What Makes Panasonic the Same

Just like the others out there, Panasonic offers all the great features you have come to expect in a decent SIP Phone:

• PoE
• Dual 10/100 Ethernet Ports
• HD Voice
• Full Duplex Speakerphone
• Call Waiting
• BLF
• Three-Way Conference
• Integration with other IP-Enabled devices such as intercoms, cameras, and door phones.

The Deskphone Linecard currently has four models available ranging from entry level to management-type. The Panasonic SIP lineup even includes a DECT phone. The Panasonic KX-TGP550 is a deskphone/DECT Phone hybrid.

Similar to the Aastra CT models, the TGP550 includes a Wired deskphone with a KX-TPA50 DECT handset. The DECT system will support up to three simultaneous calls and up to eight DID’s.

Panasonic SIP Phones Features

Main features of Panasonic SIP phones include:

• 2 x 10/100 Ethernet Ports (All models except KX-UT113B Deskphone and KX-TPA50 Dect handset)
• PoE Enabled, order power supply separately
• HD Voice Equipped
• Bright Backlit LCD (All except KX-UT113B)
• Support for G.711, G.722, G.726, and G.729a codecs
• KX-UT136B and KX-UT133B support Plantronics EHS for wireless headsets
• 2.5mm Headset Port
• Asterisk/open-source, Broadsoft, and Broadworks certified

What Makes Panasonic Different

You will not find a Panasonic deskphone that comes in different colors or that offers a colored LCD display – YET. The five models of Panasonic desk phones all have the basic and enhanced features you would expect from a high quality SIP Phones but not the luxury features. They are all business.

The one thing I like about this line is that all the buttons on the phone are labeled with words. Maybe if you are 21 you may instinctively know what all the icons on your phone mean but there are some that I still don’t know. For the average working adult, it is much easier to have a function key labeled with words rather than with a picture.

The keys are sturdy and spaced well and the backlit LCD is clear with a larger than average font. This phone is not delicate. It is heavy and, well, sturdy; something you will not be replacing every few years. And in the unlikely event that it is defective, it will be covered under a 2 year warranty – not your typical 1 year warranty.

If you are the type that likes to throw things, you will be pleasantly surprised with the durability of the Panasonic SIP Phones, but you should get VoIP Supply’s Go3 No-Questions-Asked 3 year warranty just to be sure!

Understanding Panasonic Model Differences

KX-UT136B

The Deskphone KX-UTxxx Linecard has four models.  The Panasonic KX-UT136B is the management level SIP Phone featuring:

• 242 x 109 pixel, six line backlit LCD display
• Adjustable deskstand
• Dual 10/100 Ethernet ports
• 3/5mm Plantronics EHS port
• 52 function keys including 12 write-in feature keys that can be programmed as you wish.
• Ability to hold up to four SIP Accounts

KX-UT133

The Panasonic KX-UT133 has all the same features as the KX-UT136B except it only has a three line, 242×55 pixel backlit display.

KX-UT123B

The Panasonic KX-UT123B will represent up to two SIP Accounts and features a 242×55, three line, white backlit display. It has 28 feature keys and does not have an adjustable desk mount. Like the KX133 and KX136, the KX123 has PoE, 2 x 10/100 Ethernet Ports, and features HD Voice.

KX-UT113B

The entry level Panasonic KX-UT113B is basically the same as the KX-123B with two exceptions. First, this phone has a non-backlit display. Secondly, it only has a single 10/100 Ethernet Port. With the priced-right UT113 you still enjoy HD Voice, up to two SIP accounts, and all the normal SIP phone features at a fraction of the price.

KX-TGP550

The Panasonic KX-TGP550 is the deskphone/DECT phone hybrid. The TGP550 system includes a wired deskphone with two SIP accounts and a KX-TPA50 DECT Phone with one SIP account. The deskphone acts as the base for the TPA50 DECT phone and accordingly you can add up to 6 total handsets to each deskset. It has all the same features as the rest of the KT-UT line with the advantage of offering a wireless option. Each DECT system can have up to 8 DID’s and up to 3 simultaneous calls.

