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AudioCodes enters IP Phone arena with 300HD Series

by VoIP & Gadgets Blog in November 5th, 2008   
Topics: 300HD, 320HD, Asterisk, AudioCodes, Erik Linask, HD, IP phone, SIP, TMCnet, VoIP, adtran, arena, phone, phone arena, poe, wideband codec     

AudioCodes has now entered the IP phone arena with a phone that supports wideband codecs (HD) for superior sound quality. Seems a bit odd for a company that makes VoIP PCI and cPCI communication boards and VoIP media gateway modules (PMC form factor) and Analog Media Gateways (2/4/8/24 ports) to be entering the crowded VoIP arena, but enterprise IP phone market is expected to quadruple, from $2.1 billion in 2007 to $8.4 billion in 2001, with some 63 million endpoints being shipped by that time, according the Synergy Research Group. So there is a pretty big pie to go after. Traditional network hardware vendor Adtran has also recently entered the IP phone arena with their Adtran IP700 series (see Adtran IP706 review).

The AudioCodes 300HD Series includes three models: The 310 HD entry level phone with a basic display and interface; the 320HD premium endpoint with a larger screen, and the 350HD executive phone with a color LCD screen. All three models are based on AudioCodes newly announced VoIPerfect software, and include the most commonly used wideband codecs. Of course they are SIP-based so they should work on standards-based IP-PBXs such as Asterisk and these phones are also PoE (Power over Ethernet) compliant.

For more details, check out TMCnet reporter Erik Linask’s article. One interesting take Erik has is when he writes, “First and foremost, it owns the DSPs that enable the higher quality, which means it can provide its HD VOIP-enabled handsets at a price point comparable to other high-end non-HD devices”.

Now I just have to get my hands on on to review. Stay tuned…

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FCC Doing Heavy Lifting

by On Rad's Radar? in October 23rd, 2008   
Topics: VoIP, White Spaces, Wi-Fi, carrier, duopoly, fcc, inter, inter carrier, inter-carrier compensation, martin wants, mergers, phone, rural, telco, telecommunications, wireline     

The FCC is holding a meeting on Nov. 4. On the agenda: Inter-Carrier Compensation, Alltel-VZ merger, Clearwire-Sprint merger, and a vote of White Spaces. Lots of heavy lifting on this agenda. Martin wants to give his pals at VZ one more gift before he goes.

The VZ-Alltel merger is big, but the topic that can really rock telecom is the Inter-carrier Comp issue, which has been a stagnant FCC docket for years.

If companies can show high costs, they will continue to benefit from the subsidy program. Martin also wants to eliminate wireless providers’ right to claim government subsidies for offering service in hard-to-reach areas. Martin wants all companies, wireless included, to show they have incurred losses in providing rural service before they can collect the subsidy. Without those changes, Martin worries that the subsidy fund will collapse of its own weight and rates will go up anyhow. [CNN]

It depends want the Compromise looks like — and it will be a large compromise. Democrats want one thing. Republicans another. Cellcos versus Wireline. Rural versus Urban. Inter-Carrier Comp even bleeds into the USF issue. How? Because rural carriers count on both Universal Service Fund subsidies AND rather high call termination charges to keep afloat.

Why now? The ISP inter-carrier comp rule has been in court for six years. Earlier this year, the DC Court ruled that the FCC had to get off the pot:

The court set the deadline for an order from the FCC at November 5, 2008, six months from the date of oral argument, stated it will not grant an extension and warned that if an appropriate order is not timely issued, it will vacate the interim inter-carrier compensation rules.

Consumer groups are against another largess for the monopolies at the expense of the ratepayers.

The head of the Federal Communications Commission wants a massive overhaul of the fees that phone companies pay each other when they connect calls. Supporters say the reforms will help fund improved broadband Internet access for rural America, but consumer advocates question how much the plan will raise people’s phone bills. “This could be potentially a billion-dollar giveaway to phone monopolies, paid for out of consumers’ pocketbooks,” said Chris Murray, an attorney with Consumers Union. [AP]

Intercarrier comp is how the various phone companies pay each other for traffic. VoIP providers and cellular carriers, especially Sprint, would like a fairer shake. The old RBOCs would like the Rural LEC’s to stop getting so much money. (see Free Conference services not getting paid by RBOCs).

