Cisco 8851 vs 8861 – The Next Generation Business Telephony

How cool to work with your desk and mobile phones on one phone! This review will  help you say bye to copying contacts from your smartphone to dial on your deskphone!

As Business telephony advances technologically, features that integrate different devices thus improving overall business efficiency and productivity come up. The Cisco 8800 IP phone series prides itself in being the next generation superiorvoice communication that brings mobile and desk phone experiences closer to each other. Both the Cisco 8851 and 8861offer this flexible voice communication delivered in high audio quality. The question therefore is, which is better?

What are the Differences BetweenCisco 8851 and 8861?

Cisco 8851 vs 8861– How Do They Compare?

The Cisco 8800 series have the best audio performance from Cisco. Both the 8851 and 8861 support a wideband (G.722) audio and are echo cancellation hardware-enhanced in accordance with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). Besides, both speakers and microphones have hardware vibration isolation application leading to an even better quality communication experience. What else do these 2 models bring on the IP telephony table?

Integration with the mobile devices

Cisco’s suite of features, the Cisco intelligent proximity, activates when users bring mobile devices like laptops, smartphones or tablets, close to some Cisco phones, enabling sharing of content. This is usually done via Bluetooth.

Some versions of the 8851 model and all phones in the 8861 model come enhanced with the Bluetooth feature. Through the Bluetooth PBA profile, these phones support sharing or importing of contact and phone history from a mobile cell phone. Further, the Bluetooth Hands-free Profile (HFP) unit mode allows these phones to fully integrate with mobile cell phones and have a 2-way hands-free audio experience. Hands free audio works with iphone 4and 5 series, and Samsung galaxy S4, Note 3 and 2 series. Both phones do not however support video calls.

Physical Characteristics

Both phones under review promise the user an intuitive, easy to use experience. They are available in either white or charcoal in color and can be wall-mounted in environments where space is a constraint. They offer a high resolution back-lit, 5 inch multicolor graphical widescreen VGA with 800 X 480 pixels displays. They also have a full duplex speakerphone and a call indication LED.

Fixed Keys

Both phones under review encourage more flexible call management by supporting up to 5 lines with multi-calls per line. When adding features to the phone, some features require a line key. Even though each line key can only support one function i.e speed dial, line or feature, it is capable of supporting multiple line appearances that enables jumping on multiple calls using the same SIP account. This means that you can put an active call on hold, attend to another incoming, and switch between the 2 or more even translating in the phones attending to very many calls at a go. The 8851 supports 2 additional key modules which can support up to a maximum of 72 keys while the 8861 supports 3 modules supporting up to 108 keys.

For both phones, A 5-way navigation cluster in conjunction with 4 context-sensitive soft keys facilitates navigation between menus and call transaction states. Softkey buttons give access to services and functions. The programmable Softkey (PSK) feature enables a user to customize the displayed softkeys. This is helpful in cases where there direct lines are not available e.g. a one touch dialing that is similar to a speed dial feature on direct lines. Depending on the state of the phone, the keys can be moved, added or removed. The feature can be enabled or disabled through the web.

Both phones under review have 12 fixed keys for common functions like transfer, mute, conference, headset, speaker phone, mute, hold or release. These rounded ergonomic keys with an enhanced tactile feel are designed to reduce errant dialing.

Phone Features

Both phones under review can support both personal and corporate accounts. They keep a record of 50 dialed, 50 received calls and 50 missed calls. They also have an auto answer function. This feature enables lines to automatically connect to an incoming call, upon activation of the headset.

The phones use a SIP connectivity protocol and have a PBX IP address redundancy.  They both support the Audio and Wideband codecs and have the Multilanguage feature.

Connectivity and Power

Power over Ethernet helps pass electric power and data, thus provides both data connection and electric power to devices like IP phones. PoEs have different power levels available. Class 1 has very low power, 2 low power, 3 – medium power and 4 and above – high power. The Cisco 8851 is of class 3PoE while the 8861 is class 4. The phones therefore do not rely on availability of power to function. Nevertheless, an AC adapter can be purchased separately if there is need for it.

