In short: BT Cloud Voice desk phones are IP phones from BT's approved Cloud Voice range, configured before delivery. BT describes entry-level phones for general use, mid-range phones for office workers and call centre agents, and best-in-class phones for busy professionals. They run on Power over Ethernet or a power adapter, and expansion modules add keys for receptionists.
How BT Cloud Voice desk phones work
A BT Cloud Voice desk phone is an IP phone. It plugs into your office network rather than a phone socket, and reaches BT's hosted service over your internet connection. Your phone system itself runs in BT's network, so the desk phone is the part on your desk: a handset, a keypad, a screen and keys linked to your user profile.
Only phones from BT's Cloud Voice range can be used, and BT configures each one before delivery. When it arrives, you connect it to the network and power, and it signs in as its user with the right number, extension and settings.
Entry-level, mid-range and top-of-range
BT describes its desk phone range in three broad tiers. The exact devices change over time, so we confirm the current range when you order rather than listing model codes here.
| Tier | Who it suits | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | General use and shared phones: reception points, staff rooms, workshops, behind a bar | A clear display and the essential call keys |
| Mid-range | Office workers and call centre agents who are on the phone much of the day | A larger screen, more programmable keys and a way to connect a headset |
| Top-of-range (BT calls them best-in-class) | Managers, PAs and busy professionals | A bigger screen, more programmable keys and support for an expansion module |
Phones further up the range generally add bigger colour screens, more keys you can programme for speed dials, colleagues' lines or features, and better audio. If a role involves lots of transfers or watching other people's lines, choose a phone with plenty of keys or one that takes an expansion module.
Features every desk phone user gets
Most call features come from the user's feature pack, not from the phone. On any BT Cloud Voice desk phone a user can:
- Answer, hold, transfer and park calls, including transferring to a mobile
- Join a three-way call, included in every feature pack
- Pick up calls ringing in a hunt group or join and leave a call queue as an agent
- Pick up calls for colleagues and set do not disturb or divert calls
- Check voicemail, with voicemail to email from Connect upwards
Shared call appearance (Connect and above) can show the same number on several devices, up to five on Connect and up to 20 on Collaborate, so a desk phone and a cordless phone, or a PA and a manager, can share a line.
Receptionist and PA phones
Receptionists need to see who is free before they transfer a call. Two things help:
- Expansion modules clip on to a compatible desk phone and add a panel of extra keys, each showing a colleague's line.
- Busy lamp field, an add-on for Connect and Collaborate users, shows whether a colleague's line is free, engaged or ringing, and lets the receptionist transfer or pick up with one touch. Each user needs a compatible phone, and a group can have up to 50 members.
For a busy front desk, the Receptionist console on a PC can do the same job on screen, often alongside a headset. Many organisations use both: the console for transfers and a desk phone as the handset.
Power, network and Wi-Fi
Plan the network before the phones arrive:
- Power over Ethernet: if your switch provides PoE, one cable powers the phone. Otherwise each phone needs a power adapter and a socket.
- Cabling: BT's minimum is CAT5e structured cabling to each desk.
- Wi-Fi capable phones: where running cable is difficult, some phones in the range connect over Wi-Fi. BT recommends a good to excellent Wi-Fi signal at the desk.
- Quality of service: on a busy network, prioritising voice traffic keeps calls clear. See LAN and firewall settings.
Emergency 999 and 112 calls depend on power and on your network, so a battery backup for the switch and router is worth considering. Read call quality: causes and fixes if you are moving from an older system.
How Forever Communications Limited helps
We match each person to a tier, check whether your switches provide PoE, and flag desks that need cabling or a Wi-Fi phone. The phones arrive configured and labelled for their users, and we can arrange BT's engineer install if you would rather not set them up yourself.
Contact us with your list of users and we will recommend a phone for each and give you a quote.
Why buy BT Cloud Voice from Forever Communications Limited
Forever Communications Limited is part of Forever Group and a BT Business Partner. We supply, set up and support BT Cloud Voice for UK businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations, from a handful of users to multi-site teams.
- A named partner who plans your numbers, call flows, user feature packs and handsets with you
- Number porting managed for you, timed to avoid downtime
- Connectivity checked first, so call quality is right from day one, with BT business broadband and BTnet available if you need it
- Help with the digital switchover, including alarms, lifts, card terminals and other analogue lines
- Training and ongoing support for the apps, Microsoft Teams integration, moves, adds, changes and faults
BT Cloud Voice is a business service. We do not sell consumer or home phone products.
Want a BT Cloud Voice quote for your business?
Tell Forever Communications what you need and we will come back to you by email with options, not a hard sell.
Contact usFrequently asked questions
Which desk phones work with BT Cloud Voice?
Only phones from BT's approved Cloud Voice range. BT tests and configures them for the service, and the range covers entry-level, mid-range and top-of-range desk phones. We confirm the current devices when you order.
Do BT Cloud Voice desk phones need a phone socket?
No. They are IP phones that plug into your office network. They need a network connection and power, either through Power over Ethernet or a power adapter.
Can a desk phone have extra keys for a receptionist?
Yes. Expansion modules add a panel of keys to compatible desk phones, and busy lamp field, an add-on for Connect and Collaborate users, shows whether each colleague is free, busy or ringing.
Are there wireless desk phones for BT Cloud Voice?
Yes. Some phones in BT's range can connect over Wi-Fi. BT recommends a good to excellent Wi-Fi signal where the phone is used, and we check this with you before ordering.