Invoxia NVX 610 desktop VoIP phone review

The price may be high, but as Jonathan Bray explains, this desktop speakerphone with innovative conference call support has delivers simplicity with sophistication — an iOS device dock with an app that controls its functions.

G.722, G.722.1 and SILK codecs for "HD" telephony over a network are supported, and, as a handy extra, does a reasonable job with music as well, even if it is a little lacking in the bass department.

The NVX 610 generally works well and the Invoxia app is easy to use, with obvious buttons for such call management features as hold, forwarding and merging.

Invoxia NVX 610

All of the iOS device's native phone app and Skype contacts are shown in the app, and Skype availability can be set, too. Recent and popular calls also appear on the app's home screen for quick access and, on the whole, it's a simple, elegant, and intuitive control system that traditional, button-based devices cannot match.

Wrap up

Having sung its praises so far, however, there are a couple of annoyances to report with the NVX 610.

First, the Room setting which allows users to switch between desktop' mode (which mutes the rear speakers and mics) and conference' room mode (all speakers and mics on) is only available during calls.

Second, the built-in dock holds the iOS device at too steep an angle for comfortable use and we ended up swiping up and down our list of contacts with the side of our right thumb rather than a finger, which is hardly ideal. Still, since the iOS device-NVX 610 data connection is over Bluetooth, the dock doesn't actually need to be used.

Aside from these two issues, we do like the NVX 610, but it's a little too expensive to be used as just a desk phone (as the packaging would have us believe) and its features are only fully realised when calling another NVX 610.

However, in a small or medium-sized meeting/boardroom, its eight speakers perform extremely well, it's extremely easy to use and the high price isn't actually all that much compared to other systems of its ilk.

Verdict

The Invoxia NVX 610 is an easy-to-use all-in-one meeting room speakerphone system with some genuinely innovative features, but given that some only work with calls to other NVX 610s, it’s otherwise rather pricey for an iOS accessory.

Audio codec support: G.722, G.722.1, SILK, G.711a, G.711u, G.726

VoIP protocol support: SIP, Skype

Wireless: Bluetooth 2.1

iOS device support: iPhone 4S, 4 and 3GS; iPod touch 4th and 3rd generation

Connectivity: 2x RJ45 (PoE compatible), 2x USB, 1x 30-pin iOS dock connector

Dimensions: 310 x 114 x 69mm