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Caroline Mackinnon

Tesco Cancels VoIP Service – Unlock Gigaset Code

Tesco will be phasing out its VoIP service, provided by Freshtel over the next few weeks. The service will be closed down completely on the 27th April 2010.

Tesco offer Gigaset handsets to their UK customers when signing up to use their VoIP service. These phones are locked to the Tesco/Freshtel service.

As ProVu are the UK Distributor for Gigaset VoIP Products, we’ve been speaking with them to find out how we can help all Tesco customers who currently have a Gigaset DECT phone, which they cannot currently use with another VoIP provider.

Gigaset have supplied ProVu with a simple document instructing you how to unlock your phone, so that it can be used with an alternate VoIP account from an ITSP or with your PBX.

For instructions on how, please just visit: http://gigaset.me.uk/

SIP Security Alert

Just recently we’ve learnt of several automated attacks on IP based phone systems.

This is the rough sequence of events when an attack occurs:

  • The robot sends a sip invite to the target IP address on the standard SIP port 5060 UDP (I don’t know how it decides which addresses to attack in the first place).

  • If it receives a SIP error response then it knows that it is dealing with a SIP agent. Beginning at 200 it repeatedly sends in SIP register invites using the extension number as the password. The two that I’ve seen tried all extensions between 200 and 9999.

  • If there are any extensions with SIP passwords the same as the extension number then the robot will register with the PBX and make a very short call (just a couple of seconds) to test connectivity.

  • If the call is successful the robot disconnects.

  • It returns and re-registers on Friday evening at about 18:00 local time and then it starts as many calls as your PBX will allow, all to the same premium rate number. The two we’ve seen called numbers in Sierra Leon.

    • The scam is that the owners of the robot also own the premium rate line so they are effectively siphoning money from you to them.

    The two cases that we’ve actually investigated both burnt about £4500 in the course of about 24 hours of constant calling. In both cases the user/owner of the PBX was running one or more extensions with passwords set to the same value as the extension number.

    This is a pretty serious problem but it’s very easy to guard against provided you use passwords which are different to the extension number. Releases of SARK starting from V2.1.14 generate strong passwords for your extensions when you create them. You will also be OK if you use some secret password that isn’t the same as the extension number.

    If you do have extensions with passwords the same as the extension then we would strongly recommend that you change them as soon as possible in order to survive any attacks you may receive.

Snom – Bootloader Versions

Did you know there are two parts to Snom version 7 firmware?

1. Main application (with a version code like 7.3.14)

2. The bootloader (with a version code like 1.1.3-s)

Most Snom users keep their application up-to-date but the bootloader is often neglected.

How to Check:

  • Web browse to your Snom phone

  • Click onto `System Information`

  • View your bootloader version

Our Findings:

  • 1.1.3-s is OK

  • 1.1.3-m or older needs an upgrade

If no bootloader version is shown, your bootloader is archaic! It would be best to upgrade.

Old Bootloader Symptoms:

  • Headsets not properly detected

  • Extension keyboards not properly detected

  • Phones may not boot up when headsets or extension keyboards are connected

  • Snom300’s may show strange characters on screen during bootup

How to upgrade:

If your Snom phones are managed by ProVu, then we can carry out these changes through our provisioning server – please just ask us!

Otherwise, you need to load a firmware image containing a bootloader.

Back to Black: Snom 870 Executive VoIP Phone, Now Available in Black!

Ooooh look what we’ve got!

<%ThickBox(http://blog.provu.co.uk/media/2/20091124-snom870_black.jpg|Snom 870 in black!)%>

Displaying the first example of touch screen technology in Snom VoIP phones, the top of the range Snom 870 VoIP Phone is now available in both standard 8xx series white and now black.

The Snom 870 has already proved a great addition to the range, since the launch earlier this year.

Key Features Reminder

  • Touch screen high-resolution TFT colour display (4.2 inches, 480×272 pixels, 25 bits colour depth)

  • Gigabit pass through

  • WiFi connection via Snom WLAN USB WiFi stick

  • 12 freely programmable virtual keys

  • Power over Ethernet

  • 5 way conferencing

  • 12 different SIP identities

  • 29 Keys, 5 LED’s

  • Photographic caller ID

  • 2 USB ports

  • Secure client certificate authentication

So now, you can get Snom Snow Edition 3xx Series White phones to go with Snom 820 and 870 in white, or alternatively a Snom 870 in black to match standard Snom 3xx Series VoIP Phones.

Siemens Gigaset – Copy Address Book to Each Handset

The address book on a Siemens Gigaset DECT Phone can be copied over via the handset to another slave phone registered with the base station, without having to browse to the web interface.

  • Go to the address book on your handset.

  • Select options on the soft key.

  • From the options menu select copy list.

  • From the generated list select which handset you wish to copy your address book to.

Remember all Siemens Gigaset DECT phones are compatible with one and other. Up to six of any combination of A58, C47 or S68 handsets can be registered with any one base.