KX-TGP500

Don’t need a corded deskphone? The Panasonic KX-TGP500 is a standalone DECT phone that includes the base station and TPA50 DECT handset. Like the TGP550 system, you can add up to six handsets and have up to three simultaneous calls per base station.

Add additional KX-TPA50 handsets to your KX-TGP500 or KX-TGP550 base set to give you the mobility in your office to go anywhere. All you need is a single internet port where the base station is and then simply place your KX-TPA50 handsets where ever you need them as long as there is a power outlet.

It is that easy!

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!

• Powerful features, yet portable design.
• Handsfree operation with built-in microphone and speaker.
• Superior audio from advanced echo cancellation and noise suppression technology.

Phoenix Audio’s Duet desktop speakerphones satisfy those needs and eliminate any guesswork with three simple model choices.

Three’s Company

Phoenix Audio Duet speakerphones come standard with USB that’s used for easy plug-and-play connection to a computer, the power source, and for recording and VoIP conferencing.  

Duet PCS Speakerphone

As the primary audio interface for the mobile work force dependent on voip for communication, the Duet PCS is the most basic version in this product line.

Used with PC’s and Mac’s, loudspeaker output is never a problem with the Duet PCS in larger offices or medium sized conference rooms.

Duet VCA Speakerphone

A best-in-class satellite speakerphone for Video Codec set-top systems and for VOIP conferencing applications, the Duet VCA  provides bridging, custom sensitivity, and speaker output with RCA jacks in addition to the USB connection.

The Duet VCA can create 3-way conferencing between VoIP callers and VC callers. An additional benefit of this feature is that it enables the user to record the VC conference on a PC, and/or play a sound file from the PC into the VC conference call.

Duet Executive Speakerphone

The Duet Executive is your high quality all-in-one speakerphone connecting telephones, IP phones, and cell phones.

The Duet Executive has USB plus Digital Telephone interface (DTI), with bridging between the two. Duet Executives can be connected in an unlimited daisy chain for all around coverage in large conference rooms.

Phoenix Audio Benefits

All Phoenix Audio Duet speakerphones provide high quality audio performance, mobility, easy connectivity, and flexibility.  Your choice then is not limited but rather simplified to the room size and scope of options that are right for you.

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!

A few months back I hooked up the Aastra IP 6755I to give it try.  The phone has performed really well. Below are some major benefits of this particular phone and all of the Aastra 67XI series phone family. They have a lot of great choices for all types of users.

Desk Phones

A family of powerful and flexible SIP based products that offer an advanced interoperability with major IP Telephony platforms.

All enterprise-grade 67xi Series Aastra IP phones feature embedded XML browser capability, full-duplex speakerphone, Hi-Q™ wideband audio technology, up to nine call appearance lines, Busy Lamp Field support and extensive storage capacity for directories, callers lists, etc.

In addition, all models offer simplified deployment, 4-position footstands and are wall mountable. Most 67xi models support Power Over Ethernet (POE) and AC power options with some models offering attendant functionality through optional Expansion Modules.

 Here are some explanations of the desk phone benefits that Aastra offers.   

• Remarkable Audio

A lot of the major manufactures are incorporating HD in the phones. All 67xi Series IP Telephones integrate HD in what they call Aastra Hi-Q™ wideband audio technology to deliver enhanced performance and voice clarity.  

The Aastra Hi-Q significantly improves the audio quality of calls offering a truly superior voice experience on each audio path – handset, hands-free speakerphone or headset port.

It makes conversations more life-like giving a richer user experience and increasing productivity. It is pretty cool to benchmark a HD and non HD phone side by side. Give it a try and you will be surprised by the difference.

• XML Support

The 67xi series phones are equipped with XML browser capabilities allowing access to customized services and applications.

This allows creation of internal service applications using development guides available from Aastra. This feature provides unlimited potential to customize the Aastra phone to meet your specific business needs or vertical and CTI applications using the display and keypad. 