The National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, which represents small phone carriers, told FCC officials earlier this month that a new rate of $0.0007 per minute puts many of their members’ livelihoods at risk.

And then there is the White Spaces issue. When broadcasters make the DTV transition in 1Q09, there will be unused spectrum that the Wireless World would like to use for its own bandwidth needs. However, due to bleed over (interference) with cordless microphones and other broadcasting devices, the NAB is opposed. [see dailywireless]

All of this is at one meeting while America votes.

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Aastra 57i and 57i CT Review

by VoIP & Gadgets Blog in October 17th, 2008   
Topics: 57i, 57i CT, Asterisk, IP phone, Mobile Phones, SIP, TMCnet, VoIP, Wireless, aastra, aastra phones, cordless handset, freely available, phone, review     


The Aastra 57i is one of my favorite VoIP phones. The 57i and its sister, the 57i CT (cordless telephone adjunct), offers some unique features and is undoubtedly one of the most flexible IP phones you will find. The 57i and 57i CT sport a large 144 x 128 pixel graphical backlit LCD display and 6 dynamic context-sensitive softkeys. Although the resolution isn’t designed for photos, it’s a very large LCD, one of the largest I’ve seen making it very easy to read the number of voicemail messages, the CallerID of an inbound call, and the one touch feature keys you’ve programmed. The 57i is of course SIP-based making it fully interoperable with IP-PBX platforms such as Asterisk. The 57i and 57i CT offer advanced XML capability to access custom applications and support for up to 9 calls simultaneously.

aastra-57i-ct-preferences-3.jpg
                                        57i CT Web Interface Preferences

The 57i CT is exactly the same as the 57i except it has a built-in wireless transmitter in the base unit and it comes with an integrated WDCT cordless handset with a range of up to 300,000 sq ft. The cordless phone sports 10 previous number redials, a mute button, on hold, Callers List, transfer,4 ringtones, and more. My only complaint is that there isn’t a dedicated transfer button. While on a call using the wireless handset, you have to press the F (Function) button, scroll to Xfer, and then enter the extension number. The mobility the cordless handset gives you is perfectly suited for executives, mobile warehouse personnel, as well as retail staff. Here’s a photo of the 57i CT on my desk along with the cordless handset:
aastra-57i-ct-cordless-handset.jpg

The Aastra 57i has excellent XML browser capabilities. You can for instance install an Aastra developed and freely available XML application that gives you Visual Voicemail on trixbox CE, an Asterisk-based IP-PBX. This allows you to scroll through your messages on the phone, see the CallerID, and pick the one you want to play. Here’s a screenshot of visual voicemail in action:
aastra-visual-voicemail-app.jpg

Another freely available app is meet-me conference with the ability to see attendees along with the ability to kick or mute participants from the LCD. Still another XML app lets you play .mp3 files using the LCD and buttons and it can even read the ID3 tags in the MP3 files to browse by album, artists, or entire song list, as seen here:
aastra-mp3-player-xml-app.jpg

One useful business app is a SugarCRM XML app that lets you look up names and numbers in your SugarCRM database simply by typing the name into the LCD using the numeric keypad. After fining the proper record you can instantly dial the contact.
aastra-sugarcrm-xml-app.jpg

Other freely available apps include Area code lookup, Ask Google, CNN News, ESPN News, Horoscope, Local Weather, Netflix, Movies, Stock, World Clock, and Yahtzee. Here are some screenshots of many of these free XML applications.
aastra-ask-google-xml-app.jpg
aastra-movies-xml-app.jpg
aastra-espn-xml-app.jpg

The 57i supports directories, including a shared corporate-wide directory, which is easily created simply by creating a CSV file called directory.csv file and uploading it to the TFTP server.  Then you edit the aastra.cfg file on the TFTP server and add:

directory 1: directory.csv

When you next reboot the phone, the corporate directory is automaticly downloaded. 

