Yealink T31P brings two-line VoIP calling and PoE to small business desks
The Yealink T31P is an entry-level business IP phone designed for small offices, home workers and organisations that need straightforward VoIP calling without the larger displays and extensive controls found on higher-end desk phones.
It supports two VoIP accounts, local five-way conferencing, Power over Ethernet, HD Voice and two 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports. A 2.3-inch backlit display provides access to calls, directories and settings, while a dedicated headset connection makes it suitable for employees who spend a significant part of the day on the phone.
South African pricing and availability had not been confirmed at the time of publication.
TechnologyBlog.co.za has not tested the Yealink T31P. The specifications and features in this article are based on official product documentation and should not be interpreted as independent performance results.
Two VoIP accounts for everyday business calls
The T31P supports two VoIP accounts, allowing users to configure two SIP identities or telephone numbers on the same desk phone. Two line keys provide access to configured lines and supported functions, while common business calling features include call hold, transfer, forwarding, call waiting, redial, call pickup and do-not-disturb. Busy Lamp Field support can also allow users to see the status of another extension when this is supported by the organisation’s telephone platform.
For small businesses, this gives the T31P enough flexibility for ordinary office desks without introducing the larger number of programmable keys typically required by receptionists or high-volume call handlers. The phone still requires a compatible VoIP service, hosted telephone platform or IP PBX. Buying the handset alone does not provide a telephone service, and some features depend on the capabilities of the connected platform.
Five-way conferencing from the desk
The T31P supports local five-way audio conferencing.
This allows several people to participate in the same voice conversation without requiring a separate conference telephone for smaller discussions.
It could be useful for a small business that occasionally needs to bring customers, suppliers or colleagues into the same call but does not want to move every conversation to a computer-based meeting platform.
The quality of a conference call will still depend heavily on the business network, internet connection and VoIP provider.
HD Voice and noise filtering
The T31P supports Yealink HD Voice across its handset and speakerphone. Wideband audio codec support includes Opus and G.722, alongside commonly used codecs such as G.711, G.729, G.726 and iLBC. Opus is particularly useful for modern VoIP services because it can adapt to different network and bandwidth conditions.
A full-duplex speakerphone allows both participants to speak at the same time without one side of the conversation repeatedly being suppressed. Smart Noise Filtering is also included to reduce unwanted background sounds during calls. TechnologyBlog.co.za has not tested the effectiveness of the noise filtering in open offices, home environments or other noisy locations.
Call quality also depends on factors outside the phone itself. Packet loss, high latency and unstable internet connectivity can affect VoIP calls regardless of the handset being used.
A simple 2.3-inch display
The T31P uses a 2.3-inch backlit graphical LCD with a resolution of 132 × 64 pixels.
This is a monochrome information display rather than a colour touchscreen.
It provides access to caller details, menus, line status, directories and other telephone functions while keeping the interface focused on conventional office calling.
Physical controls include line keys, dedicated function buttons, directional navigation and volume controls.
For employees who primarily need to make and receive calls, the simpler interface may be preferable to paying for a more advanced phone with features that are rarely used.
Power over Ethernet reduces cabling
The T31P supports IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet, allowing compatible network equipment to provide power and connectivity through the same Ethernet cable.
This can make business installations cleaner because a separate electrical adapter is not required at every desk.
An external power adapter can also be used where PoE infrastructure is unavailable.
For South African businesses, PoE can also simplify backup-power arrangements during load shedding.
If the network switch is connected to a UPS or other backup-power system, the phone can remain powered through the Ethernet cable.
Keeping the handset powered is only one part of the solution, however. The router, fibre ONT or modem, network switch and VoIP service must also remain operational for calls to continue.
Two Ethernet ports
The T31P includes two 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports.
One connects the phone to the business network, while the second can pass the network connection through to a nearby computer.
This can be useful when a workstation has only one Ethernet wall point available.
There is an important limitation: the ports support Fast Ethernet rather than Gigabit Ethernet.
A computer connected through the phone will therefore be limited to a 100 Mbps wired link.
That is considerably more bandwidth than the telephone itself requires, but businesses with faster internet connections or employees who regularly transfer large files over the local network may want to connect the computer separately.
Headset support for frequent callers
The T31P includes a dedicated RJ-9 headset connection.
This allows employees who spend long periods on calls to use a compatible office headset rather than holding the handset throughout the working day.
Electronic Hook Switch support is also available for compatible wireless headsets, allowing certain call-control functions to be handled remotely.