• Enhanced Call Management

With extensive storage capacity for personal directories, callers logs and redial lists, the Aastra 67xi series can improve efficiency by providing more call information with the push of a button.

This includes features such as shared call and bridged line appearances, call forward, call transfer, call waiting, intercom and 3-way conference providing enhanced call flexibility and control.

•  Simplified Deployment

From initial deployment and configuration to future enhancements and upgrades, the Aastra 67xi is designed to save your business time and money.

Easily created configuration files, using any text editor and a variety of communication protocols, can be used to configure phones individually or centrally.

Wireless Options

Aastra has a few SIP DECT wireless options to choose from. Out of all the manufactures we carry I think Aastra has come up with the best options for our customers. Using the SIP DECT option tends to be easier for customers to install and manage over the SIP WiFi phones.

The first option is the 6757I CT model. This is a similar to the 6757I model but the CT version has a wireless handset that connects back to the base 6757I phone. There is no upgrade from the 6757I model to the CT version. You have to order the CT version from the start.

I really like the flexibility of this phone being both wired and wireless. The range can be up to 300,000 square feet in an office. The battery life for the wireless handset is much better than most wifi options too. You can connect up to 4 handsets to one base.

The other option I would like to go over is the Aastra MBU 400. With this model you get a wireless gateway that you can connect up to 8 handsets. One of the cool features is that you can have up to 8 unique Sip registrations.

The handsets are called the Aastra 420D. They are a sleeker looking design than the 6757 CT handset. The 420D also has a really strong battery life of 12 hrs of talk time. This solution is great for home and SMB users.

Questions / Opportunities?

Feel free to give me a call or shoot me an email with any questions or opportunities on these phones. I am always happy to help.

Darren Hartman

dhartman@voipsupply.com

Toll free direct (866) 675-8461

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!

Now comes the tricky part, “which one is right for me?” Let’s start by looking at the different Polycom conference phone models. 

Polycom IP5000

The Polycom IP5000 is ideal for a small conference room or executive office where nobody will be more than 7 feet away from the phone as that is the max mic pickup range. Up to six people will fit comfortably around it. It also supports the G.722 codec (HD Voice).

Polycom IP6000

The Polycom IP6000 is great for a mid-sized conference room. It has 12 feet of mic pickup range, which can also be extended by plugging in an expansion microphone kit. Same as the IP5000 this phone supports HD Voice.

Polycom IP7000  

The Polycom IP7000 is the phone for a large conference room. This phone has a mic pickup range of 20 feet, and can also have an expansion microphone kit attached. Just like the IP5000/6000 it supports HD Voice. Polycom went the extra mile on this phone, and made it fully compatible with Polycom’s HDX video conferencing solutions.

Ask Yourself Two Questions

When looking at these conference phones and deciding on which one to get the first 2 questions you need to ask yourself are:

How big is my conference room?

How far away from the phones will everyone be?

After answering those two questions you should then ask yourself “will I need to expand at any point?” This is an important question to answer as it can save you money in the long run. The IP5000 may suit your needs now, but if you should expand beyond its capabilities, you do not have the option of adding an expansion mic kit like others. This means buying an entire new phone instead of just a mic kit.

If you think that you may get into video conferencing, the best choice is the IP7000. As stated above this is the only one of the 3 that will integrate with all HDX Video conferencing solutions.

Need Help?

If you have further questions on picking the right Polycom conference phone for you or, any other needs please call me directly:

Tom Uhteg

tomu@voipsupply.com

(716)250-3406

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!

Being both a Skype and iPhone user I grab the new Skype client this morning. Before making any test calls or messages, I decided to give the Skype client a quick “feature spin.”

