AudioCodes 320HD IP Phone

Many people have used the AudioCodes gateways for the past few years but now AudioCodes is stepping into the IP phone market with a line of business-class IP phones compatible with most SIP-based IP PBX systems. The first one to be delivered to beta sites is the 320HD (HD designating Hi-Definition voice using the G.722 codec). Let’s take a close look at this phone and see how it works.

Features

In a nutshell, the 320HD is a 4 line SIP IP phone with 12 speeddial keys and easy to find keys for Voice mail, Volume, Transfer, Conference, Mute, Hold, Redial, Headset, and Speakerphone.

• 4-line IP Phone with Indicators
• 132×64 Graphic LCD Display
• 12 Speed Dial keys with Busy Lamp Field
• Auto Provisioning Capable
• Web Management interface
• 2 x IEEE 802.3 10/100 Mbps with Internal Switch
• G711μ/a, G729A/B, G723.1, G.722
• Acoustic echo cancelation – multiple path, Wideband acoustic echo cancellation
• MWI indicator

Setup

Since the phone is still in beta there isn’t any documentation available for the auto-provisioning so it’s easiest to do the setup via the web interface. To log into the web portal, browse to http://<ip address of phone>:8000 and use login: admin and password: 1234. Why they would choose to use a non-standard port is beyond me and as non-intuitive as it gets. As far as I can think of, its the only device I have seen in ages that doesn’t just use port 80.

Again, keep in mind that this is beta firmware and there is virtually no documentation available but I was able to get the phone to work with trixbox CE, trixbox Pro, 3CX, and SwitchVox although I did not get the message waiting indicator to work or figure out how to reprogram the voicemail access key.

The easiest way to get the basic functions is working is to use the Quick Setup tool in the web interface. You will need to set the Proxy IP and Registrar IP to the IP address or host name of your PBX system, then set the User ID and Authentication User Name to the SIP login IP (usually the extension number on most systems) and then set the Authentication Password to the SIP password (extension secret on trixbox CE/FreePBX). Once set, the phone should register with your system.

Quick Setup Screenshot

Overall

While the firmware may be in beta still, the hardware seems to be in final shape. The fit and finish is excellent and makes for very nice looking business-grade desk phone. Although the LCD screen is a good size, it has relativly low resolution and the refresh rate when scrolling through menus is a little slow but completely usable. The backlit is real smooth and consistent although I couldn’t find a way to tell it to stay on.

We weren’t able to test out the BLF features as we do not yet have the documentation on how to set that up. If I really had one complaint about the phone itself, it would be the stand that is built into the back side of the phone. Trying to adjust the phone can be an exercise in frustration, try as I might, I could not get the stand into the lattest position that could be used for wall mounting.

The AudioCodes 320HD is not available yet but you can read more about it at AudioCodes 320HD product page.

888Voipstore Product Page: Audiocodes 320HD
888VoipStore Manufacturer Page: AudioCodes

Tags: AudioCodes, Firmware, gateway, IP Phone, SIP, Switchvox, trixbox, VoIP Hardware, VoIP Phones