Siemens Business Phones Review

Siemens is a name that has been around for almost 200 hundred years.

They operate in a vast number of fields from electronics, railways, and communications.

Today you can see their products and services in more than 60 countries around the world.

However, Siemens has moved away from their focus on phones in recent years.

Here’s what in this guide:

Compare the top 4 phone system quotes now

It's fast, free & 100% No obligation

In October 2013, Siemens was rebranded as Unify/Siemens. As it was changing hands, Siemens also announced that its telecommunication products would reach the End of Life.

This meant they would not be manufacturing any more phones after April 2017.

Today the name Unify takes over what used to be Siemens, and it has been a part of Atos since 2016. But that doesn’t mean there are no more Siemens telephone systems out there, or that they might be a smart choice for your business.

While Siemens no longer manufacture phones, they have stocked countless distributors with their products.

Siemens phones are appreciated for their design and durability, and with ongoing support from a distributor, investing in a Siemens phone system still makes sense.

First up, you will see what Siemens have on offer:

Siemens Core product offerings

Newer mode Unify/Siemens phones use the latest technology.

But many companies love the older model Siemens phones too, as they are durable and easy to use.

Keeping this in mind, you will read about both the popular older models and the modern Unify/Siemens phones.

PBXs

First up are the Siemens switchboard or PBX products.

These nifty units work to manage all your incoming and outgoing calls.

They turn the limited number of phone lines you have into extensions for all your staff and make it easy for them to call each other quickly.

A PBX can also offer a range of tools to help you maintain a professional image, like a digital operator and call delegation.

Siemens Hipath 1190

The Siemens Hipath series is very well regarded by customers, but are no longer being produced, so they are not available in every location.

If they are available in your area, then a Hipath unit will be a great choice.

From the HiPath 1100 family, comes their most powerful model the HiPath 1190.

The Siemens HiPath 1190 can power the telecommunications for up to 140 employees.

Siemens Hipath 3800

Increasing the scale is the Siemens Hipath 3800 from the HiPath 3000 line.

This system has all the features that any medium-sized enterprise is looking for.

It can be mounted on the wall or a rack, and it is capable of supporting up to 500 users!

Siemens HiPath 4900

The last of its era is the massive Siemens HiPath 4900.

This system is for medium to extensive enterprises.

It can incorporate both IP-based and traditional line-based networks. This system can scale to more than 100,000 users!

Compare the top 4 phone system quotes now

It's fast, free & 100% No obligation

Siemens Unify Openscape Business

Luckily, thanks to Siemens Unify, there is a new line of PABXs more readily available.

These systems are ideal for medium-sized businesses that want to keep things simple and portable.

Handsets

To complete your system, you will need the actual phone part of your phone system.

Here are a few decent handsets that are compatible with the PBXs.

Many other handsets will also be compatible with Siemens PBX systems.

So if you already own handsets from your old system, then there is a good chance you can reuse them if you are happy with them.

But, phone handsets come with such a wider variety of great features, that these models might tempt you:

OpenScape Enterprise Licensing Suites

As well as the above product range, Unify also offers managed services for a monthly fee.

Openscape Suite service is an excellent option if you would like your phone and digital systems to be fully integrated using Unified Communications (UC).

Cost and Fees

Now straight to the point!

How much is your phone going to cost you?

Here you can view the prices of the most popular Hipath models.

Prices will vary depending on where you buy your system, so we have shown an estimate or range from favourite distributors like Amazon and MF communications.

The Unify/Siemens Openscape range are the most modern PABXs on the market. These top-of-the-line PABXs come in 3 models for maximum scalability and the right fit the size of your business.

But, a big part of the overall cost comes down to handsets, especially if you need a lot of them. Here are the prices for the latest handsets that Siemens has to offer to complete your Siemens phone system.

There are both corded and cordless handsets, here we show the top of the range option for each line, but please keep in mind there are budget variants of these handsets available as well.

Corded phones

Cordless phones

Save 37% on your business phone system now

Request your free quotes in 60 seconds!

OpenScape Enterprise Licensing Suites

Siemens Customer support

Since Siemens has moved away from the phone market, your sales and customer support will come from your distributor.

This works in your favour because once you have selected the Siemens product that you want, you still get some choice in who you buy it from.

You can use these reviews to find the support level to suit you.

