Gigaset’s New DX600A Small Business Phone

Earlier this month Gigaset launched the DX600A, a new model of desk phone targeting the small business and home office. In North America this went largely unnoticed as the DX600A is currently only available in Europe, and specifically in an ISDN capable model.

Since ISDN lines are extremely uncommon in North America the DX600A in its present form doesn’t apply to that market. However, I’m told that there’s a chance that a SIP capable version of the device could be introduced in the US if there are signs of demand. On that basis I think that the DX600A is worth a closer look.

Not much is known about the device beyond the contents of the initial press release, but even that is some fairly impressive stuff. Here are the highlights:

• Desk phone with 3.5″ TFT touch screen LCD display

• Picture frame mode

• Slide show mode

• Displays data feeds (RSS)

• Full duplex speakerphone

• Analog interface (FXS) supporting the use of a FAX machine

• Ethernet interface

• CTI capabilities, including dialing calls from within MS Outlook

• Built-in DECT/CATiq base

• supports up to 6 cordless handsets

• Supports 2 simultaneous calls

• Compatible with C59H, E49H, S79H, SL78H and SL400H cordless handsets

• HDSP capable (aka G.722)

• Can be sync’d using QuickSync software

• Available for PC & Mac

• Stores up to 750 contacts internally

• Upload contacts (vcard)

• Upload pictures for use a pictorial caller ID (CLIP)

• Dual Bluetooth interfaces

• Capable of connecting to a cell phone to place calls via the cellular network

• Also works with Bluetooth headsets

• Three separate answering machine services with 55 minutes of total message storage

The Euro version claims support for “Excellent voice transmission, internally in full broadband quality” with suitable cordless handsets. It would expect that given a SIP over IP interface that would extend to wideband calling to the rest of the world based upon the G.722 codec, like many of the existing Gigasets.

Support for only two calls is something of a concern. Most DECT systems seem to be capable of three simultaneous calls. I wonder if that’s two calls in total, or two cordless calls and one on the desk unit? Sometimes PR material is not exactly enlightening with regard to such details.

The selling price is 179 Euros, which would translate to around $250 USD. That could significantly alter the landscape of lower-end SMB SIP/DECT systems.

I must admit that I’m very interested in trying one of these desk phones. At the moment we use Polycom desk phones and Gigaset cordless phones. This provides limited support for transferring calls away from the cordless handset to the desk phone. The DX600A may be able to provide better local integration of the corded/cordless experience than we have at present.

So what do you think? Doesn’t that sound interesting?