End-user perspective on small office tools & technology

USB & Bluetooth In IP Phones: A Missed Opportunity?

Last week’s VUC call with FWDs Dan Behringer brings to mind a common complaint about SIP desk phones, namely the lack of an alphanumeric keyboard. Lacking a proper keyboard it’s difficult to really push the idea of SIP URIs as a primary means of making calls.

There are a variety of approaches to overcoming this, including the use of ISNs as prescribed by the Freenum project. That project proposes a means of dialing SIP URIs indirectly, assigning them ISN numbers. Since ISNs use only numbers and the * key they can be dialed on a traditional phone keypad. It’s essentially a way of avoiding SIP URIs through indirection.

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Gigaset SIP/DECT Handsets For 2010: Part 4 – S67H

Thus far in this series I’ve looked at things common to all the Gigaset handsets, the A58H and C59H. With this post I turn my gaze to the middle-of-the range S67H.

Since there are already some good reviews of the S675IP available online I’m not going to go into great length describing it here. However, I will highlight the differences between it and it’s siblings in the Gigaset range.

To start I recommend you read the review offered by Alan Lord at The Open Sourcer.com. In his review Mr. Lord details his use of the S685IP with an Asterisk system. His review has been online for a while and collected a long comment trail with a lot of good information.

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The Aastra 6739i & Bluetooth Headsets

Aastra 6739i Desk PhoneIt certainly seems that the Aastra 6739i is the new king-of-the-hill with respect to feature-laden enterprise class SIP desk phones. Amongst it’s myriad features you will find included the ability to use a Bluetooth headset .

For the past nine months I’ve used the Savi Go Bluetooth headset around the office. In that case I’m using the headset with a soft phone since the Savi Go is provided with a class 1 Bluetooth USB dongle. The Savi Go is kinda unique because it supports wideband audio over Bluetooth.

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Video Calling Comes Home: Skype On TV?

Modern HDTVs are essentially small embedded computer systems. I was reminded of this fact when I recently purchased a TV for our bedroom. It’s a 32″ Samsung LCD-TV, and it makes little boot-up chimes just like a computer. TV’s are computers…that’s worth remembering.

Recently several large consumer electronics companies have launched new LCD HDTVs in partnership with Skype. This partnership leverages the fact that TVs are computers.

These new model LCD-TVs run an embedded version of the Skype client. When equipped with suitable media handling support (camera, microphone & possibly speakers) these TVs are purported to allow large screen point-to-point video calling via the Skype network.

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Gigaset SIP/DECT Handsets For 2010: Part 3 – C59H

Thus far in this series I’ve looked at things common to all the Gigaset handsets and the entry level A58H. With this post I move up the product line one step to focus on the C59H handset.

Newly offered for 2010 the C59H is a significant step up from the A58H described previously. Listing for just $10 more than the A58H, I suspect that many people will find the C59H worth the added cost.

With respect to the A580IP and S675IP the C59H is being offered only as an optional expansion handset. You must have one of the two IP capable systems, then you can add the C59H if desired.

Within the Gigaset SIP/DECT product range the IP enabled base systems are clearly indicated with an “IP” model designation. You may also see Gigaset offering a model C590, if not in the US at least in other parts of the world. The C590 is a complete system comprised of a DECT base and one C59H handset. However, the DECT base in question is not IP capable. It does not have a network connector, only the analog line interface.

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Nerd Uno Dishes Out Advice on SIP Security

Ward Mundy over at Nerd Vittles has a great post today about SIP security. It’s entitled The Incredible PBX: Adding Remotes, Preserving Security. If you run an Asterisk based PBX you should probably read this. Now!

Ward’s advice really rings true (sorry for the telecom geek pun, it couldn’t be helped!)  His “Baker’s Dozen SIP Security Checklist” makes perfect sense. That doesn’t mean that I can’t add my own two cents.

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