Can I Use My Softphone with a Phone Instead of a Headset?

August 22, 2018 by Ying-Hui Chen

Our tech support team at VoIP Supply offers great pre- and post-sales support plus provisioning, consultations, configuration, and installation help. We get a lot of VoIP hardware and software questions and would like to share the solutions with everyone.

In previous Mom’s calling Q&A series, we have discussed: Polycom Phones vs Yealink Phones: What are the differences? Today, we have more new real questions and answers from VoIP users just like you.

Can I Use My Softphone with a Phone Instead of a Headset?

Q: I am looking for something that can work as a softphone, but am not interested in headsets as we are a patient facing aesthetics office. Our desktop skype for business (Teams) apps are set up as the controller for calls. I am looking for something that functions as a headset, but looks like a phone.

A: Well, a softphone implies the use of a device other than a desk phone. It’s usually a laptop or a smartphone running an app. The only way to avoid a headset is using a speakerphone which can have suspect audio quality or background noise. You can consider the Plantronics Calisto P240-M, a portable USB handset for PC communications that has been optimized for Microsoft Teams.

STAY TUNED

Come back for more VoIP questions and answers next time! If you have VoIP questions to ask us, please submit a technical support ticket or contact our VoIP experts today at (866) 582-8591

5 Advantages of Patton Gateways You (Probably) Didn’t Know

by Ying-Hui Chen

We all know that a VoIP gateway bridges your communication between your IP network and PSTN, but did you know that Patton’s gateways play a bigger part in VoIP than that? Today we are going to show you the 5 advantages of Patton gateways you probably didn’t know. Let’s find out:

5 Advantages of Patton Gateways You need to know

#1 Full Telephony Features

Patton’s gateways don’t just bridge your communications, they also provide a full set of phone features you will need to get your job done! Advanced features include flexible call routing, numbering plan adaptations, call transfer, 3-way conferencing and much more!

#2 VoIP Security

VoIP Security has become more important than ever! Luckily, Patton’s ESBC/ESBR solutions come with its built-in security features such as SIP TLS, SRTP, Stateful Firewall and Secure provisioning to protect your LAN networks from most of the Internet attacks!

#3 Easy Management & Provisioning

Everything is simple and straightforward with Patton’s gateways. The unique WEB Wizard enables an easy and hassle-free installation and allows you to customize your own Web interface. Our customers also love Patton’s auto-provisioning feature and the ability to separate config domain, which makes their lives much much easier!

#4 Outstanding Interoperability

When talking about interoperability, Patton is unbeatable! Their gateways are interoperable for voice and T.38 fax with many leading SIP service providers, soft-switch vendors, 3CX, Asterisk IP PBX and many more!

#5 Advanced Local Call Switching

With Patton gateways, your call quality is guaranteed. Their virtual interfaces and routing tables provide industry leading flexibility in call handling programming. The fallback routing soft falls back to alternative routes when needed. You are also able to simultaneously connect to multiple SIP services/IP PBXs.

There you have it! These are just some of the popular features that Patton has to offer. If you’d like to learn more about what their gateways can do, visit our Patton page or contact one of our VoIP consultants at 1-800-398-8647 today!

Refresh: Refurbished IP Phones that won’t disappoint!

August 21, 2018 by Youleidy Vega

For our August dose of Refresh (refurbished VoIP equipment), I want to share with you our most popular models of phones that are currently in inventory. Keep in mind that availability is subject to change without notice, so if any of these steals interest you, be sure to call in right away!

Cisco SPA303G 3-Line IP Phone $42.99

This basic, yet reliable deskphone is precisely what any kitchen or common area requires for low-demand communication needs. It provides a clean design that can be mounted to the wall with a 128 x 64 monochrome LCD display. The SPA303G has many features most businesses want such as call forwarding, call waiting, do not disturb and more. For a complete list of features, check out the datasheet.

Polycom VVX 410 12-Line IP Phone $104.99

This mid-level deskphone is one that any office employee can benefit from. The VVX 410 is a multimedia device with a 3.5 backlit color display that makes it easy for users to view and manage their Microsoft Exchange calendars, access their company directory and even view their colleagues Instant Messaging (IM) presence status. Read the full feature list here.

Polycom IP 5000 PoE Conference Phone $209.99

This is the conference phone for small conference rooms or executive offices. It has been designed to pick up up to a 7-foot range with up to 6 participants. Full-duplex technology and HD Voice ensure that your conference calls will be as clear as face to face communication. Another plus? The IP 500 is compatible with SIP as well as Asterisk-based PBXs. For a full list of features, read more here.

