This week we take a look at some of the many wireless options that are available for trixbox Pro. With WiFi and DECT options to choose from and both desktop phones and cordless handsets, there are quite a number of available options. In today’s video we take a look at some of the different devices that are available and discuss some of the different situations that they can be used in. We also cover the pros and cons of WiFi versus DECT.

VoipStore.com

• trixbox Featured Solutions

888VoipStore.com

• trixbox Product Page
• Cisco SPA-525G
• Cisco WIP310
• Aastra MBU400
• snom M3
• Panasonic TGP-500/TGP-550

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VoipStore, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: dect, IP PBX, SIP Phone, trixbox, trixbox pro, VoIP Education, VoIP Phones, WiFi, Wireless

The TGP-550 is a combination desk phone and base station along with a handset and the TGP-500 is a traditional base station and handset.

The base station (desk phone in the case of the TGP-550) is expandable up to 6 handsets and can support up to 8 SIP registrations which can be mixed and matched across the desk phone and handsets.
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Read the rest of Panasonic TGP-500 and TGP-550 SIP Phones Released (205 words)

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Post tags: dect, IP Phone, IP Phones, Panasonic, SIP, VoIP Hardware, VoIP Phones, Wireless

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Read the rest of Aastra Announces Three New DECT SIP Phones (405 words)

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Post tags: Aastra, dect, IP Phone, SIP, SIP Phone, VoIP Hardware, VoIP News, VoIP Phones, Wireless

As with all technology, the capabilities of the headset have undergone an evolutionary progression.  The modern headset is now wireless, offering mobility while freeing us from the aggravation of physical entanglement.  The mechanism commonly used in wireless headsets that allows such freedom is called a lifter, which is a small unit that must be adhered to your phone (usually by means of glue) that automatically lifts the handset from the cradle when a call is initiated or received.  Essentially, it simulates someone physically picking up the handset.

While this is an obvious advantage, the lifter is not completely free of faults.  Some lifters do not attach to certain phones properly; some detach easily; over time the adhesive holding the lifter to the phone erodes and must be re-applied; sometimes the lifter will activate independently or so harshly as to jar the handset out of the cradle.  While these occurrences are rare, they remain unwanted possibilities.  The refinement resolving these drawbacks of the automatic lifter surfaced last year with the advent of the EHS adapter unit, the next stage in wireless headset evolution.

EHS (Electronic Hook-Switch) units render the entire lifter process obsolete by allowing headsets to electronically answer or initiate calls, bypassing the need to lift the handset in order to trigger the telephone’s hook-switch. An EHS system consists of a small wireless unit similar to a WiFi router that is placed between a phone and headset that both feature EHS-compatibility.  It functions using DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications), which is a standard for wireless frequency in use with wireless communications and is a fully recognized 3G system that operates at a frequency and level comparable to WiFi.  Unlike WiFi, however, DECT channels are specifically reserved for voice communication applications only.  Because of this exclusive aspect, DECT devices are less prone to experiencing audible interference from other wireless devices and networks as opposed to other commonly used frequency bands.  DECT-supported devices also remain functional at wide ranges and provide top-grade audio quality.

Headsets are definitely an appendage cemented in the anatomy of today’s telecommunications environment, and it’s important to realize that either forgoing or upgrading from an automatic lifter to an EHS adapter can prove very beneficial; it isn’t some small luxury but rather a tool designed and appropriate for current demands.  Every call, whether it be personal or professional, is an opportunity…an opportunity to catch up with an old friend while you’re grilling, to reassure a demanding customer while you analyze their account, or to check on inventory in the warehouse and report it immediately to your supervisor a couple hundred feet away.  EHS headsets offer you the ability the make the most of these opportunities.  And hey, it’s also an opportunity to avoid and injury as the constant squeezing of a telephone handset between the neck and shoulder can lead to Telephone Neck Syndrome (TNS).  Also, having employees choose between working one-handed or staring at a computer monitor at a 45° angle won’t improve productivity.  Get a headset!