The phone also supports callers logs, a redial with up to the last 100 phone numbers, and 12 programmable keys located next to a large LCD. The 6 top keys are static softkeys with up to 10 programmable functions. The 6 bottom keys are state-based softkeys with up to 20 programmable functions. All top and bottom keys can be configured for specific functions, such as Intercom, Callers List, speed dials, etc. When you program one of the keys, it displays its function within the LCD. For instance, if you look at my phone you’ll see I have China King set as one of my speed dials. One press and I can instantly call my favorite Chinese restaurant!
aastra-57i-ct-desk.jpg

The 57i phones support shared call and bridged line appearances (SCA & BLA). In fact, Aastra’s line of IP phones do a good job of emulating key system functionality. It fully supports BLF (busy lamp fields) allowing you to see when a person/extension is on the phone. From the web interface you simply pick BLF, enter the extension and the name of the person. When the monitored user is idle, there is a small telephone icon shown with the handset on-hook. When the monitored user is on an active call then a small telephone icon is shown with the handset off-hook.

The BLF also acts a one-click speed dial, allowing you to simply click a BLF and instantly ring that extension. Another BLF capability is the BLF List feature. The BLF List feature on the Aastra IP phones is specifically designed to support the BroadSoft Broadworks Rel 13 Busy Lamp Field feature simply by entering the BLF List URI. The BLF List URI is the name of the BLF list defined on the BroadSoft BroadWorks Busy Lamp field page for your particular user. For example, my480i-blf-list@as.broadworks.com.
aastra-57i-ct-preferences-1.jpg
                                        57i CT Web Interface Preferences

Some other features of note. First, in addition to shared call and bridged line appearances, typical features such as call forward, call transfer, call waiting, intercom and local 3-way conference are available. Second, the Aastra 57i and 57i CT support stuttered tone letting you know that you have new voicemail waiting. Third, the IP phones support several different languages. You can have the IP Phone UI and the Aastra Web UI display in English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian.

aastra-57i-ct-preferences-2.jpg
                                        57i CT Web Interface Preferences

aastra-536m-sidecar.jpgaastra-560m-sidecar-expansion-module.jpg It’s also worth mentioning that the Aastra 57i offers two different module extension options (images to right). The 57i supports up to three Aastra 536M modules, each offering 36 keys with LED indicators to create a feature rich attendant console. Or, it will also support up to three of the advanced Aastra 560M modules, each offering 60 keys with a screen based LCD display and LED system.

The 57i Aastra IP telephones have a full-duplex speaker phone with excellent voice quality. I’ve used an Aastra phone’s speaker phone for a long time and have never had any complaints. The phones sport dual auto-sensing switched Ethernet ports along with integrated IEEE 802.3af Power-over-Ethernet.

Configuring Aastra phones are done via configuration files which can then be uploaded to a TFTP server. The syntax of Aastra config files are very straightforward. However, due to the flexibility of Aastra phones and the amount of features, it can get a bit complicated. In fact, Aastra phones are so flexible and configurable, that someone even built an Aastra Configuration Generator, leveraging Microsoft .NET to make it easer.

The stated goal is: “This utility will hopefully take some of the pain out of creating the configuration files for the Aastra range of IP phones.” The website adds, “With it you can create the base config, the buttons (programmable, top softkey and softkey) config, the console button config, the IP phone directory and encrypt the file prior to uploading it. You can even link in with NMap to perform network browsing for Aastra MAC addresses. You should be able to quickly and easily create phone configurations without having a vast knowledge of the options required. I have tried, where possible, to display tooltips for options and restrict the choice of input to what the option expects.”

Conclusion
The Aastra 57i and 57i CT are two of the most flexible VoIP phones you will find on the market today. The large LCD and plethora of configurable buttons make this phone a must have for executives and other enterprise users that require maximum flexibility for increased productivity. My only suggestion to Aastra would be to offer a color LCD version with a higher resolution for displaying Internet graphics pulled via RSS using an XML application. Perhaps the next series, most likely called the Aastra 67i series, will have color? I love the Aastra 57i and the Aastra 57i CT and in fact have a 57i CT as my primary desk phone. What more can I say? Two enthusiastic thumbs up!