Businesses should confirm compatibility with the exact headset they plan to use, particularly if remote answering and call-ending controls are required.
Up to 1,000 local contacts
The local phonebook can store up to 1,000 contacts.
The phone also supports remote XML and LDAP directories, allowing larger organisations to provide employees with access to centrally managed contact information.
Call history covers dialled, received, missed and forwarded calls.
Central directories can be particularly useful in businesses where employees regularly need to contact colleagues across departments or branches without maintaining individual address books on every phone.
Designed for central management
The T31P supports automated provisioning and remote configuration for larger deployments.
Instead of manually entering account credentials and settings into every handset, an IT administrator or VoIP provider can prepare configurations centrally and distribute them across multiple devices.
Provisioning options include FTP, TFTP, HTTP and HTTPS, alongside technologies used for remote configuration and device management.
This is particularly important when a business is installing dozens or hundreds of phones.
A single phone can be configured manually without much difficulty. Managing a large fleet individually quickly becomes inefficient.
Security features for business networks
The T31P includes several security technologies intended for managed VoIP environments.
These include support for encrypted voice traffic, secure web management, network authentication and configuration-file protection.
Documented capabilities include:
- TLS support
- Secure RTP
- HTTPS
- AES-256 configuration-file encryption
- Digest authentication
- 802.1X
- IPv6
- VLAN support
- Secure boot
These features do not automatically make a VoIP installation secure.
Administrators still need to keep firmware updated, protect management interfaces, use strong credentials and configure the wider network and telephone platform correctly.
Adjustable stand and wall mounting
The desk stand provides two viewing positions, allowing users to adjust the angle of the phone according to their desk layout.
Wall mounting is also supported.
The T31P uses a conventional physical handset and button-based interface rather than attempting to function as a general-purpose desktop computer.
For many small businesses, that simplicity can be an advantage.
Yealink T31P specifications
| Specification | Yealink T31P |
|---|---|
| Product type | Business IP desk phone |
| VoIP accounts | Two |
| Line keys | Two |
| Display | 2.3-inch backlit graphical LCD |
| Resolution | 132 × 64 |
| Local conferencing | Five-way |
| HD Voice | Yes |
| Smart Noise Filtering | Yes |
| Wideband codecs | Opus and G.722 |
| Speakerphone | Full duplex |
| Local phonebook | Up to 1,000 contacts |
| Network ports | Two 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports |
| Power over Ethernet | IEEE 802.3af |
| Headset connection | RJ-9 |
| Electronic Hook Switch support | Yes |
| Wall mounting | Supported |
| Adjustable stand | Two positions |
| IPv6 | Supported |
| Colour | Grey |
What comes in the box?
The standard package includes the Yealink SIP-T31P phone, handset and handset cord.
A Cat 5e Ethernet cable, desk stand and quick-start documentation are also included in the standard configuration.
The external power adapter is optional because the phone can operate through Power over Ethernet.
South African buyers should confirm the exact package contents with their supplier, particularly when the phones are being purchased as part of a hosted VoIP contract.
Who should consider the Yealink T31P?
The T31P is best suited to businesses that need an affordable dedicated VoIP handset without paying for a large colour display, built-in Wi-Fi or more extensive programmable controls.
Potential users include:
- Small and medium-sized businesses
- Home offices
- Individual office desks
- Branch offices
- Customer-service employees
- Hospitality environments
- Businesses moving from analogue lines to hosted VoIP
Support for two SIP accounts and five-way conferencing provides more flexibility than a very basic single-line phone.
Its biggest hardware compromise is the 100 Mbps Ethernet interface.
Businesses that want to connect a high-speed workstation through the phone may prefer a model with Gigabit Ethernet, while employees who need larger displays, more line keys or integrated wireless connectivity may be better served by a higher-tier model.
South African pricing and availability
Yealink distributes its business communications products through channel partners and resellers rather than selling the T31P directly to South African customers through its global product website.
South African pricing and availability had not been confirmed at the time of publication.
Before purchasing the T31P, businesses should confirm:
- The final price including VAT
- Local stock availability
- Warranty arrangements
- Whether the power adapter is included
- Compatibility with the chosen VoIP provider or IP PBX
- Whether the office network supports Power over Ethernet
- Whether 100 Mbps Ethernet is sufficient for connected computers
- Who will configure and maintain the phones
The Yealink T31P focuses on the fundamentals of business VoIP calling. Two SIP accounts, HD Voice, five-way conferencing, headset support and Power over Ethernet give it the core features required by many smaller office deployments without adding the cost and complexity of a more advanced desktop communications system.
