Alternative to softphone

Description of the “life path” from a software tool to a hardware solution.

Past


Since 2008, he began to work at home. The issue of voice / telephone communication, very important for working with my clients, was decided by installing a softphone on the laptop and connecting to the working IP PBX via SIP. “Hardware” this was decided by the simplest wired headset and an additional USB audio adapter, because Macbooks used did not have a mic input.
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I liked the following features:
  • “Freedom of hands” - the ability to fully work on the computer during a telephone conversation. It is relevant when consulting clients with the need to write something in CRM or look for information in the documentation.
  • Dialing by copying from CRM or some text source (site).
  • Compactness, which is important when traveling from home to office.



However, there was a negative:
  • The wire, which was tangled, dangled and in every way finely strained.
  • Attachment to a place is the result of a wire.
  • Binding to a computer and software. To accept a call or an outgoing call, running software and a visible screen were needed (hot keys are rarely embedded in softphones).
  • Soft! Despite the variety of programs, there were units with the necessary functionality for reliable communication with my working IP PBX (features ...). And among them, only one with acceptable ergonomics (X-Lite for Mac). And the program often “crashed” :-(
The negativity gradually became such that it reliably outweighed the positive features.

The first attempt. Bluetooth headset
Having a laptop with Bluetooth, several times there was a desire to at least remove the wire. However, all the tried and tested Bluetooth headsets did not give me enough voice quality. Both the cheap (700 rubles) and expensive (4000 rubles) headsets were clearly defined by “digital” distortions, despite a pile of promises from manufacturers.

There was a desire to try some DECT headset with really high- quality voice quality, but the price of 7000 rubles for the simplest option stopped.

In addition, the headset left a “binding” to the computer and software (!).

The second attempt. Softphone in mobile phone
iPhone is a good thing, but only one of the many softphones installed during the experiments worked with a working IP PBX (Zoiper). The rest, due to unknown reasons, could not do this. For example, one of the tested softphones (3cx) did not want to work with “sub-PBX” installed in one of the regional offices - I was not heard (there may have been problems with the codecs).

The experiments ended immediately and forever after I forgot to turn off the softphone for the night and he discharged the battery of his mobile phone. In the morning the alarm did not sound and I was very late for an important meeting.

The last attempt. IP DECT Cordless Phones
I accidentally discovered that in the DECT family of radio tubes there are options with a base unit that can be connected to both PSTN and SIP to a PBX / service via LAN.
In addition, I found a bunch of positive reviews about such “pipes” from Siemens (Gigaset), which I have been respecting since my youth when I traded them (2000-2005). For the quality of workmanship and sound quality, for reliability, for more or less working software stuffing.

The present


Cordless telephone DECT Gigaset C610A IP with a very reasonable price

Basic:
  • base unit connected to the PSTN line and LAN + separate “glass” for charging = the most convenient placement of parts around the house
  • 6 IP lines with different settings
  • settings necessary for me. For example:
    • choosing the right codec (working PBX only works on u-Law).
      Available: G.722, G.711 a-law / G.711 u-law, G.726, G.729.
    • “Manual” indication of SIP and RTP ports for their further “forwarding” on the router
  • lack of wires - 300 meters in a straight line and 50 meters in the house
  • laptop and software decoupling
  • the ability to connect a wired headset (returning “hands-free”)

“Buns”:
  • answering machine
  • web interface
  • dial plans for lines (for example, “9” is for PSTN, and “8” is for IP 1)
  • operating time without recharging 180 hours in standby mode and 12 hours in talk mode (passport data)
  • baby monitor mode - for the future :-)

What happened
  • The “base” near the router is somewhere far away, where are all the wires.
  • Four-line charging handset:
    • IP PBX of the main office with my main extension number + outgoing calls on city (Moscow) and long-distance / international channels
    • IP PBX Novosibirsk office for outgoing calls in Novosibirsk (frequent work need)
    • sipnet.ru for long distance calls to friends
    • home telephone number (PSTN)
  • Possibility of remote (from a computer) dialing a number (via any of the selected line) and receiving a call with the caller displayed.
  • Phonebook importing data into vCard - I just exported work contacts from the Mac address book and brought it into the phone via the web interface.
  • No problems with the computer turned on, the screen turned on, and the “correct” software.


Future


It is necessary to find a wired headset connected to this handset (a cord no more than half a meter) and return the "free hands".

PS Mobility


A base, a glass, a tube and two charges are a lot if you take with you from home to office or vice versa. But to put in the office another base and take only the phone with you - this is very convenient. The handset is “smart” and calmly connect to the base in which it is located.

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