Price: 57i: $219.95 57i CT: $319.95

57i and 57i CT Resources:
57i
Aastra XML Scripts for trixbox CE (PDF)
57i Installation Guide (PDF)
57i User Guide v2.1 (PDF)
Latest firmware downloads

57i CT
Aastra XML Scripts for trixbox CE (PDF)
57i CT Installation Guide (PDF)
57i CT User Guide v2.1 (PDF)
Latest firmware downloads

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Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) Leads to Workforce Productivity and Customer Service Improvements

by VoIP & Gadgets Blog in October 16th, 2008   
Topics: FMC, Fixed Mobile Convergence, Mobile Phones, TMCnet, VoIP, Wireless, pbx, phone, single, single phone     

onrelay-fmc-nokia-phone.jpgFixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) enables users to use a single phone handset that connects to both cellular and corporate wireless networks thus enabling users to carry a single phone device to communicate with business associates, family, and friends, no matter where they are. The obvious benefit besides the cost savings of using a single phone device is employee productivity. A new study by OnRelay’s own live deployment data reveals when FMC technology works, user penetration and hardware cost savings follow along with increased customer responsiveness since the employee is able to take inbound business calls anywhere. FMC also enables advanced PBX functionality such as call transfer, call conferencing, on-hold, etc.

Here’s the interesting report info put out by OnRelay:

Continue reading Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) Leads to Workforce Productivity and Customer Service Improvements…

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No ♥ for High-end Mobile Apps

by VoIP & Gadgets Blog in October 15th, 2008   
Topics: Apple, Mobile, Mobile Phones, Skyfire, TMCnet, Technology and Science, U.S., Wireless, accenture, consumers, email, iPhone, mobile applications, mobile apps, mobile phone, phone, phones, report     

Thought I’d share this interesting report from Accenture about mobile phone app utilization that claims higher-end applications remain vastly under-used by U.S. consumers. Funny, I think Apple iPhone users might disagree. The report found that 88 percent of U.S. consumers said they never use their mobile phones or other mobile devices to watch videos. That is high, but expected since most mobile phones can’t even play videos. My main phone, a Windows Mobile 6.1 smart phone doesn’t even natively support Youtube Flash videos using Pocket Internet Explorer. I did install Skyfire though, which adds pretty respectable video performance. I was able to watch Youtube videos on my Windows Mobile with pretty decent video quality, but of course I’m not the ‘typical’ mobile phone user.

The report adds that 84 percent said they never use their mobile phones or mobile devices to send email. Say what? Email is only 4 pts better than video? I would have expected email penetration to be much better, especially with all the Blackberry phones. People want email access on their phone more than any other app, but maybe that’s just my opinion. Further, the report says 79 percent said they never employ them to play games on the go. So more people played games on their phone than sent email? You’ve got to be kidding me. How is that possible? I suppose many phones come with cheezy built-in games, which might skew the results.

Anyway, read the report for yourself…

Continue reading No ♥ for High-end Mobile Apps…

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snom 820 VoIP phone

by VoIP & Gadgets Blog in October 15th, 2008   
Topics: IP phone, SIP, TMCnet, VoIP, WiFi, Wireless, features, phone, poe, snom, snom 820, supports, voip phone     

snom-820.jpg
snom today launched the snom 820, an elegant and attractive VoIP phone. It features a large high-resolution TFT color display (3.5″, 320 x 240 pixels) and can easily display call lists, phone directories, and caller information via the integrated XML browser. I believe this is snom’s first “white” VoIP phone, which gives it a nice clean look. Very Apple-esque. It appears to support “picture / photo” CallerID but I need to confirm. The snom 820 also supports wideband in the handset which captures more than double the spectrum of voice frequencies that by standard phones.

Perhaps the most interesting feature is that the new snom 820 supports WiFi. No need to use a network cable if you don’t want to. In fact, the snom 820 supports Power over plug (A/C adapter), Power over Ethernet (PoE) or WiFi.

Security-wise it features secure VPN, TLS and SRTP. Important business features include three-party conferencing, polyphonic ringtones, and up to twelve different SIP identities.

According to snom, the new look of the snom 820 was designed in cooperation with very renowned German industrial designers. They stated, “this first model of the new product line of snom phones is living up to the highest expectations in functionality and timeless beauty.”

Indeed, that is one beautiful phone. Can I have one?

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Differentiation Part II

by On Rad's Radar? in October 14th, 2008   
Topics: Business, Marketing, VoIP, differentiation, message, newber, phone, stories, story     

When I say that word - Differentiation - in a space like VoIP with 1100 providers, what does it mean?

