CME and Cisco SoftPhones

[bunker]

I have a client that is a SMB that would like a voip solution for 10 desks. I am considering CME on a 2800 or 3700 series router but my big issue is the phones. I know this may sound like a stupid quesiton but can I build out this solution using just softphones on their laptops instead of actuall cisco phones to save on cost and support? These people all have laptops with headsets and are mobile. Wouldn't the softphone work just as well.

Does CME work with the Cisco softphone and does it support SIP?

Any help/direction would be greatly appreciated.

[mpconnelly]

CME does not work with the Cisco softphone which needs to use the TSP on the PC. I have had it working with the IP Blue softphone, which talks skinny and doesn't need to use the Cisco TSP. CME supports SIP, but I haven't tried a SIP phone.

[ngss]

CME support SIP as a trunk. You cannot get the SIP Phone to communicated directly to the CME. You need a SIP Server. Yet you do not want to use IP Phone. So your choice is limited to sccp.

Thanks

SSng