Skype for iPhone feature overview

After a quick download from the app store I found that the Skype for iPhone client allows Skype users to:

• Call other Skype users
• Call out via SkypeOut
• Manage your contacts
• View chats and calling history
• View and edit your account information

Missing from Skype’s native desktop functionality is:

• Ability to purchase SkypeOut credit directly
• SMS messaging
• Conference calling
• Voicemail retrieval
• Video
• File transfers

There are likely a few others, but those were the major missing features. Once I had an opportunity to familiarize myself with the Skype for iPhone client, I spent some time putting the client through it’s paces.

Skype for iPhone review

For the purposes of this review I:

• Made a few calls to other Skype users.
• Placed a few 5 – 10 minute calls to landlines and mobiles.
• Engaged in a few messages with friends.

Now I’ve only been using the Skype for iPhone client for all of two and a half hours, but there isn’t much to it. Based off my experience with Skype for iPhone, here are some thoughts:

Pros

• Fast download, easy install. No problems.
• Skype nailed the user experience. Simple and easy.
• Best user experience of any mobile VoIP client for Skype.
• Call quality was excellent in each of my calls (I used two different WiFi networks).

In addition to these pros, it should be noted that Skype can drastically reduce calling costs (if you’re not currently a Skype user).

Cons

• Client must be “on” to get incoming calls.
• No SMS capabilities.
• Purchasing SkypeOut cannot be done directly.
• WiFi only. This, of course, is an Apple/wireless carrier thing. But it still sucks.

Of the cons listed all of them seem to be due to the limitations Apple and wireless carriers place on iPhone application developers.

I’m sure that Skype would love for users to have the ability to place calls over 3G and send and recieve text messages. Unfortunately that would come at the expense of the wireless carriers existing revenues.

Having worked at two of the largest I don’t see them letting that happen unless it’s profitable for them.

Overall

For all the wait time one might have expect something from Skype that brought a little more “wow.”

While the Skype for iPhone client didn’t “wow” me, Skype did impress me with their execution. Skype for iPhone is simple and easy to use. As I stated above, the user experience is great.

It also stacks up well to competing mobile VoIP applications from Truphone, fring and Nimbuzz. These applications might allow one to do more today, but in my opinion they’re not as user friendly.

So overall the Skype for iPhone application is a good first release for Skype. If you’re a Skype user you should be pleased with what they’ve produced – just don’t expect the world.

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!

Overview

For those of you who are not familiar with fring, fring is a mobile internet service and community that allows users to access and interact with a variety of communication services such as Skype®, MSN® Messenger, Google Talk™, ICQ, SIP, Twitter, Yahoo!™, AIM® and any open SIP based VoIP service provider. This makes fring more than a Mobile VoIP service – making it a mobile aggregator of your communications mediums.

In many respects it is difficult to compare and offering such as fring to, say, a truphone, because fring does so much. Thus, the following ratings and commentary are not solely based on it’s Mobile VoIP capabilities, but it’s overall mobile communications capabilities.

Review

As stated above, I used my first generation iPhone with the fring application. Most of my calls were made from either my home, work or a Boingo hotspot. Based on your set-up, your results may very from mine.

1. Installation (5/5): Setting up an account is a simple as it gets. Set-up even easier if you already have fring.
2. Set-up (3.5/5): One of my biggest peeves about fring is how laborious it is to set-up all the different accounts. To me this is a huge detractor to people actually using the full capabilities of applications like fring that unify messaging – it takes a while to get everything set-up. fring does make it easy to set everything up, but I didn’t see much innovation to make it easier for the user.
3. Ease of Use (5/5): User interface easy to use, pretty intuitive and, well, obvious. For all that it does, it is done in an incredibly graceful manner. High five to your interface design guys.
4. Call Quality (4/5): I all I placed a dozen or so calls. Three were local, six were national and three others international. The calls were spread across three different SIP accounts of mine and Skype. The SIP account calls fared much better than the Skype ones did – but I could live with the quality – after all it is free.
5. Customer Service (5/5): I didn’t have any problems, so they get a high five.
6. Price (5/5): Did I mention it was FREE?
7. Total Rating: 27.5 out of 30 – that get’s them on the Smith On VoIP honor roll.