Marketing is about stories. Not stories about your boring tech, but stories about what the consumer can do with your tech. For the most part, the technology works, but why would anyone use it?

Blackberries were the first prolific smartphone for business users. Execs thumbing away at the airport after listening to voicemails. A long comes Voicemail to email and Bingo no more typing, just forward the message with the attached wav file and delegate.

Tell me a story about how tele-workers or virtual offices can be managed remotely with call monitoring, call recording, and ACD stats with a Hosted PBX solution. Now I have a case study and I have something concrete to wrap my head around when talking to prospects. As a telecom sales agent, I need solutions not features. I need to know how any of the 130+ features of Broadsoft can result in productivity or TCO or ROI for a prospect. I need a case study. A story. Something specific. Like how you can monitor remote workers to see if they are making the calls and doing their job.

When you tell me that I can add a second business line to my cell phone for $5 a month, well, now I have a story to tell the small business owner. The light bulb has gone off in my head.

Taking a call on any phone I am standing near, being able to transfer my cell phone call to any landline, now that is a specific message I can carry to the marketplace. It’s a cool tool for contractors who work for different employers. Now you have delivered a real follow-me number.

We are approaching the point when a phone number will call a person, not a location, desktop or home.  That’s what Presence is all about, right?  Stop playing phone tag and get some work done.

This is differentiation. This is also marketing. Creating a story to spread. Designing a clear, concise message about the benefit of the tech feature. (By the way, this all came about from a call I was having with Eric Thomas, CEO of FreedomVoice and Newber.)

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snom m3 review

by VoIP & Gadgets Blog in October 7th, 2008   
Topics: DECT, SIP, VoIP, WiFi, Wireless, calls, cordless phone, handset, phone, review, snom m3, supports, voice quality     

snom m3 with base station
The snom m3 SIP wireless (DECT) phone is one of my favorite VoIP phones. I’ve been testing and reviewing it for a few months but haven’t had time to write up the review until now. First, let me point out that the problem with IP-PBXs is they typically give you a desk phone or a softphone with no real mobility options to walk around, which is critical in some vertical markets, such as retail and manufacturing. Even sales professionals want the flexibility to take calls while roaming the office. In the past, I have used analog telephony adapters to connect my cordless phone to my SIP-based IP-PBX, but the cordless phone lacks multiple lines, call transfer, call conference, call waiting, or even a message waiting indication (MWI). Enter the snom m3, a SIP wireless phone that like a home cordless phone which not only gives you mobility while on the phone, but full IP-PBX functionality as well, including call hold, call transfer, message waiting indicator, and more. In fact, while the caller is holding, music-on-hold is available from the IP-PBX, giving the same business professional experience from a desktop phone.

I should mention that there are WiFi SIP phones, but the battery life on these phones isn’t great. snom takes advantage of Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), a wireless communication standard which can seamlessly hand off calls as a handset moves between multiple base stations in a large office, but also has superior battery life than WiFi SIP phones. The Lithium Ion battery offers a very good eight hours of talk time and 100 hours of standby. Additionally, DECT devices use the 1.9 GHz band while WiFi uses 2.4Ghz so they don’t interfere with one another. DECT also doesn’t suffer the microwave oven interference that often plagues WiFi access points.

snom m3 main menu
             snom m3 Main Menu

The snom m3 supports up to 8 different SIP identities (registrations) allowing you to connect to separate IP-PBXs (or SIP service providers) or the same IP-PBX to support multiple lines. The m3 is 2″ x 5″ and less than an inch thick sporting a nice 1.75″ color LCD (128×128 pixels and 65,536 colors), 2.5mm headset jack, and a speakerphone. The headset jack is a nice feature that I haven’t seen on any cordless DECT phones. The phone also comes with a belt clip so you can easily use the headset for talking while walking. The m3 is surprisingly very lightweight - much lighter than I would have expected. The phone also has volume controls, the basic 12 dialpad keys, five navigation keys, and two function keys. The snom m3 ships with some documentation, but for real technical details, the snom m3 wiki is the place to go.

snom m3 advanced settings
The m3 communicates with the base station which is connected directly to your network via a standard Ethernet cable. Once connected and booted up, the base station obtains an IP address from the DHCP server. By default (factory setting), snom m3 phones are configured to use HTTP as the transfer protocol for provisioning, but TFTP can also be used. Since I was testing this with an Asterisk-based trixbox system, I changed the gateway to use TFTP. Also, the snom m3 supports Option 66 on the DHCP server to automatically acquire the IP address of the TFTP server. Nice!

