Alcatel 4038 Phone Handset (IP Reception/manager)

The Alcatel 4038 phone is the 2nd from the top of the range (Alcatel 4068 is the best) in the Alcatel 8 series IP handsets. It's virtually identical to the 4068 phone with the exception of no colour screen nor Bluetooth connectivity. In our experience very few customers ever justified the additional expense of the colour screen option and the Alcatel 4038 phone is the model that companies deploying IP use for their receptionist console.

With its large display the Alcatel Lucent 4038 phone is designed for receptionists or managers that need to see more a glance. The only things that distinguish the 4038 from the Alcatel 4028 phone is the larger display at a higher resolution, 4 grey levels not just black and white and the fact there are 10 soft keys where the 4028 phone only has 6. The rest of the features remain constant between the models and you can choose between two handset colour choices - urban grey and arctic white. Like many premium IP handsets the Alcatel 4038 phone offers wideband audio quality for a true to life and a premium IP sound experience. This sound quality also extends to the excellent built-in speakerphone, for clearer conversations and voice conferencing.

The Alcatel 4038 handsets 10 soft keys allow users to control what they see on screen. Next to each button they are presented with programmable options on screen that can be used to see staff/ phone lines and other features they may choose to customise it to. If you want to call a person you simply look for their name and press the button next to it. Easy isnt it.

Although there are 10 options on screen, you can scroll across the screen to present more - up to 40 options in total. This is far more than a standard key system handset that is limited by the number of buttons on a handset. For most users 40 functions is a lot however for receptionists they also have the option of adding up to 120 additional buttons with the Alcatel 40 button DSS extra consoles that are easily attached to the side of the phone. This allows them to see all staff at a glance. If you need beyond that we suggest you look for the PC Attendant version that allows for the phone to be driven on screen for greater efficiency.

One of the most unique features of the Alcatel 4038 phone and all top Alcatel handset models is the QWERTY keyboard that is at the base of the phone. The keyboard is the fastest way to access the systems 3000 speed dial capacity and is virtually unique to Alcatel and one other brand. All you do is type in the name of the person and the options are clearly displayed on screen. For people that call the same customers a lot this is a real productivity tool not a gimmick. The keyboard can also be used for internal messaging if you choose to which is great for PAs and executive assistants.

The Alcatel 4038 handset also has a silver 4 directional navigation button in the middle of the phone. This is very similar to many other modern phones and makes accessing the systems features very easy. Speaking of buttons, another clever design feature of the 4038 phone is they have colour coded and sized the most popular phone functions like hold, speaker phone, voicemail etc so they stand out more. The more important the function, the brighter the colour and the larger the button size. You would think it might look strange but it actually looks great and makes the handset easier to use on a daily basis.

The Alcatel 4028 phone is cheaper again and given the fact it is almost as feature rich as the 4038 phone, it is probably the pick of the Alcatel 8 series IP handset line up. In a typical Omni PCX office deployment with IP phones the bulk of the staff would get a combination of Alcatel 4028 and Alcatel 4018 phone handsets. The 4038 would only be for reception and managers if they felt the need. By adjusting your IP handset composition you really can keep implementation costs down.

For small business users one of the downsides is that IP handsets like the 4068, 4038 and 4028 are potentially very different from the key systems they may be used to. Many customers staff are used to seeing flashing buttons next to large button consoles. However technology is moving towards large screen driven handsets. Unfortunately Alcatel doesnt really offer this traditional style. Other manufacturers have addressed this issue by offering two, very distinct series of IP handsets - the modern screen driven as well as the more tradition key system, to address exactly this issue. The Alcatel Lucent 4038 phone, and the entire 8 series, are great easy to use handsets so just make sure its right for your office environment.

As the Alcatel 4038 is entirely on screen display, the soft keys next to the screen dont have colour LEDs like other manufacturers offer. This is not as easy as glancing at a red LED to see someone is on the phone. For receptionists we often suggest adding on a 40 button DSS console with LED lights to augment the 4038 and allow them to see everyone at once if this is the preferred option.

Like all IP handsets, the Alcatel 4038 phone when connected to an Ethernet point on the pbx will automatically initialise. Unlike digital handsets where you have to reprogram a phone if a staff member moves, IP allows you to plug and play. If you have remote workers or staff that hot desk they simply walk up to a spare IP phone and login. Their extension number as well as their personal customised settings is all instantly available on the handset in front of them. It is one of the great features of IP technology.

Its important to note that with the Alcatel Omni PCX phone system you can combine any combination of IP or digital handsets. When you look at corresponding digital and IP phone equivalents you will see they are visually identical - the difference is in the IP internal switch that allows them to connect via IP. You can save a lot of money deploying IP handsets only when/ where you need them and leaving the remaining staff with Alcatel digital handsets like the Alcatel 4039, 4029 or 4019 models. Speak to a consultant about which mix of technology is best for your needs and your budget.

The Alcatel 4038 phone comes with a 12-month Alcatel warranty as well as our exclusive free phone support for the life of your Alcatel Omni PCX phone system. Obviously the free phone support offer is only available to Infiniti customers. If youd like to know more about the Alcatel 4038 IP handset, or any of the other Alcatel models, please call our friendly experts for more information and free pricing.