Grandstream Vs Cisco – Which Fits Your Business Communication Needs?

Getting a reliable brand that takes on all your business communication needs enables you concentrate on your core business without having to run after many suppliers. How easy is it to get that one brand?

Grandstream and Ciscoare both known worldwide as leading manufacturers of IP communication solutions that power up businesses.  Grandstream manufactures both high end and basic IP phones and voice telephony together with surveillance /security products. Cisco develops, manufactures and sells high-end technologyproducts ranging from telecommunication equipment to networking software and hardware. How do you decide on a brand that would most meet your business communication needs?

What are the differences between Grandstream and Cisco?

Grandstream  Vs Cisco – How Do They Compare?

Even though Grandstream appears to be the new kid on the block, many of its products continue to receive major award. Its acquisitions and partnerships have greatly enhanced its product range and interoperabilitywhile emphasizing affordability – Cisco’s major competitive focus. When, for example, Cisco dropped their UC300 series (PBX), many organizations found a better replacement inGrandstream’s UCM6100.How thendo these two companies compare?

Product Categories

Though both Grandstream and Cisco are broad based in their product offering, Granstream develops products for both High- End and Basic market segments. They actually don’t stop at business level but also provide powerful multimedia experience for individual users.Cisco focuses more on offering products and services targeting the size of the user’s business i.e. small or medium enterprises. For a long time they targeted the biggest enterprise clients. Almost all Fortune 100 companies, for example, use Cisco for video conferencing. All the same, even though Cisco’s products aren’t streamlined for smaller businesses, they can customize solutions to fit the size of a business. Customized solutions however end up being expensive.

Grandstream provides a wide range of unified communicationdevices whose open source SIP products are compatiblewith any SIP device, platform or service. Cisco’s products are even more diverse, but the Cisco Call Manager limits most of their products to only be compatible with other Cisco products.

Meeting Room Experience

Grandstream have flexible, affordable , easy to install and to us video conferencing products of practical use  to both small and medium businesses as well as the mega organizations. They have rich telephony features with excellent HD audio visualinteractive capabilities that deliver superb sound and picture quality.

Cisco WebExoffers lag-free teleconferencing with stable internet, possibility of recording a chat for future reference and ability to connect through either web app, desktop or android phone – to mention just a few great features. It’s also easy to use and has an intuitive user interface. It integrates well with Microsoft outlook, web browsers and Microsoft office. For companies that have already invested in Cisco call manager, Cisco conference call units would be a natural solution. Otherwise, the cost of registration and costs/ infrastructure on cloud or on-prem would be inhibitive.

Grandstream Vs Cisco – A Comparison Overview

Grandstream  Overview

Grandstream takes pride in designing and manufacturing quality and reliability innovations aimed at maximizing business productivity, efficiency and communication.Their product lines include IP phone, voice telephony and surveillance. Their Business conferencing offers both full HD and Audio conferencing, while the IP voice Telephony comes loaded with Basic, Mid-range, Carrier grade and High End IP phones.

Grandstream GS-GXP2170 (High-end IP Phone)

Grandstream GS-GXP2170 VoIP Phone & Device

• 12 lines, 6 SIP accounts, 5 soft keys and 5-way voice conferencing
• 48 on-screen digitally customizable BLF/speed-dial keys

Check Price

View Price on Amazon

This top of the range entry level phone supports 12 line keys, 5 soft keys, 6 SIP accounts and a 5-way video conferencing. These features, including 48 on-screen speed-dial/BLF keys which can access a maximum of 160 contacts,best suit office environments handling high volume calls. The phone comes with an LCD color screen display of 4.3 inches, 2 Gigabit ports, andPoE integration.  High quality sound is ensured by HD Voice and built-in Bluetooth connectivity allows hands-free operation by pairing a headset. This is invaluable for customer service staff, as they can continue with a phone conversation away from the desk.

Grandstream GAC2500(Business Conferencing)

Grandstream Networks Android Enterprise Conference Phone (GAC2500)

• This is a POE conference phone does not come with power adapter power adapters are not included and are...
• 6 lines, 6 sip accounts, 7-way voice conferencing and built-in 7-way conference bridge

Check Price

The GAC2500 Android-based touchscreen design takes business conferencing to a new level, with its suite of advanced features and immersive audio conferencing environment. It comes with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatibility, 6 lines, PoE, Gigabit ports and HD audio. Its 7-way conference bridge makes connection easy. Integration with AndroidTM Operating system, its call scheduler and Google play store further redefines it.

View Price on Amazon

Cisco Overview

Cisco Systems is a world leader in internet networking. In its service, Cisco aspires to accelerate digital transformation, manage compliance and costs, and connect teams and technologies. It provides small and medium enterprises solutions for everything ranging from data center and networking to collaboration and security. Its telephony products include:

• Collaboration systems like Cisco Telepresence (Mobile video collaboration)
• IP (VoIP) Telephony, appliances and servers
• Cisco unified IP phones -Wireless

VoIP Desk Phone: Cisco CP–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

Check Price

Cisco IP phones offer great value to business with their innovative AI powered Spark Assistant. The Cisco CP-8861 is designed with 5 lines, Bluetooth integration, Wi-Fi support and a fast charging USB port. It has a gigabit internet switch with echo cancelation and wideband audio for voice clarity.

The phone is user-friendly, has a high-resolution color display and cutting edge features like the intelligent proximity for mobile voice – a suite of features activated when mobile devices are brought close by. The full-duplex speakerphone offers the flexibility of hands free operation.

View Price on Amazon

Conference Phone: Cisco IP Conference Phone 7832

Cisco IP Conference Phone 7832, 360-Degree Microphone Coverage, 3.4-inch Monochrome LCD, Class 2 PoE, Supports 1 Line, 1-Year Limited Hardware Warranty (CP-7832-K9=), Black

• AUDIOPHILE SOUND: Office conference phone built with a unique acoustic architecture that accurately...
• FULL COVERAGE: Four microphones with 360-degree coverage allow users to speak in a normal voice and be...

Check Price

This easy-to-use, reliable phone is ideal for private office desktops and small conference rooms. Supporting full duplex communication and wideband audio, the 7832 delivers crystal clear, high quality audio conferencing for a business.

The phone is raised for easy handling and positioning, covers spaces of up to 16 sq meters with microphone pick up of about 2 meters.  The monochrome, pixel display is backlit and has antiglare bezel that makes interaction and viewing easy.

View Price on Amazon

Let’s now compare the 2 popular Polycom and Cisco IP phone models

Conclusion

Though Grandstream may appear the new kid on the block in relation to Cisco, both companies’ products are top of the range. Grandstream products are affordable and can comfortably serve small and medium businesses. If, however, you already have Cisco systems or your organization is very large and complex a Cisco solution should serve you better.If you are looking for affordable products that are interoperable with other systems, you are better off with Grandstream!