If an EHS headset system is something that appeals to you, please make certain that all of the components you either have or intend on purchasing are compatible.  Multiple telephone models can be used with EHS adapters, most notably phones available from the Polycom Soundpoint IP Series (320, 330, 430, 550, 560, 650, 670 models) as well as the Aastra 675X Series ( 6753i, 6755i or 6757i).  Both Plantronics and Jabra are prominent manufacturers of EHS-capable headset/base unit systems.  Popular Jabra models include  GN9350, GN9350E,  GN 9125 and GN9120 while Plantronics offers the CS70N, CS351N and Voyager 510S model headsets.

Again, it is highly recommended that you consult your reseller or distributor in order to verify that your phone and headset possess EHS capability and are compatible with each other.

Related Links:

Manufacturer Homepage(s): Polycom, Aastra, Plantronics, Jabra
888VoipStore Manufacturer Page(s): Polycom, Aastra, Plantronics, Jabra

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Post tags: Aastra, dect, digital, handset, lifter, VoIP Education, VoIP Hardware, VoIP Phones, wireless headset, wireless headsets

888VS: Thanks for taking the time to chat with us. First off, what is the right way to pronounce snom? We hear it as “snowm” the most.

MS: The right way is say sno-w with an m

888VS: The snom 3xx series has been around for some time, starting with the 300 and working up to the 370. Where have these had the most traction over the past few years?

MS: Our 3xx series has been a real work horse of a product line, working very well in many different environments but I would have to say it has it roots in being used in SMB space with many IPPBXs and open source solutions. I think it became a favorite for this group of early VoIP providers because of its ease of installation, quick sip identity set-up and tear down, plus a fast reboot times, affordable, comes with power supply, all can be wall mounted, POE, dual switch ports and headset jack. Makes it is for any type of install.

888VS: One big departure from other manufacturers was that you released a number of models available in white, how did that go over in the market?

MS: It actually came out as the snow addition at first to see how they would sell, I think colors or changes of colors run in cycles and we thought a change was due. Some people love them right off and it seems to be a choice for people looking to get a different look around the office. We have had some customers in the health industry really take to the white, or where all of the other desktop devices are light colored.

888VS: Last year snom was the first to market with an affordable multi-handset capable DECT product, the M3. Can you tell us a little about the M3 and why the “antenna” mysteriously disappeared shortly after product.

MS: In today’s work force people spend less time tied to their desks having a need to be mobile.  Our M3 IP/Dect solution allows users to have the mobility they need plus a lot of features.  This system ships with a base and 1 handset, and is expandable to 8 handsets.  The system will support up to 3 concurrent calls.  It will get about 150ft of wireless range and the system can be expanded to support more range via the use of repeaters.  The system can support up to 6 repeaters and each repeater will supply approximately an additional 150ft of range.  Plus the system includes many more great features and benefits.

As for the “antenna”, it was actually was not really an antenna just an antenna look alike, it was thought by designers that users of a handsets like our dect phone wanted to see an antenna, Quickly we decided that it was not needed and it was removed, I thought is was a great little handle for display.

888VS: This year, you released the snom 820 calling it the “next step in the evolution of VoIP phones”, what makes the 820 so different from other phones in the market?

MS: The snom 820 is our first model in our 4th generation VoIP phones and it has what we think the industry in VoIP phones is moving to, color display, wide band audio built in, USB port for wifi dongle ( could be with advances in wifi connections, running of cables disappears) multi-vendor and multi service connections, more processing power and memory for more UC type features, video streaming.

888VS: You have the snom 870 coming out soon, how is the 870 different from the 820? From the outside it looks pretty much the same but missing the 4 softkeys.

MS: The snom 870 will have a larger display and touch screen capabilities for standard telephony functions,  in addition to transfer, conference calls, call swapping, etc. The 870 will have two USB ports one for wifi and the other for new connections and or features from a stick device. We have not figured them all out yet. Use your imagination.

888VS: Aside from desk phones, you have a new conference phone coming out soon, the MeetingPoint, why should someone look at a dedicated conference telephone versus a standard deskphone?