Coming Soon: **New** Snom M9 VoIP Cordless DECT Phone

Sneak Peek – Snom M9, Next Generation DECT

The Snom M9 VoIP DECT Phone is due to arrive at ProVu in November. Building upon the success of the Snom M3 DECT phone, the M9 provides the next generation of Snom DECT.

Unlike the Snom M3, the M9 incorportates the renowned Snom SIP stack, with proven reliability. The Snom M9 is also the only cordless phone in the market which offers possible integration with Microsoft OCS.

The M9 is perfect for the more demanding business user, with a complete set including two handsets and one base station. The M9 allows 9 handsets to register to one base and 4 concurrent VoIP calls.

Key Features

    • Display: 128 x 128 pixels, 65536 colors and backlit.

 

    • Battery life, 10 hours talk / 100 hours standby.

 

    • Register up to 9 handsets with one base station.

 

    • 9 SIP registrations.

 

    • 4 concurrent VoIP calls.

 

    • Microsoft OCS compatible.

 

    • IPv6 ready.

 

    • KlarVoice wideband audio.

 

    • Caller ID with name and image.

 

    • 12 key numerical keypad; 5-key navikey; 2 softkeys; 2 hook keys; 2 Sidekeys.

 

Stop the Press! Tim Snapped for German VoIP Publication.

We’ve brought you news of all the goings on at the Berlin Snom 870 launch party. Taking many pictures and videos to capture the party atmosphere, including the Venusbrass brand in celebration of this latest touch screen technology.

It looks like we weren’t the only ones who were snap happy 🙂 A German VoIP reseller magazine called ‘Dealers Only’ was also there to report on the goings on.

Have a look at Tim’s mug shot, taken during a gossip with Michael Knieling, Chairman at Snom Technology AG. My German isn’t the best but for those of you who can translate, the article should contain some interesting stuff!

<%ThickBox(http://blog.provu.co.uk/media/2/20091016-Tim-Michael_SnomLaunch.jpg|Tim and Michael Knieling at Snom 870 Launch)%>

Customise Your Snom VoIP Phone!

So it’s not enough that Snom VoIP phones are now available in both standard black and ‘Snow Edition’ white. We’ve had numerous requests for Snom phones in every colour of the spectrum!

For those of you who want to jazz up your Snom phones, you can customise it by designing your own ‘Snom Skin’.

The German website Design Skins gives you the option to create your own skin for any of the Snom 3xx or 8xx series phones. Choose from different colours, images and patterns provided or even upload your own image!

“DesignSkins are high quality and individually printed vinyl foils which are accurate to size and ready to use. DesignSkins by DeinDesign do have special air ducts on the adhesive side which make the skin easy to apply without any bubbles. The high-gloss and anti-abrasion-layer confirms a special protection from ugly scratches for your design and device.”

They easily peel off too, without leaving any residue or causing any damage to the phone.

How to:

  • Visit http://designskins.com/

  • Click on the ‘Custom Design’ tab at the top of the page

  • (You might want to set your language to English)

  • Select ‘specials’

  • Select ‘snom’

  • Choose the model of Snom phone you want to customise

  • Let your creativity take over!

Have a look at the video below for some Snom 820 examples:

Product Focus : Grandstream BudgeTone BT200

The Grandstream BT200 provides a basic entry level, one line SIP phone for the Grandstream range of VoIP phones.

The BT200 is easy to use and affordable. Importantly it’s also fully supported by ProVu’s provisioning systems for auto-configuration and device management.

Therefore the BT200 is a great low cost solution but also suitable for large scale deployment.

Since ProVu have been a Grandstream distributor, we’ve seen the BT200 in many different environments:

  • Home Office

  • Small Office

  • Warehouse Phone

  • Student Halls

  • Care Homes

  • Hospitals

  • Residential

Features include: Built-in, full-duplex handsfree speakerphone, three-way conference bridging, 12 digit caller ID LCD screen, 2.5mm headset connection, voicemail and message waiting indicator.

Snom 870 Launch Party – Berlin September 2009

To celebrate the release of the Snom 870 Touch Screen Executive VoIP Phone, Tim ventured over to Germany for the Snom launch party and get a sneak peek before the rest of us mere mortals!

While SIP(ing) on beer and wine, (sorry!) the guests at the party were treated to some entertainment by the Venusbrass band.

The Snom 870’s have only been in stock for a matter of weeks but are already proving popular. The touch screen drag and drop feature to transfer calls is really great!

Key Feature Recap:

  • Touch screen high-resolution TFT colour display (4.2 inches, 480×272 pixels, 25 bits colour depth)

  • Gigabit passthrough

  • WiFi connection via Snom WLAN USB WiFi stick

  • 12 freely programmable virtual keys

  • Power over Ethernet

  • 5 way conferencing

  • 12 different SIP identities

  • 29 Keys, 5 LED’s

  • Photographic caller ID

  • 2 USB ports