The TFTP boot server address can be an IP address, a fully qualified domain name (FQDN), or an URL. I also created a config file (/tftpboot/m3/settings/0004132A10E4.cfg) on the TFTP server for the snom m3 to download. I was able to get access to the firmware, upload the new firmware to /tftpboot/m3/firmware/ and it automatically downloaded the latest firmware. Even better you can have it set to connect directly with snom’s server (http://provisioning.snom.com/m3/firmware/) to download the latest firmware and even set a schedule to automatically grab the latest version.

Features:

  • Display: 128 x 128 pixels, 65536 colors, backlit
  • Li-Ion battery pack for 20 hours of calls or 100 hours standby
  • Range: 50 meters indoors, 100 meters outdoors
  • 12 numerical keys, 5 navigation keys, 2 function keys
  • Speakerphone on mobile handset
  • Polyphonic ringtones
  • Automatic registration of handset
  • Separate charging cradle for handset
  • 8 handsets per base station
  • 8 SIP registrations with different servers/registrars
  • Up to 3 concurrent calls per base station
  • Three-way conference
  • Remote setup, password protection
  • Open DECT GAP standard

Since the snom m3 supports multiple handsets, this leads to some interesting multi-handset functionality. For instance, the Telephony Settings on the web interface lets you pick which identity (CallerID) each handset will use when making outbound calls. You can also set which handsets will ring on incoming calls for each SIP registration/phone number. Thus, you can have one SIP registration ring your home office m3 handset, another ring your son/daughter’s m3 handset, and another phone number be the shared kitchen m3 phone. In fact, the snom m3 supports three concurrent calls per base station so you can receive 3 simultaneous calls to the handsets.
snom m3 telephony settings.jpg

The snom m3 supports the most common VoIP codecs, including G.711u (PCMU), G.711a (PCMA), G.729ab, and iLBC. G.711 is the standard used by traditional phone systems and it features the best voice quality at the expense of more bandwidth used (80kbs), which isn’t ideal for some DSL connections that only sport 256kbs upstream. Fortunately, the snom m3 supports G.729a which only use 8kbps at a slight loss of voice quality. iLBC (Internet Low Bitrate Codec), although not as widely supported, is designed for narrow band speech and supports two bit rates, 15Kbps (20ms frame rate) and 13.3 Kbps(30ms frame rate), though the m3 only supports 20ms frame rather @15Kbps. iLBC yields slightly better voice quality than G.729a yet also has a higher robustness in dealing with packet loss while using roughly the same amount of bandwidth. It also has a more dynamic range of sound than G.729a. So kudos to snom for including iLBC as a choice.

snom m3 configure identity

You can also configure various settings from the phone itself, though it’s more tedious. The VoIP settings is protected by a PIN / password which defaults to 0000. From the phone you can configure the timezone and it even supports NTP time servers for accurate time. Additionally, you can add contacts, however adding contacts via the phone is a bit tedious. I wished the web interface let me add them there and then it would push the contacts down to the multiple handsets.

So how’s the phone’s range? snom claims the phone needs to be within 50 meters indoors or 100 meters outdoors from the base station. I walked around TMC’s offices and didn’t lose a signal. Then I went outside walked about 250 feet and it was crystal clear. Excellent range I have to say. The voice quality of the earpiece was very good and the remote end said I sounded very good during my test calls. I also tested the speakerphone, and although it wasn’t the best voice quality, I didn’t expect a fantastic sounding speakerphone on such a small handset. I should mention that you can also perform intercom calls to either a single m3 handset or you can intercom page all handsets. Useful if you are trying to reach someone and don’t know where they are located.

