isdn – Graves On SOHO Technology

Gigaset’s New DX600A Small Business Phone

April 21, 2010
Michael Graves
VoIP

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.

May 17, 2008
Michael Graves
VoIP

Remember ISDN? It was the 1980s digital connect methodology that was going to bring us everything digitally. In truth, ISDN (a.k.a. BRI) is the “little brother” of T-1 (a.k.a. PRI). PRI is actually the signaling scheme, but the relationship is accurate. Whereas a T-1 is 24 x 64kbps voice channels and signaling an ISDN circuit can be 2 x 64 kbps channels (Bearer or B channels) and signalling (a D channel).

In Europe ISDN is quite common, having been a valid alternative to analog POTS lines for many years. In the US it never caught on the same way. It’s common in certain vertical market niches. For example, just about every significant recording studio used ISDN as a means of transferring audio across country in real-time. It’s a channel with assured bandwidth. The two B channels could be bonded yielding a solid 128 kpbs. Throughout the 1990s voice-over talent working from home studios (Hi Alison!) almost always used this sort of a setup.