Snom Adds HP Lync-Optimized IP Phones

As the market for Microsoft Lync continues to grow, Snom Technology has expanded its portfolio with the addition of HP’s Lync-optimized desktop IP phones, giving the developer of IP desktop business phones a broader unified communications product line. As an HP channel partner, Snom will market and sell the HP 4110 and HP 4120 IP phones through its global network of distributors and resellers.

While Snom and its partners are responsible for go-to-market activities, HP will deliver Tier 1 support for the 4110 and 4120 IP phones. The deal offers Snom’s enterprise customers a broader portfolio of IP endpoint devices with the Lync-optimized IP phones. Snom also offers several Lync-qualifed IP phones, including the 3xx series UC edition phone, the 7xx series of UC edition phone and the 8xx series UC edition phone.

There are differences between Lync-optimized and Lync-qualified devices. For example, the HP 4110 and 4120 IP phones are optimized for Lync. This means the phones are designed according to Microsoft Lync specifications, and are preinstalled with Microsoft’s Lync software, said Snom. They also only work in a Lync UC environment and feature tight integration with Microsoft applications.

In comparison, Lync-qualified phones can be customized, feature their own firmware, and may have their own unique calling features distinct from Lync, according to Snom.

“As the market for Microsoft Lync expands, businesses require the flexibility to deploy solutions that fit their specific needs, whether that’s Lync-optimized devices or Lync-qualified devices,” Michael Knieling, chief operating officer of Berlin-based Snom, said in a statement. “We can offer more choices to our customers, whatever their needs may be.”

Market research firm IDC expects the UC market to reach more than $26.2 billion in 2013 and grow to almost $38 billion by 2016.

By partnering with HP, Snom will deliver enterprise capabilities such as PC/phone integration, click-to-call and Lync server integrated manageability. In addition, these features, currently unavailable on Lync-qualified devices, will be uniquely available for Snom UC edition phones later this year.

Last year, Snom and Chinook Communications announced a partnership to provide a cloud-based integrated IP telephony and UC service, Total Connect, which offers small to midsize businesses all the capabilities of Microsoft’s Lync Server 2010 via the cloud.