Here are the major distributors in the UK:

Beckett Telecom

As professional engineers and technicians, Beckett Telecom is experienced with Siemens products.

They are specialists in setting up and installing Siemens systems and then maintaining them at peak condition.

They also handle the distribution of Siemens products.

You can buy your whole system from Beckett Telecom, or just individual parts.

Beckett Telecom can supply both within the UK and overseas.

MF Communications

Working alongside Siemens and now Unify for 15 years, MF Communications is the go-to the distributor for Siemens phones.

They not only install and maintain systems but are also available to support all Siemens customers.

Whether you are looking to expand or upgrade, MF Communications can upgrade your Siemens phone system to a powerful new Unify system, or scale up your existing system to achieve the aims you are looking for.

Last but not least!

Unify/Siemens

As of 2013 Unify has taken over all of Siemens Phone systems and operations.

This extends to manufacturing and distribution of new PBX units.

They offer a 24-hour support service and a team of maintenance mechanics ready to fix any issues quickly.

Unity also offers you a clever Expert Wiki, where you can find all product manuals and expert answers to user questions.

Buying from Unity gives you full access to their compiled knowledge on telephone systems and years of expertise.

In case you want to get to know your phone system really, Unify has a training academy that teaches the nitty gritty details of how to best use their phone systems.

Unify/Siemens Contracts

Unify/Siemens has qualified distribution partners around the UK and the world. Your installation fees and service agreement will depend on your distributor.

You can buy Siemens / Unity products outright from a distributor, without an ongoing contract if you wish.

Alternatively, Unify offers the OpenScape pay as you go managed service which includes PBX and handset products.

With this option you will not have to make a significant investment upfront, you can add or remove services as you go.

You will also have ongoing support from Unity.

But keep in mind that as you need to keep paying for your system every month, it might be cheaper, in the long run, to purchase your system outright.

This is how the pay as you go system operates:

• On the 16th of every month, Unify/Siemens will send a monthly report to your nearest distributor so you can keep tabs on your monthly usage.
• On the 25th of each month, you will get an invoice for all your cost and fees for that month, so you know your exact billing.

Unify/Siemens Customer reputation

According to Gartner Peer Insights Unify has an overall rating of 3.6 stars out of 5.

Users like using the product and find it reliable. Desk handsets and the call centre capabilities were particularly praised.

Some users commented on the changes in the support team as Siemens support moved to Unify, but help from both sides was found to be of a high standard.

The main issues that reviewers pointed to were:

• Customer support is mostly through remote communications (via phone, email and instant message)
• Very cost effective but primary offerings are not outstanding and have some design flaws
• Unified Communications gets mixed reviews; some users state that it needs further development, others find it too advanced for users that are happy with more traditional desk phones

These views are very subjective, and your experience will depend on the needs of your business and how advanced you want your system to be.

Comparing Siemens phones to alternatives

Best for:

Should you choose a Unify/Siemens Business Phone system?

Siemens and now Unify phones have long been a popular choice for businesses who are looking for reliability and a state of the art enterprise system.

If you already have a Siemens/Unify system and are looking to expand, then sticking with this company’s offerings is a no brainer.

The systems are compatible so you can easily work with Unify to expand on your current network.

This will save significant cost as you can use the hardware you already have.

Your expanded system will be a modern hybrid that supports both IP-based and traditional line based equipment.

If you are looking for a new system, your best bet will be to work with Unity to install one of their state of the art PX and handset systems.

They will be a great choice, especially if you think a unified voice and digital system could make your business run more smoothly.

Their OpenScape services will be a great option for call centres, remote offices and businesses that need a lot of team collaboration to operate at their best.

Final verdict

Siemens business phones have long been a global staple in the business phone market.

Past models were key to connecting massive enterprises together.

In the more recent times, Unify/Siemens has focused more on hybrid systems and are producing models that are more compact for small to medium-sized businesses.

You are already on the right path if you currently own a Siemens HiPath phone system.

You will not have a problem with service or supply as Siemens still has global distributors.

Even if you wish to upgrade, you can expand on your system at low cost to achieve maximum effectiveness by working wit Unify.

This will give you a fresh and modern system at a cost-conscious price.

If you are looking for a new system, then the range listed here will be a great starting point.

You can work directly with Unity to create a package that will help your business collaborate and grow.