Analogue is the process of taking an audio or video signal and then turning it
into electronic pulses. Digital is the process of turning the signal into a
binary format, represented by a string of 1’s and 0’s. Analogue technology has
been around for a long time now. It really isn’t that complicated and is fairly
inexpensive. The problem with analogue signals lies in their size limitations
regarding the amount of data they can carry
.
Because of the way digital works by breaking a signal into 1’s and 0’s and then
re-assembling it exactly at the other end, it gives you clear and distortion
free cordless conversations. A digital signal knows what it should be when it
reaches the other end, through the arrangement of the binary code. This means
it can correct any errors that may have occurred during the transmission of the
data (signal). All this means that in most cases clarity of the signal is
maintained, offering distortion free telephone conversations or clearer
television pictures.
Digital technology is also more compact, allowing you to cram much more data
into the same space as an analogue signal, meaning more features can be crammed
into the digital signal. Though digital signals offer great clarity, they don’t
always offer the same rich sound quality as analogue for now.
Cordless phones
Because of the way digital works by breaking a signal into 1’s and 0’s and then
re-assembling it exactly at the other end. It gives you clear and distortion
free cordless conversations. Digital cordless phones also encrypt the binary
data during transmission, making your call safe from eavesdroppers. With
digital more power can be applied to the signal allowing you greater range on
cordless conversations.
If you are in a small office or in your home, it may be that you don’t require
a big range and security isn’t an issue, in which case you may find that a
cheaper analogue cordless system will fulfil your needs. Check out the features
at the end of this article to help you decide if a digital cordless phone will
benefit you. You will need to keep in mind that when using digital or analogue
signals for cordless phone calls, the handsets themselves are still analogue
devices that can only be used on analogue lines. Also the range of your
cordless phone, whether using analogue or digital signals will always depend on
the environment in which you are using it.
Phone systems
When considering which type of phone system is best suited to your business,
digital or analogue. Many companies are now choosing hybrid systems, which
allow you to use both digital and analogue peripherals, giving you the benefits
of a digital system while offering the flexibility to implement any existing
analogue equipment.
Benefits of digital and hybrid phone systems
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Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) - Digital systems allow better
implementation of Desk Top Assistant (DTA) software.
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Allow you to integrate your telephone system with your computer network.
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Offers greater clarity of call signal (no distortion).
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Easily adapts to the use of DECT cordless technology, giving your employees the
freedom to roam, while still receiving a clear distortion free signal.
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Allow better integration with advanced features such as voicemail auto
attendants and other call handling features.
Benefits of digital handsets
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Allow better integration of advanced features such as voice mail and
auto-attendants.
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Offer greater internal memory for better call handling.
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Caller Line Identification (CLI). Allowing you to view the identity of any
callers before answering the call.
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Offer clear distortion free calling.
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Offer high capacity name and number directories.
Benefits of digital (DECT) cordless handsets
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DECT cordless offers increased range over analogue sets. Up to 50m indoors and
up to 300 outdoors, which can be increased with the use of strategically placed
repeaters.
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DECT cordless offers better security through signal encryption, stopping
eavesdroppers.
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Offer clear distortion free calling.
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Allows the use of extra handsets without the need for extra wiring.
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Calls can be transferred between handsets.
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Caller Line Identification (CLI). Allowing you to view the identity of any
callers before answering the call.
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Offer high capacity name and number directories.
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