Worried that used phones might not be the best way to go? Don’t be! We stand by our refurbished line and offer a full six month warranty for your peace of mind.

For more information about Refresh or to ask about current availability, please call 1-800-398-8647.

https://www.voipsupply.com/refresh-process

[Webinar] Sangoma Reseller Updates: New products, Promotions, Selling Tips

August 20, 2018 by Ying-Hui Chen

Are you so swamped with work that you have very little time to keep up on the latest Sangoma news? We have you covered! Starting on September 12th, we are co-hosting a webinar series with Sangoma to keep you updated on Sangoma news.

Join us the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 2 PM EST to get the latest reseller updates from Sangoma! The first webinar will start on September 12th. Limited space only. So reserve your seat before it’s filled!

During the webinar you’ll learn about:

How & Why resell Sangoma
Sangoma Product Updates
New Exclusive Promotions
Much More!

Who are Digium’s Keynote Speakers for AstriCon 2018?

August 17, 2018 by Ying-Hui Chen

Digium today announced their keynote presenters for the AstriCon Open Source User Conference and Exhibition 2018. The presenters include Deb Bryant, senior director of open source and standard at Red Hat, and Simon Woodhead, founder and CEO of Simwood, Inc.

AstriCon is an event that brings together the world’s open source enthusiasts from code developers and Asterisk integrators to service providers and enterprise IT professionals. This is the 15th annual Asterisk user conference & expo. This year, the event will be held October 9-11, 2018 at Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate.

Woodhead will present “Default Distrust – Why we must prioritize privacy!” on October 10th at 9.00am. This keynote will address why privacy seems to be very low on solution providers’ priority lists.

“AstriCon is an Asterisk Community family reunion, a technology update, and an opportunity to exchange best practices in the realm of deploying, configuring, and troubleshooting sophisticated communications solutions,” said David Duffett, worldwide community director for the Asterisk project.

We are excited about this annual conference & expo and look forward to learning what the presenters have to share!

Click here to learn more.

August VoIP Hardware Roundup: New WiFi Phones, VoIP Adapter, Video Intercom, and more!

August 16, 2018 by Ying-Hui Chen

August is an exciting month at VoIP Supply! We are introducing many new VoIP products from VoIP WiFi phone, VoIP adapter, to video conferencing server and more. If you only have 10 minutes a month to capture all new VoIP products, this is the blog series you will want to follow!

Grandstream IPVT10

Finally, Grandstream released the new IPVideoTalk enterprise video conferencing server that everyone is waiting for! This new server enables modern enterprises to collaborate easily through audio and video conferencing with powerful features.

The IPVT10 supports access from a variety of devices including video conferencing room systems, video phones, PC/ Mac, Android/ iOS devices, and many more other devices. It is a centralized and scalable solution that manages an entire business conferencing needs. Pre-order today to get it as soon as we start shipping!

Supports up to 300 participants & 10 conference sessions
Audio, video, recording and reporting capabilities
Up to 120 video feeds and 300 participants
Facebook & YouTube Live integration
Customized meeting reports

Fanvil i18S Video Intercom

The i18S video intercom is designed for enterprises to enjoy the advantages of full range of compatibility. This device is compatible with lots of major platforms such as 3CX, Asterisk, Broadsoft, Elastix, etc.

The i18S is built to last! Its robust mechanical construction provides protective coverage rating against dust and water. But don’t take my word for it, get one to try by yourself!

Noise reduction
HD Voice
HD Video
Tamper Proof
SIP Standard

Spectralink Versity

If you are looking for a wire-free communication solution, you can’t miss Spectralink’s latest innovation, the Versity! This WiFi phone has drawn a lot of attention from all kinds of users especially healthcare providers and large warehouses.

The Versity comes with a very sleek and light design that really gives you the smartphone feel. It also comes with special features such as the barcode scanner. We will begin shipping the Versity in early September. Pre-order today!

Best-in-class Wi-Fi and LTE coverage
Purpose-built for a 24/7 Enterprise
Only 12.2 mm thick – the sleekest, lightest enterprise smartphone

Grandstream HT813

The HT813 is an analog telephone adapter that features 1 analog FXS port and 1 PSTN line FXO port to offer backup lifeline support using a PSTN line. This device is very compact and it offers HD voice quality and high-end security protection.

If you are looking to upgrade to VoIP, the HT813 is highly recommended for high-quality IP service! The HT813 is available now. Order here!

