Speakerphone

Speakerphone

A speakerphone is a telephone with a microphone and loudspeaker provided separately from those in the handset. This device allows multiple persons to participate in a conversation. The loudspeaker broadcasts the voice or voices of those on the other end of the telephone line, while the microphone captures all voices of those using the speakerphone.

Many telephones have an integrated speakerphone function which can be activated by pushing a single button. This button transfers the sound input and output from the handset to the ambient microphone and loudspeaker. Devices designed specifically for speakerphone use often have multiple microphone inputs arranged radially around the device to maximize sound input, such as may occur around a conference table. The most sophisticated units allow the connection of additional "satellite" microphones that can be placed some distance from the main unit.

Types of speakerphones

Speakerphones may be broadly divided into two classes:
* Half-duplex
* Full-duplex

Half-duplex speakerphones only allow sound to travel in one direction at a time, either: 1) into the speakerphone from the telephone line and out of its internal speaker to its user, or 2) from its user, into the microphone, and out through the telephone line. While the users of the speakerphone are speaking, the phone only transmits sound to the telephone line; its internal speaker is cut-off and no sound arriving from the telephone line can be heard by the user. While the user of the speakerphone is quiet, the speakerphone only receives sound from the telephone line and its internal speaker broadcasts that sound to its user. There is a very definite, noticeable switching action each time the phone "changes directions" and a cough or other transient noise in the room may interrupt incoming sound from the far end of the telephone connection.

Full-duplex speakerphones are able to transmit and receive simultaneously and there is no discernible change of transmission direction. These phones are much more complicated and often employ sophisticated digital signal processing algorithms to sort out the incoming sound and the sound in the room for echo cancellation. Their cost is also higher than for a half-duplex speakerphone.

peakerphone setup

Many modern speakerphones must first be calibrated to the acoustic characteristics of the room in which they will be used. During this calibration phase, they may make a variety of noises including ascending tones or chiming sounds. This calibration may be automatic or manually invoked by the user, and it may need to be repeated if the speakerphone is relocated within the room. A failure to be properly calibrated can be indicated by the occurrence of echoing, ringing sounds, or feedback.

Handset Vs Base Speakerphone

Many cordless phones today have a handset speakerphone as well as a base speakerphone. The handset speakerphone gives the user the ability to have hands free conversations away from the base unit without being restrained any longer to the base unit.

The base speakerphone is located in the base unit. On this speakerphone the user must be at the base unit, but still gets the added benefits of having hands free conversations. Most base speakerphones today also boast a secondary keypad for dialing calls on the base unit.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Speakerphone — Minogue en el vídeo animado oficial de Speakerphone para la gira For You, For Me Canción de Kylie Minogue del álbum X Lanzamiento 21 de noviembre de 2007 Formato Canción #4 en el álbu …   Wikipedia Español

  • speakerphone — speak‧er‧phone [ˈspiːkəfəʊn ǁ kərfoʊn] noun [countable] OFFICE a telephone that you can use without holding it near your face, so that a small group of people can hear and take part in the conversation: • a handsfree speakerphone with digital… …   Financial and business terms

  • speakerphone — ☆ speakerphone [spē′kərfōn΄ ] n. a telephone with a speaker and microphone that enables more than one person to take part in a call …   English World dictionary

  • speakerphone — [[t]spi͟ːkə(r)fo͟ʊn[/t]] speakerphones N VAR A speakerphone is a telephone that has a microphone and a loudspeaker, allowing you to talk to someone without putting the phone to your ear, as well as allowing other people to hear the person you are …   English dictionary

  • speakerphone — UK [ˈspiːkə(r)ˌfəʊn] / US [ˈspɪkərˌfoʊn] noun [countable] Word forms speakerphone : singular speakerphone plural speakerphones a telephone that allows you to have a conversation with someone without having to hold the phone to your ear …   English dictionary

  • speakerphone — noun Date: 1955 a combination microphone and loudspeaker device for two way communication by telephone lines …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • speakerphone — /spee keuhr fohn /, n. a telephone or telephone attachment equipped with both loudspeaker and microphone, thus permitting the instrument to be used without being held. [1955 60, Amer.; (LOUD)SPEAKER + (MICRO)PHONE or (TELE)PHONE] * * * …   Universalium

  • speakerphone — noun a) A telephone with a microphone and loudspeaker separate from those in the handset. b) A loudspeaker on a telephone that broadcasts the sound …   Wiktionary

  • speakerphone — speak|er|phone [ˈspi:kəfəun US kərfoun] n especially AmE a telephone that contains a ↑microphone and a ↑loudspeaker, so that you can use it without holding it. Speakerphones are especially used in business meetings when groups of people in… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • speakerphone — speak|er|phone [ spikər,foun ] noun count a telephone with which you can have a conversation with someone without having to hold the phone to your ear …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”