Do you use your cell phone to look up numbers you want to dial on the office phone? Do you prepare for a call by bringing up account information, a client's purchase history, or case data on your computer? What about conference calls? Some of those require their own little planning session.
Check out Glass - an Android-based desktop phone with a custom UI that tethers to your computer and allows for an impressive amount of call control and information management. It's the brainchild of a company called cloudtelecomputers, and while you can't go grab one off the shelf of your local Best Buy, interested parties can work cloud's with manufacturing partners to make the PBX set up process more simple that a total DIY project.
However, corporations with their own connections might just want to purchase schematics and a license to produce the design, which results in an 8", HD color touch screen desktop phone. If they so desire, customers can customize the devices to their own needs and get their entire workforce up and running on a one-of-a-kind PBX system.
Merge your cell phone contacts over bluetooth with your Outlook contacts via the tether, along with the company directory over the network; automatically receive all associated data - case files, resume, a prospectus - when a caller pops up on your screen; run applications such as salesforce.com and integrate new data with existing information in the phone; manage visual voice mail and set up conference calls with a couple of taps. The time and frustration saved sounds like a dream come true.
This doesn't look like one I'll ever be able to demo as it's designed for office-wide application, so we'll have to settle for the official walk-through pdf and three demo videos for now. If anyone comes across one of these at work, don't forget to let us know!