Analog Telephone Adapter
Supports 2 SIP Profiles Through 1 FXS Port and 1 FXO Port
Dual 100Mbps LAN and WAN Ports
3-way Voice Conferencing Per Port

ICYMI: Secure Your Organization With Grandstream GDS3710 Webinar

by Steve Lopian

This past Thursday we teamed up with Grandstream to deliver all the information you need to secure your organization with the Grandstream GDS3710 Video Door Phone.

This cost-effective and feature-rich video door system has been extremely popular due to the level of security it offers businesses, but a lot of people were wondering just exactly how to utilize everything it has to offer.

Not only will this webinar run through its functionality, but it will also feature a brief walk-through of important security features.

This fantastic webinar was co-hosted by one of our top VoIP experts Joe Shannahan. Not only was he their to help answer any question, but he remains available to answer any questions you may have after watching the recording!

So tune in, and learn how to take your businesses security to the next level with the Grandstream GDS3710!

VoIP Supply Kicks Start the 3CX Boot Camp Webinar Tomorrow!

August 14, 2018 by Ying-Hui Chen

We are kicking off the monthly 3CX webinar series tomorrow (August 15th) at 10 AM and 2 PM! This webinar series is meant to help you and your customers keep up with 3CX important software updates and news.

Spend just an hour a month with the VoIP Supply and 3CX team to capture all you need to know about 3CX updates, sales & marketing tips and changes!

Choose a schedule that works best for you here.

VoIP Supply Partner Portal Introduces Email Templates

August 13, 2018 by Steve Lopian

Joining the VoIP Supply Reseller Program is a no-brainer for VoIP resellers. It’s instant access to important benefits that can easily help grow your business.

But what’s great about our Partner Program is those benefits are always growing by adding features, new content and better tools to help you win business.

One example is being able to resell refurbished VoIP equipment. I mean, come on. Being able to offer your clients like-new VoIP phones at the lowest price possible is a great differentiator between you and your competition. (see Refresh Products)

But aside from our stocked inventory, The one thing that our current resellers have been utilizing more and more are our free marketing materials!

Our Marketing Team has put together loads of materials for you to access and use to help take your business to the next level. Things like educational guides, infographics, and product webinars can be used to help educate your client base and turn a first-time buyer into a lifelong customer!

New VoIP Selling Email Templates

And just when you thought we couldn’t possibly offer you more, we go ahead and add email templates! This is our newest (and most popular) tool that you can access! Not only are these easy to customize but they also cater to several of our most popular VoIP brands.

We can’t tell who is more excited about our email templates. Our resellers? Or us. Either way, we felt it was necessary to make a video showing you just some of the great benefits of the VoIP Supply Partner Program.

So get some popcorn, and let our VoIP expert Joe Shanahan show you just how beneficial it is to partner with us!

Are you already a part of our Partner Program? Have you tried our email templates? What was your experience like? We want to know!

3 Typical Ways Patton Gateways Fit in your Business Applications

by Ying-Hui Chen

As you may know, VoIP gateways provide several types of bi-directional conversions, including Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) and TDM to SIP. Some gateways even provide more advanced functions such as session border controller (SBC), security firewall, failover, etc.

Many of our customers use Patton media gateways to solve a variety of different IP-based system challenges. Today, we are going to walk you through the three most common use cases:

How Do Patton Gateways Fit in my Business?

#1 TDM to SIP

Patton gateways reduce your business’s operating costs by avoiding the expensive tolls levied by a public switched telephone network (PSTN). The VoIP gateway connects your traditional phone system to a SIP trunk with just a fraction of the original cost you paid.

#2 VoIP Provider to Analog POTS or Digital ISDN PBX

A Patton gateway can also connect an all-IP communication system (on-premise IP PBX or cloud IP PBX) to your legacy PSTN trunk. Many businesses upgrade their traditional business phone system to an Internet Telephony Service Provider (ITSP) over a SIP trunk with an IP media gateway to avoid the expensive toll-based system.

#3 From SIP to TDM

What if I need to keep the old phone system up and running during the transition? Not a problem. Patton gateways are able to connect your modern SIP communications system with a T1/E1/PRI service provided by a legacy carrier. This will allow you to keep your traditional system running normally while transitioning to a new IP-based phone system.

What communication challenges have you solved with Patton gateways? Where do you need Patton gateways to fit in your IP telephony implementations? Share with us!

Can I Use My Softphone with a Phone Instead of a Headset?