Hello, Habr users!
Welcome to our corporate blog from Snom on the Habr platform, where we plan to post a series of reviews about our products and services in the near future. Our team responsible for the business in the CIS markets will manage the blog. We will gladly respond to your questions and provide any consultation or assistance. We hope you find the blog interesting and useful.
Snom is a pioneer and veteran in the global IP telephony market. The first IP phones supporting the SIP protocol were released by the company in 1999. Since then, Snom continues to develop and implement high-tech SIP devices for comfortable and efficient media data transmission. As a manufacturer, Snom mainly produces endpoint devices, and we pay special attention to the compatibility of our phones with devices from other manufacturers and the support of common industry standards.
Our company’s headquarters is located in Berlin, Germany, and the quality of our products fully corresponds to the renowned "German Engineered". Our engineers pay great attention to the configuration parameters of the phones as well as the central management capabilities of the devices. This is why the quality of all products is ensured by 3 years of warranty, and the ease of use of these phones meets the highest standards.
Today we will look at one of our flagship products: the Snom D785 IP phone. First, we invite you to watch a short video review of this device.
Unboxing and Contents
The first thing that will catch your eye upon unboxing is the version of the software specified on the box, which is the default version; this is information that is rarely memorized but can be useful during operation.
Let’s move on to the contents of the box:
- A brief manual, available in both Russian and English. Very compact, containing all the necessary minimum information regarding the contents, assembly, and initial configuration of the device;
- The phone itself;
- The stand;
- Category 5E Ethernet cable;
- Handset with a curly cord.
The phone supports PoE, and no power adapter is included; if you need one, it can be purchased separately.
Design
We'll take the device out of the box and take a closer look. The SNOM D785 is available in two colors: black and white. The white version looks particularly good in office environments, especially those designed in light tones, such as medical facilities.
Most modern IP phones look similar to each other, differing only in minor details. The Snom D785 is not one of them. To maximize the usable display area, the BLF keys have been moved to a separate screen in the lower right part of the casing. This solution is not common among most other manufacturers due to the increased cost of the device, and we find it interesting.
The plastic casing is high-quality and pleasant to the touch, with metallic navigation buttons that emphasize the individuality of the design, and pressing them is straightforward. Overall, the keyboard leaves only pleasant impressions – all keys are pressed clearly and softly, without sinking in like on some budget phones.
Additionally, the placement of the MWI indicator in the upper right part of the casing seems like a very successful decision. The indicator fits well into the design, not standing out too much when off, but clearly draws attention when on, due to its position and size.
On the right side of the casing, under the screen, there is a USB port. This location is very convenient, eliminating the need to search behind the screen or on the back of the device; everything is at hand. This port is used to connect a USB headset, flash drive, DECT dongle A230, Wi-Fi module A210, and expansion panel D7. This model also features a built-in Bluetooth module, allowing you to connect your desired Bluetooth headset.
The phone's stand provides two tilt angles, at 46 and 28 degrees, allowing the device to be positioned conveniently for the user and reduce glare on the screen. The back of the casing also has cutouts for wall mounting the device – you won't need to purchase an additional adapter for placing the phone on the wall.
At the back of the stand are two gigabit Ethernet ports, a micro lift/EHS connector, a power adapter, and ports for connecting a headset and handset – along with a side USB port for a complete setup. The gigabit Ethernet ports are very useful if your employees are working with large amounts of data and transmitting it over the network. Connecting cables to all these ports after installing the stand can be inconvenient, so we recommend doing this before installation. There is a rectangular cutout for the connectors that simplifies the overall cable connection process.
The Snom D785 features a bright 4.3-inch color main display, which is more than sufficient for displaying all necessary information, whether it's the caller's number when making a call, a contact card from the phonebook, or a system alert from the device itself. Moreover, due to the screen size, color brightness, and the phone's functional capabilities, this screen can also be used to stream video from a door intercom or surveillance camera. For more information on how this can be done, read in .
An additional small display for six BLF keys located on the right smoothly accommodates the employee's name for the BLF keys and labels for other functions. The display has 4 pages that you can scroll through using the 'joystick' key, providing a total of 24 BLF keys. It also has its own backlighting, so you won’t have to squint at the labels when working in suboptimal lighting. This functionality will more than meet the needs of almost any user. If that's not enough, you can use the aforementioned expansion panel.
Software and configuration
We turn on the phone. The screen lights up with the message "SNOM" and, shortly after, displays the IP address obtained from the DHCP server. By entering the IP in the browser's address bar, we access the web interface. At first glance, it seems a bit simplistic and looks like a single page, but that's not the case. The left menu contains sections where functions and settings are logically organized. The initial setup without a guide will take you just a few minutes and will not raise any questions about locating the parameters you need, which indicates a well-thought-out interface. After entering the registration data, in the "Status" section, we get information that the account is registered, and a green indicator for the active line lights up on the colored display. Calls can be made.
The software for Snom devices is based on XML, allowing for flexible customization of the phone interface to fit the user by altering various interface parameters such as the color of different menu elements, icons, font type and color, and much more. If you're interested in exploring the full list of customization options for Snom phone menus, visit the section on our website.
For configuring a large number of phones, there is an Autoprovision function – a configuration file that can be loaded via protocols such as HTTP, HTTPS, or TFTP. You can also provide the phone with the location information of the configuration files using a DHCP option or utilize our popular cloud auto-configuration and forwarding service. .