Overall Impressions

I was pretty impressed. It isn’t often that you find one application that is able to do so much – and do it well. I hope these guys don’t go out of business. I think they have an awesome brand, technology and vibe that given enough time to allow for the technology to catch-up to the masses would really resonate with consumers. Regardless if you are one of those people with a ton of different messenger accounts that they actively use, you will find fring to be an awesome way to manage them while on-the-go. For the rest of you that are looking for plain Mobile VoIP, fring is still an option, though if you are new to the technology, you might want to take a look at the Truphone iPhone application since it doesn’t have all the extras to contend with.

This post was originally posted on Smith On VoIP.

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!

Now, on to the good stuff…

The hardest part of the installation was getting the drivers to compile. I started with a stock Ubuntu Hardy Heron 8.04 with the 2.6.24-16-server kernel. Failed. Updated to 2.6.24-19. Failed. Finally, installed the 2.6.24.3 full source kernel. Failed. Through the entire process I was in contact with Sangoma developer Nenad Corbic who was extremely helpful in getting this thing to run in a very timely manner. Total props to Nenad and the team at Sangoma. A most impressive showing on how it’s done. We had gone from wanpipe drivers 3.0.5 to 3.0.7 to make this work, which is pretty good considering it’s really a beta version driver.

Once the drivers had compiled the rest was a breeze, as anyone who’s done a Sangoma install knows, they even setup the configuration files for you (ok not the dialplan, but please). Just reload Asterisk or FreeSwitch and you’re good to go. Here’s the HowTo from the Sangoma site.

According to the developers the U100 USB FXO does not have HWEC (hardware echo cancellation). But they do recommend using the excellent OSLEC software based echo cancellation or you can use the built in ones Asterisk uses. Just enable “echocancel=yes” in /etc/asterisk/zapata.conf. The configuration is the same as any other zaptel device in asterisk, so I won’t go into configuration files as that has been well covered in many howto’s.

Overall, this device was not bad to work with, even though it was still in BETA. As I stated above, this device nicely fills a niche in the SOHO/SMB space for PSTN connectivity. With some additional polishing up, you will undoubtedly see this device connected to many of the SOHO appliances in the future.

With that being said, can anyone have any thoughts as to how they would use this device?

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!

Impressively, TruPhone helf desk manager Katie Brimble responded to my initial post this morning with an apology and a few troubleshooting suggestions.

We are sorry that we have been unable to get round to your email as of yet, we are very busy at the moment. Do you have your reference number to hand which you would have received in our automated response?

We recommend the following to resolve this issue;
1. Reboot your iPhone and try this again. If you still experience this issue please check the following…
2. Do you have mobile/cell reception/signal when you initiate the validation call?
3. Do you have sufficient mobile/cell credit to receive a call – if you pay to receive calls (US Customers)
4. Are you able to receive international calls to your mobile/cell number?

5. Once you enter a Security Pin in the sign up screen and the validation call-back starts to initiate, try pressing the square key (Main menu button) on the iPhone.

Regards
The Truphone Support team

#5 did the trick for me. If you are installing TruPhone you may need to do the same thing at the moment in order to get your phone to accept the inbound verification call from TruPhone.

Once installed, the TruPhone client basically mimics the native iPhone dialing application in terms of look and feel. There are (5) distinct tabs:

1 – Favourites – where you can store numbers/contacts you call most frequently.
2 – Recents – shows your TruPhone call history
3 – Contacts – TruPhone automatically grabs your existing iPhone contacts database
4 – Keypad – in order to dial telephone numbers
5 – Topup – redirects to the TruPhone website where you can administer your account and add prepaid
calling credit.

TruPhone hooks you up with $4.00 in call credit for free with your account setup, which was sufficient for me to make a few test calls. Even with the spotty WiFi coverage in my office the call quality on my test calls was indistinguishable from normal mobile calls.

TruPhone also has grouped many of their international call terminations into a single rate scheduled, called Tru Zone.

