Introduction, 1 spectralink e340/h340/i640 wireless telephones, 2 spectralink infrastructure – Polycom H340 User Manual
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Deploying SpectraLink e340, h340 and i640 Wireless Telephones
BEST PRACTICES GUIDE
October 2010
1 Introduction
Wi-Fi telephony, also known as Voice over Wireless LAN (VoWLAN), delivers the capabilities and functionality of the
enterprise telephone system in a mobile handset. The Wi-Fi handset is a WLAN client device, sharing the same
wireless network as laptops and PDAs. For enterprise use, the handset is functionally equivalent to a wired desk
phone, giving end-users all the features they are used to having in a wired office telephone. The benefits of
VoWLAN can result in substantial cost savings over other wireless technologies by leveraging the Wi-Fi
infrastructure and by eliminating recurring charges associated with the use of public cellular networks. For end users,
VoWLAN can significantly improve employee mobility, resulting in increased responsiveness and productivity.
Delivering enterprise-grade VoWLAN means that wireless networks must be designed to provide the highest audio
quality throughout the facility. Because voice and data applications have different attributes and performance
requirements, thoughtful WLAN deployment planning is a must. A Wi-Fi handset requires a continuous, reliable
connection as a user moves throughout the coverage area. In addition, voice applications have a low tolerance for
network errors and delays. Whereas data applications are able to accept frequent packet delays and retransmissions
without the user being aware, voice quality will deteriorate with just a few hundred milliseconds of delay or a very
small percentage of lost packets. Whereas data applications are typically bursty in terms of bandwidth utilization,
voice conversations use a consistent and a relatively small amount of network bandwidth.
Using a Wi-Fi network for voice is not complex, but there are some aspects that must be considered. A critical
objective in deploying enterprise-grade Wi-Fi telephony is to maintain similar voice quality, reliability and functionality
as is expected from a wired telephone. Some key issues in deploying Wi-Fi telephony include WLAN coverage,
capacity, quality of service (QoS) and security.
Polycom pioneered the use of VoWLAN in a wide variety of applications and environments, making the SpectraLink
Wireless Telephone the market leader in this category. Based on our experience with enterprise-grade deployments,
this guide provides recommendations for ensuring that a network environment is optimized for use with SpectraLink
e340/h340/i640 Wireless Telephones.
1.1 SpectraLink e340/h340/i640 Wireless Telephones
The information contained in this guide applies only to SpectraLink e340/h340/i640 Wireless Telephones (generically
referred to as ‘handsets’ throughout this document) and their OEM derivatives. Detailed product information for the
can be found at Polycom’s web site. For information on other Polycom Wi-Fi handsets,
including t
visit the appropriate product page at
www.polycom.com.
1.2 SpectraLink Infrastructure
Throughout this guide references are made to SpectraLink infrastructure equipment including the
These LAN-based devices are sold by Polycom for use with the SpectraLink
e340/h340/i640 Wireless Telephone:
An SVP Server is required, as it provides the necessary WLAN QoS for the handset.
Telephony Gateways allow the handset to operate as an extension off of a PBX. For systems with four or
fewer Telephony Gateways, the integrated SVP Server capability can be used and a separate SVP Server is
not required. For systems with more than four Telephony Gateways, a separate SVP Server is required.
The OAI Gateway enables third-party applications to send and respond to real-time text messages and alerts
using SpectraLink handsets.
For additional details on any of these products visit the Polycom web site.