Cisco 7960 VOIP Phone
Creating an Iconic Next-Generation Phone

About the Project

The Cisco 7960 VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone marked a pivotal moment for Cisco—it was the company’s first major customer-facing product, bringing the brand “out of the closet” and onto users’ desks. More than just a phone, it symbolized a shift in how people connected, dramatically boosting consumer awareness of Cisco’s capabilities. As one of the pioneering VOIP devices, the 7960 was a groundbreaking success, setting a new standard for digital communication.

 

Related Services
Interaction Design
Visual Interface Design

Role
Interaction Design Director

 
Cisco VOIP Phone on Desk.jpg

Shaping A New Form for Communication

The VOIP phone series quickly established itself as a benchmark for reliability, ergonomic comfort, and intuitive interaction. Designed with both form and function in mind, Cisco’s VOIP phone line meets the demands of enterprise communication and anticipated future needs. Its scalable architecture allowed for the seamless integration of new features and applications, ensuring longevity in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.

The Cisco 7960 series emerged as an industry icon among the lineup's standout successes. More than just a workhorse in business environments, it developed a distinctive "stage presence" that captured attention far beyond the boardroom. Favored by Hollywood for its instantly recognizable design and association with cutting-edge connectivity, the 7960 became a visual shorthand for modern communication.

Its cinematic and television appearances cemented its cultural relevance—it has been featured prominently in shows like The Office and Billions and blockbuster films, including The Bourne Supremacy, Transformers, and Iron Man. The Cisco 7960 didn’t just represent VOIP technology—it symbolized connectedness in the digital age.

Early Cisco 7960 in its natural habitat.

Cisco VOIP phone featured prominently in the television series The Office.

Throughout the television series Billions, stars share ample screen time with Cisco’s VIOP phones.

Later models in the Cisco VOIP lineup received larger and higher resolution displays.

Flexible Menus and Intuitive Line Management

Managing multiple VOIP lines was seamless through an intuitive line management zone on the display, paired with corresponding physical keys for quick access and control. This clear, tactile interface allowed users to handle multiple calls efficiently without confusion or delay.

Context-sensitive soft keys dynamically adapted to the user's current task, with relevant actions displayed along the lower portion of the screen. This ensured that users always had the right tools at their fingertips, reducing cognitive load and streamlining navigation.

A recent calls directory mirroring the familiar call history found on mobile phones was integrated into the interface to ease onboarding. By leveraging this familiar pattern, users could adapt quickly to the system, making the transition to VOIP both smooth and intuitive.

Main Mode Access

The primary modes of use—messages, directories, services, settings, and context-sensitive features—were easily accessible through a dedicated cluster of physical mode keys. This layout provided users with quick access to essential functions without requiring them to navigate through complex menus.

Additional controls, including volume adjustment, speakerphone activation, and mute functionality, were thoughtfully placed for ergonomic ease and intuitive use. These tactile buttons ensured that frequently used actions could be performed effortlessly, even during high-pressure or multitasking situations.

A bright red message indicator light, cleverly light-piped through the handset itself, provided a clear and immediate visual cue for pending voicemail messages. This subtle yet effective design detail helped ensure that essential communications were never missed, reinforcing the phone’s role as a reliable communication hub.