Another advantage of choosing Snom devices is the development environment . Snom.io is a platform consisting of a set of tools and guides that assist developers in creating applications for Snom desktop phones. The platform is designed to provide developers with the means to create software, publish, distribute, and deploy their applications broadly for the entire community of Snom developers and users.
Functionality and operation
Let's return to our device and its operation. We will take a closer look at the additional screen and the BLF keys located to its right. Some keys are already configured for the accounts we registered, while the bottom four keys allow us to set up a conference, make a smart call transfer, mute the phone, and view the list of dialed numbers. Let's examine these functions in more detail:
Conference. In standby mode, this key allows you to set up a three-way conference by dialing the numbers of the necessary participants or selecting their contacts from the phone book. All participants are called simultaneously, which is very convenient and saves you extra actions. Additionally, this key allows you to convert the current call into a conference. During the conversation in the conference, this key puts the entire conference on hold.
Smart Transfer. To use this key, you need to specify the number of the subscriber to whom the functionality assigned to the button will be connected. After linking, you can call this subscriber if you are in standby mode, redirect an incoming call to them, or transfer the call if the conversation is already underway. This function is often used to transfer the current conversation to one's mobile number if it is necessary to leave the workstation.
Silence. Sometimes in office conditions, situations arise where the phone's ringtone can be disruptive, for example, during an important meeting, but missed calls cannot be allowed. In such moments, you can turn on the "Silence" mode, and the phone will continue to receive calls and display them on the screen, but it will stop notifying you with a ringtone. This key can also be used to mute an incoming call that has not yet been answered.
Dialed Numbers. Another multifunctional key, whose use is quite simple: pressing it shows the history of all outgoing calls. The number that is last in the history is prepared for further dialing. Pressing it again will place a call to that number.
Overall, the functionality of each of the buttons mentioned above is not unique and is present in competitor devices; however, many of them require multiple menu manipulations to achieve the desired result, whereas with us, everything is already "at hand" when the device is powered on. The multifunctionality of the buttons is also important: depending on the situation, you can use them in various ways.
The BLF keys on the phone can be easily configured not only by the system administrator but also by the user of the device. The algorithm is very simple: to start the configuration, press the desired key for a few seconds, and the main screen of the phone will display its settings menu.
Using the navigation keys, select the type, go into the corresponding submenu, and specify the number and label that will appear on the additional screen.
Exit the menu. That completes the key setup, literally in just a few simple steps.
Lift the phone handset and notice another unusual detail: the phone lacks the familiar mechanical catch for hanging up. The sensor detects the lifting or the reverse placement of the handset in the cradle. At first, many find this sensation a bit unfamiliar, as there is no inertia when placing the handset back in its usual spot. However, thanks to the successful angles of the stand, the handset rests perfectly on the soft rubberized holders in the cradle. The catch for hanging up is a mechanical part that is most frequently used and often breaks down, meaning its absence increases the reliability and lifespan of our phone.
When dialing a number, pay attention to the predictive dialing functionality. As soon as you enter any 3 digits of the number, the device will display contacts whose numbers start with the entered digits, as well as contacts whose names contain variations of all possible letters found on the pressed keys.
The phone's keyboard responds accurately and clearly to all keystrokes. Despite the large number of keys, the phone itself is quite compact, which is very important in office conditions. It's common for an employee's desk to be cluttered with document folders, stationery, and other office essentials, along with a computer. In such situations, there isn't much space left for a phone, making the device's small size a significant advantage. In this regard, the Snom D785 can outperform many competitors.
Now let's talk about the sound. Its quality is what defines the quality of the phone itself. Our company understands this well; that's why Snom is equipped with a full-fledged sound laboratory where all the manufactured device models are tested.
Picking up the handset, feeling its pleasant weight, we dial a number. The sound is clear and pleasant, both on the receiving and transmitting end. The interlocutor is heard perfectly, with the full spectrum of emotions transmitted. The component base of the phone, particularly the speakers, is of high quality, which gives us a near presence effect during conversations.
The ergonomic shape of the handset allows it to not only sit securely in the device's casing but also to enable long conversations without discomfort.
If your hands get tired, you can switch to speakerphone. The activation button is located next to the volume control and features a bright indicator light that is hard to miss. This button can also be used to initiate a call after dialing the number.
The sound on speakerphone is clear, and the person on the 'other side' hears you well, even if you lean back in your office chair or step away from the desk. In the same conditions, the speakerphone allows you to engage in conversation without straining to listen.
Accessories
As mentioned earlier, you can connect the Snom A230 and Snom A210 wireless communication dongles, as well as the Snom D7 expansion panel, to our phone. A few words about them:
The DECT dongle A230 allows you to connect DECT headsets or external speakers like the Snom C52 SP to the phone, freeing you from excess wires while maintaining high sound quality and a large range thanks to the use of the DECT standard.
The A210 Wi-Fi module operates in both the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency ranges, which is highly relevant today when 2.4 GHz networks are congested yet still widely used.
The Snom D7 expansion panel shares a design style with the phone and enhances its functionality with 18 additional DSS keys. You can connect up to 3 of these expansion panels to the phone.
Let’s summarize
The Snom D785 is an extraordinary and reliable representative of the flagship line of office IP phones.
Like any device made by humans, it has some minor flaws, but these are more than compensated for by the advantages of the device. The Snom D785 is convenient to work with, easy to use, and simple to configure. It delivers commendable sound quality and will serve as a reliable companion for a secretary, manager, or any other office employee, equipped with all the necessary functions. Its strict, yet distinctive design will beautify your workspace.
Source: habr.com