Ratings Score
Installation
Documentation
Features
Usability
Performance
Overall

All in all, the snom m3 is an excellent wireless VoIP phone with excellent battery life, very good range, and very good features. The multiple simultaneous SIP registrations is a huge plus. I wished the base station supported PoE, but it’s not a big deal for home users since most home users don’t have Power over Ethernet switches. I’ll be interested to compare the snom m3 with the new line of Polycom KIRK wireless DECT SIP phones, but for now the snom m3 is my favorite cordless SIP-based VoIP phone!

Price:
You can buy the snom complete set (with base + handset) <a href=”http://www.amazon.com/SNOM-Technology-snomm3CompleteSet-Snom-Complete/dp/B0013F6IJI%3FSubscriptionId%3D151BWK97V0S8BGYJ8F02%26tag%3Dtechstuff01-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB0013F6IJI” title=”Buy now at amazon.com-only !” onmouseover=”return overlib(’Click for Amazon price:
Snom M3 Complete Set
Buy Now‘, STICKY, TIMEOUT, 6000);” onmouseout=”return nd();”>on Amazon for $172
, and an additional <a href=”http://www.amazon.com/SNOM-Technology-snomm3EnhancementSet-Snom-Enhancement/dp/B0013F6IKC%3FSubscriptionId%3D151BWK97V0S8BGYJ8F02%26tag%3Dtechstuff01-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB0013F6IKC” title=”Buy now at amazon.com-only !” onmouseover=”return overlib(’Click for Amazon price:
Snom M3 Enhancement Set
Buy Now‘, STICKY, TIMEOUT, 6000);” onmouseout=”return nd();”>handset on Amazon for $142.

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Cellular Numbers

by On Rad's Radar? in October 7th, 2008   
Topics: Wireless, cellular, customers, iPhone, percent, phone, service     

Broadband Reports discusses NPD Group data about iPhone conversion. “Nearly half of new AT&T iPhone customers switched from Verizon Wireless, another 24 percent switched from T-Mobile, and 19 percent switched from Sprint. iPhone smartphone share jumped from 11% to 17% of the market with the 3G’s launch.”

T-Mobile can probably keep some folks from switching with their sold out Android G-phone, but what has Sprint got? Actually, they have the Blackbeery Bold, Curve and Palm Centro - the other best selling phones in the summer according to NPD Group.

Other cellular news comes from Gary Kim on his IP Business blog:

More than one fourth of wireless phone customers have replaced their traditional landline connections at home and are now using wireless service exclusively to communicate on a daily basis, according to J.D. Power and Associates. … The study finds that among the 27 percent of current wireless customers who report replacing their traditional landline phone with wireless service, 61 percent have completely disconnected their home landline service.

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Adtran IP 706 Review

by VoIP & Gadgets Blog in October 1st, 2008   
Topics: Asterisk, IP 700, IP 706, IP 712, IP phone, SIP, TMCnet, VoIP, aastra phone, adtran, button label, intercom calls, ip pbx, phone, speed dials, trixbox, voice quality     

adtran-ip-706.jpg
Adtran recently launched their IP 700 series of IP phones in late April. Adtran sent TMC Labs the IP 706 model, which supports up to 6 lines, but the 700 series also includes the IP 712 which is identical feature-wise but supports up to 12 lines. Each line can be configured to register with unique SIP proxy/registrar servers. This allows a different line for every line key on the phone. A line is called a multiple call appearance (MCA) type if it will be assigned to one or more line keys on the same phone. It is called a shared call appearance (SCA) type if the line is shared across multiple phones. This is not to be confused with SLA (Shared Line Appearance) which maps PSTN lines to buttons on all the phones. Of course you need to assign two lines with the same SIP credentials to two different lines (MCA) for full call handling functionality.

Like most if not all IP phones these days, the IP 706 supports 802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE) as well as TFTP booting of firmware and configuration from a TFTP Server. The Adtran phone will connect to your TFTP Server (option 66 on DHCP server) and look for a file called adtran_[MAC address of Adran phone].txt. So for instance, for the IP 706 phone I tested, it looked for adtran_00a0c831593c.txt on the TFTP Server when the phone was booted.

The configuration files are pretty easy to figure out and sample files are available. For instance, one of the first things you’ll want to do to configure any IP phone is to setup the dialplan. I was able to easily figure out how to setup the syntax for the Adtran dialplan, as seen here:

# DialPlanExternal is for realm GE line types and DialPlanPBX is for realm GP line types<