I am sure TruPhone is inundated with new customer signups since the release of Apple’s AppStore. I was thoroughly impressed with their personal response to my support issue. I highly recommend TruPhone to anyone who owns an iPhone and is looking to save money on international calls….money better spent on gasoline. TruPhone scores a Tom Cruise thumbs up…not an easy feat!

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!

Taking a look at Informationweek.com for the latest releases, I came across this little article. The piece talks about a beta program, Nimbuzz!, in the works to include VoIP services, IMing, Texting (SMS) and Chat all on a mobile phone.

What are even better are the investors of the program: “The company has received several million dollars in backing from venture capitalists, including $10 million from Mangrove Capital Partners, which was the original backer of Skype.”

Want even better news about this? Well, “With this new release, we now also have a genuine free mobile VoIP solution that works on more than 90 handsets including Nokia (NYSE: NOK), Samsung, and LG.”

One more thing about it: And I’m sure you will love this….ITS FREE!

So at this very moment I am downloading it, going to test it and will reply soon with a post on my findings.

Update:

I have tested this program out on my Facebook, MySpace and cell phone, and I have to say I am completely impressed. It is very easy installing the software, just as easy to log into it on your cell phone, and I have not noticed any bugs or issues as of yet.

One thing I did notice is the wide range of programs it will integrate with. Here are some just to name a few: Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Xing, Blogger, LiveJournal, Flicker, Ebay, Outlook, and many many more.

So I urge you to take a look and let me know what you think. It took about 30 minutes of my time to plug the applet into my personal areas, and it’s not difficult to figure out. If you decide to test it out I would be very interested in your thoughts good or bad.

Later!

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!

Today’s topic will be on the latest Dual Mode phone I have come to love. Now, not too long ago I talked about the UT Starcom GF-210 series phone. I talked about this phone because to me, nothing could beat it on the market. Well, that was last month, and today, I am going to talk about the HP’s version of a dual mode phone. The iPaq 510 phone is one for the record books. Its candy bar-like design and full listing of functionality just beats up the competition.

Now, let me just reiterate the benefits of Dual Mode VoIP phones. Not only can they work with your GSM (cell phone carrier), but they will also work on your existing network in the office or at home, saving you thousands of minutes per year that your phone carrier would be charging you for, not to mention the elimination of carrying two phones (one personal and one business), but also the combination of a full set of features. This is one phone that anyone would love.

HP iPaq 510 features

Get up to 6.5 hours of talk time: under the best network conditions/coverage with continuous talking and a fully- charged battery. Not to mention the standby time: up to 7.8 days (188 hours)
Scan, read, and reply to e-mail: using Microsoft Exchange, POP3, or IMAP; you can also use VoiceReply to reply without typing
Be productive: with mobile versions of Microsoft Outlook, Office, and Internet Explorer for Smartphone3, 4
Get clear voice quality: that enhances communication
Save your wireless airtime minutes: while in the office with Voice Over IP over your wireless LAN (Wi-Fi), and your company’s PBX phone system (interoperability has been tested with the major IP-PBX providers)
Use a Bluetooth headset: or the built-in speakerphone
See who’s calling: with Caller ID, which presents a phone number, name, or even a photo

Now with that set of features, and simplistic design; you’re probably telling yourself that this is going to be pricey. Well it’s not. HP is selling this for $319.99, but there is good news. There is a $70.00 instant rebate, so the total comes out to $249.99. Now compared to the UT Starcom GF-210, which prices out at $239.99, which one seems like the better deal? To me, I would take the HP any day.

However, I do have some bad news about the VoIP phone. And I know what you’re thinking, “there is always a catch!” This is not so much a catch, but just a small speed bump in the road. VoIP Supply does not currently have them in our product catalog. But we are working on it. And I foresee in the near future that we should be carrying it. So stick around!

This information was originally posted on the VoIP Insider blog.

Need VoIP Phones or a VoIP Phone System? Checkout VoIPSupply.com!