speaker is also larger than the other models. Overall, it is a very aesthetically pleasing telephone. In fact, the whole 3Com range has quite a unified and professional look.
The 3102 is definitely the power-user's handset, most suited for the receptionist or someone who has a lot of regular calls to place and uses the telephone as an integral part of their daily routine.
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ISP's are currently battling the broadband war. The race for customer aquisition is aggressive. What is the holy grail... VoIP or basic broadband revenue? The answer lies in the current broadband price offerings of ISP's.
The cost savings of VoIP to corporations is unquestionable and the future economic benefits of widespread adoption is inevitable. One just needs to review the developments of such products as 'Skype' over the last 12 months to arrive at the realisation of just where VoIP is heading. Companies in Asia have even commenced manufacturing 'Cisco ATA type' devices which interface with skype enabling VoIP calls from your normal PSTN phone. The future of VoIP is cemented and the war for market share is definitely on.