MS: As a full VoIP phone product line supplier, I think it was a natural for us to have a true conference room speakerphone in our line. VAR and customers have been asking for awhile. We have everything in our Meeting point anyone could ask for, POE, extra Mics, wide band audio and with all of the snom firmware that is in our 8xx series of VoIP phones, memory card for recording calls, LCD display, 12 SIP identities for many connections to different VoIP line suppliers.

888VS: One of the big things that snom has done lately is add OCS integration into your product line. How does the OCS integration work and what types of companies are looking for IP phones with OCS integration?

MS: snom phones are truly an ubiquitous IP device like a laptop or PC, we work with many IPPBXs, and anyone using SIP as their protocol. It was natural for us to build an OCS version based on start ands that protects the investment for the buyer that our device can connect thru the LAN to OCS and other VoIP services at the same time, again like a standard IP Ethernet appliance. I think one of the dreams or goals of VoIP and equipment that connected to VoIP was that it not be proprietary.

888VS: You also have another software product called Flexor CTI, what is this product for and what systems does it work with?

MS: Flexor CTI is the result of work integrating CRM product like Microsoft Dynamics, Salesforce.com and Netsuite to our VoIP phone so the users gets increased productivity from the use of the snom phones and these applications together, with journaling, click to dial, caller id look up and other integrations.

888VS: Where do you see the market changing over the next 12 and 24 months?

MS: I think the market is moving towards more sophisticated use of VoIP business phones, customers seem to be interested in UC features which call for more info to the users and the need for larger display screen. Additionally, as customers understand that they buy a business phone for 7-10 years or longer, they want it to last and be relevant for future needs, so we see more discussion about wideband audio, wifi and compatibility with many platforms and integrations to applications.

For more information, please visit http://snom.com

snom is an Feature Solutions partner

888VoipStore: snom products page

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Post tags: Asterisk, dect, ethernet, IP Phone, SIP, SNOM, VoIP Hardware, VoIP Interviews

snom M3 Handset and Base Station

With the new snom M3, snom offers its business customers a sophisticated IP DECT phone with its numerous functions and elegant design that ideally rounds off the range of snom tabletop phones. The Snom M3 combines mobility with dependability for a large number of business applications and thereby ensures maximum flexibility for each user.

Why use Snom M3?

As a first-class expansion of IP-based telephony solutions using the well-proven snom 300, 320, 360, and 370 tabletop phones, the snom M3 is the wireless complement for more mobility and freedom with the quality customers have come to expect from snom.   The snom M3 allows the discerning user easy access to all functions via a color user interface.  The snom M3 also impresses with its brilliant design. As a first-class expansion of IP-based telephony solutions using the well-proven snom 300, 320, 360, and 370 tabletop phones, the snom M3 is the wireless complement for more mobility and freedom with the quality customers have come to expect from snom.   The snom M3 allows the discerning user easy access to all functions via a color user interface.  The snom M3 also impresses with its brilliant design. Other important functions relevant to the business community like three-party conferences, polyphonic ringtones, and up to 8 different SIP registrations on each handset are applications accessible from the easy-to-use, well laid-out, and intuitively operable graphical user interface which make the Snom M3 an efficient tool and give you a head start on mobility. Numerous other business applications are complemented by many other functions and the extremely long operating time of the Li-Ion battery pack.

• Display: 128 x 128 pixels, 65536 colors and backlit
• 3 concurrent VoIP Calls (SIP 2.0 – RFC3261)
• Operating time, 8 hours talk/ 100 hours standby
• Address book (170 entries)
• Speakerphone
• Automatic registration of handset to gateway
• High capacity Li-Ion battery
• Hearing aid compatible
• National Language Support

VoipStore.com: snom Featured Solutions Page
888VoipStore.com: snom Products Page

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Post tags: dect, IP Phones, m3, SIP, SNOM, VoIP, VoIP Education, VoIP Hardware, VoIP Phones, VoIP Systems