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.

Snom – Firmware Update (Snom300, Snom320, Snom360, Snom370)

Current recommended Snom firmware versions are:

6.5.20 (with linux 3.38 and jffs2 file system)
7.3.14 (with 1.1.3-s bootloader or higher)
7.3.29 (with 1.1.3-s bootloader or higher)

We do not suggest V8 for Snom3xx series phones unless you need OCS support or you are feeling brave.

7.3.29 seems to fix a few minor issues with long term stability. This is for users who take hundreds of calls per day and who use the DND feature. Has fixed a lot of people’s issues.

If you use Action URLs then please use 7.3.14 or 7.3.29. Otherwise you may have issues with call transfers.

Above my opinion based on supporting Snom phones in the UK.

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.

 

Celebrating the Zyxel P660r-D1 ADSL router

When you’ve been working with SIP phones for as long as I have, you can be forgiven for developing a deep-set hatred for “SOHO grade” ADSL router equipment. More specifically the SIP ALG that router manufacturers seem to love putting into routers these days. I’m yet to encounter one that actually works. In most cases these ALGs tampering with passing SIP traffic cause more problems than they solve. They are a nice idea but in reality they just don’t work.

To that end, my preferred router is one that doesn’t try to be too clever for it’s own good. One that has no SIP ALG inside it what-so-ever. For a small office on a normal ADSL connection I can’t recommend anything better than the Zyxel P660r-D1. It’s a basic single port router which will provide NAT and DHCP if you want it to.

For a home or small office using VoIP over ADSL you can’t go far wrong with one of these routers, a decent switch, a reputable VoIP service provider and decent quality phones (i.e. Snom!).

<%ThickBox(http://blog.provu.co.uk/media/4/20091028-1010710887.jpg|P660R-D1)%>

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:

Snom.co.uk Community Portal

Here it is. It’s what we’ve all been waiting for for some time now. Sure, it’s still infancy and yes, some features have not yet been implemented, but we proudly present the Snom community portal for the UK!

Here is a link for you, Snom.co.uk Community Portal.

Perhaps you have the urge to watch what fellow users of Snom phones are doing on their Snom screen? Who knows, you might. Anyway, we have a tool for that.

Maybe you are rather tech-savvy and have a cool Snom 8xx series phone? Thought you might, so here’s another tool for generating the idle screen to use on such a phone!

We really are too kind to you…

Any feedback, constructive criticism or whatever else? Please send to /dev/null just leave your comments below!