I participated in an interesting and animated discussion during the opening night of this most recent Lync Conference in Toronto Canada that started with “Is the desktop phone doomed?”  

First, let’s clarify that there are situations where phones are mandatory for public safety reasons – school class rooms, elevators, emergency call stations, hotel pools and other spaces that are required by either building or fire codes.  Phones are “expected” items in conference rooms, shared office space locations, un-staffed lobbies and similar locations.