The 8851 has one USB port while the 8861 has 2. Whereas the USB port on the side of both the 8851 and 8861 supports slow charging limited to 500mA/2.5 W maximum power, the port at the back of the 8861 supports faster charging of up to 2.1A/10.5W maximum power. The slow charging USB port (which is the only one the 8851 has) can therefore only charge a smartphone, while the fast charging one even charges a tablet. In addition, the USB ports enhance storage, multimedia and certain USB headphones.

Both phones under review have Gigabit ports which allows for fast call handling speeds. They both have an RJ9 wired headset ports, and support IPv6 protocol. The phones’ Electronic Hook Switch offers remote desk phone answer/end control with a wireless headset system. Headsets connect to the phones either using the auxiliary or the USB port for both phones.

Wi-Fi Support

The Cisco 8861 supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WLAN enabled Wi-Fi. The use of 5 GHz is recommendedbecause the frequency offers more channels with less interference.

Cisco 8851 Vs 8861 – A Comparison Review

Cisco 8851

Cisco CP-8851-K9= 8851 IP Phone 5"

• The product is only compatible with Cisco.
• Features a 5 inch 24 bit color widescreen display with 800 x 480 pixel 2 x 10/100/1000 Ethernet

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This business class phone combines reliability, scalable voice communication and security. Bluetooth and Cisco intelligent proximity enables users to share call history and contacts from their smartphones (for versions with enhanced Bluetooth support).

The 8851 phone comes with 2 Gigabit ports and a full duplex speakerphone for making/receiving calls. It is powered over Ethernet and has a USB port enabling charging of mobile devices in addition to other uses.

Because the optional key expansion modules offer a further 72 line/feature keys executives, managers, knowledge workers and administration staff in medium to large size businesses can be well catered for by this phone.

 Pros

• Superior voice communication
• Additional 72 lines/keys
• Gigabit ports/switches
• Integration with smartphones
• Wall mount option for space constrained environments

 Cons

• No redial or Do not disturb keys
• Does not support video calls
• Only 1 slow charging USB port
• No Wi-Fi support

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Cisco 8861

Cisco IP Business Phone 8861, 5-inch WVGA Color Display, Gigabit Ethernet Switch, Class 4 PoE, WLAN Enabled, 2 USB Ports, 10 SIP Registrations, 1-Year Limited Hardware Warranty (CP-8861-K9=)

• 5-inch Widescreen VGA Color Display (800x480)
• Built-in Gigabit Ethernet switch for network and your PC

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The Cisco 8861 has versions that either work only with the Cisco communications manager, or with third parties only. It therefore makes sense that using this model requires a user license with Cisco communications manager.

The Cisco intelligent proximity and enhanced Bluetooth support (EDR class 1 technology) powers integration with mobile devices. It enables users to share call history/contacts and also move an active audio/video call from a smartphone to the Cisco phone.

The 3 optional key expansion modules enable the 8861 to support up to 108 line/feature keys. The model also has one high power capacity port from its 2 USB ports and is still operational in a fully wireless-enabled office. These features make Cisco 8861 able to handle extremely busy large enterprises.

Pros

• Up to 108 additional line/feature keys
• Wi-Fi support
• 2 USB ports
• Superior voice communication
• Gigabit Ethernet ports
• PoE

 Cons

• No redial or Do not disturb keys
• Does not support video calls

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Conclusion

The truth is, both Cisco 8851 and 8861 will enhance your business efficiency and productivity with their sound quality and mobile phone integration features. Only the volume of call handling will best determine the one you go for. In other words require the decent 8851 or the costlier, heavy duty 8861?

Verdict: Which is better – the Cisco 8851 or 8861?

Because the Cisco 8861 comes with support for more lines, more USB ports and a Wi-Fi support option it is clearly is a more dependable-in-all-situations business winner!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I connect my Cisco phone to Wi-Fi?

Press the setup button and select network configuration.  Go to Wi-Fi and using the right arrow key toggle Wi-Fi on. Press Set.

How do I connect Bluetooth to my 8851 Cisco phone?

Press the Applications options key and select Bluetooth. Switch on Bluetooth on your device. When the Cisco 8851 finds your device, press the ‘pair’ softkey.