Hello, Khabrovites!
Welcome to our Snom corporate blog on Habr, where in the near future we plan to post a series of various reviews of our products and services. The blog from our side will be maintained by the team responsible for the company's business in the CIS markets. We will be happy to answer your questions and provide any advice or assistance. We hope you find the blog interesting and useful.
Snom is a pioneer and veteran of the global IP telephony market. The first SIP-enabled IP phones were released by the company in 1999. Since then, Snom has continued to develop and bring to life high-tech SIP devices for convenient and comfortable transfer of media data. Since Snom, as a manufacturer, produces mostly subscriber devices, during development we pay special attention to the compatibility of the phone with devices from other manufacturers and support for common industry standards.
Our head office is located in Berlin (Germany) and the quality of the products is more than equal to the famous "German Engineered". Our engineers pay great attention to the development of phone settings, as well as the possibility of centralizing the control of devices. That is why the quality of all products is ensured 3 years warranty, and the ease of use of these phones corresponds to the highest level.
Today we will consider one of the flagships produced by our company: IP phone - Snom D785. First of all, we suggest you watch a short video review of this device.
Unpacking and packaging
The first thing that catches your eye upon unpacking is the default software version indicated on the box, this is information that is rarely remembered, but it can come in handy during operation.
Let's move on to the contents of the box:
- Quick guide, both in Russian and English. Very compact, containing all the necessary minimum information on the configuration, assembly and initial configuration of the device;
- The phone itself;
- Stand;
- Category 5E Ethernet cable;
- Tube with twisted cord.
The phone supports PoE and there is no power supply included; if you need it, it can be purchased separately.
Design
Let's take the device out of the box and take a closer look. SNOM D785 is available in two colors: black and white. The white version looks especially good in company offices, with light-colored rooms, for example, in medical institutions.
Most modern IP phones are similar to each other and differ only in small details. Snom D785 is not like that. In order not to occupy the useful part of the display, the BLF keys are placed on a separate screen in the lower right part of the case. The solution is not the most common among most other manufacturers, due to the increase in the cost of the device, and, in our opinion, it looks interesting.
The body plastic is of high quality, pleasant to the touch, metalized navigation buttons emphasize the individuality of the design, while pressing them remains clear. In general, the keyboard leaves only pleasant impressions about itself - all keys are pressed clearly and softly, without falling anywhere, as on some budget phones.
Also, we see the location of the MWI indicator in the upper right part of the case as a very good solution. The indicator fits well into the design, not standing out too much in the off state, and clearly attracts attention when it is on, due to its location and size.
On the right side of the case, under the screen, there is a USB port. The location is very convenient, you don't have to look for anything behind the screen or on the back of the case, everything is at hand. This connector is used to connect a USB headset, flash drive, A230 DECT dongle, A210 Wi-Fi module, and D7 expansion panel. This model also has a built-in Bluetooth module on board, which allows you to connect the desired Bluetooth headset.
The phone stand provides 2 tilt angles, 46 and 28 degrees, which will allow you to position the device conveniently for the user and get rid of unnecessary glare on the screen of the device. Also on the back of the case there are cutouts for mounting the device on the wall - you do not have to purchase an additional adapter to place the phone on the wall.
Behind the stand are two gigabit Ethernet connectors, a microlift / EHS connector, a power adapter and ports for connecting a headset and handset - along with a side USB port, a complete set. 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports will come in handy if your employees work with a large amount of data and broadcast it to the network. Connecting cables to all these ports after installing the stand is not always convenient, and we recommend doing this before installing it, for which there is a rectangular cutout under the connectors, it simplifies the process of connecting cables in general.
Snom D785 has a bright 4.3-inch color main display, which is more than enough to display all the necessary information, whether it is the subscriber's number when making a call, a contact card from the phone book or a system notification of the device itself. In addition, due to the size of the screen, the brightness of the colors, as well as the functionality of the phone, you can send a video stream from an intercom or a surveillance camera to this screen. Read more about how this can be done in .
An additional small display for the six BLF keys that sits on the right side quietly places 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 rocker key, giving you 24 BLF keys in total. It also has its own backlight, so you don't have to look at the writing if you're working in imperfect lighting. This functionality will more than cover the needs of almost any user. If this is not enough, you can use the extension panel mentioned above.
Software and setup
We turn on the phone. The screen lit up with the inscription "SNOM" and, a little later, displayed the IP address, having received it from the DHCP server. By entering the IP in the address bar of the browser, we go to the web interface. At first glance, it is simple and seems to be one-page, but it is not. On the left side of the menu are sections, which are quite logically distributed functions and settings. The initial setup without a guide will take you a few minutes and will not raise questions about finding the parameters you need, which indicates the thoughtfulness of the interface. After entering the registration data, in the "Status" section we get information that the account is registered, and the green indicator of the active line lights up on the color display. You can make calls.
The software of Snom devices is based on XML, which allows you to flexibly customize the phone interface and adjust it to the user by changing phone interface parameters such as the color of various menu items, icons, font type and color, and much more. If you are interested in seeing the full list of Snom phone menu customization options, visit section on our website.
To configure a large number of phones, there is an Autoprovision function - a configuration file that can be loaded using protocols such as HTTP, HTTPS or TFTP. You can also provide the phone with information about the location of configuration files using the DHCP option, or use our popular cloud-based auto-configuration and forwarding service. .
Another advantage when choosing Snom devices is the development environment . Snom.io is a platform that consists of a set of tools and guides to help developers create applications for Snom desktop phones. The platform is designed to enable developers to create software, publish, distribute and mass deploy their application solutions to the entire Snom developer and user community.
Functionality and operation
Let's return to our apparatus and its operation. Let's take a closer look at the additional screen and the BLF keys located to the right of it. Some of the keys are already configured for the accounts we have registered, and the bottom four keys allow us to assemble a conference, make a smart call transfer, put the phone on silent mode and view the list of dialed numbers. Let's take a closer look at these functions:
Conference. In standby mode, this key allows you to set up a 3-way conference by dialing the desired parties or selecting their contacts from the phone book. In this case, all participants are called at the same time, which is very convenient and saves you from unnecessary actions. Also, this key will allow you to turn the current call into a conference. During a conversation in the conference itself, this key puts the entire conference on hold.
Smart Transfer. To work with this key, you must specify the number of the subscriber to which the functionality embedded in the button will be attached. After linking, you can call this subscriber if you are in standby mode, forward a call that has come to the phone, or transfer a call if the conversation has already begun. This function is often used to transfer the current conversation to your mobile number if you need to leave the workplace.
Quiet. Sometimes in office situations there are situations when the ringtone of the phone interferes, for example, an important meeting is taking place, but at the same time, you cannot miss calls. At such moments, you can turn on the “Silent” mode and the phone will continue to receive calls and display them on the screen, but it will stop notifying you with a ringtone. You can also use this key to mute a call that has already come to the phone, but has not yet been answered.
Dialed numbers. Another multifunctional key, the use of which is quite simple: pressing it shows the history of all outgoing calls. The last number in the history is preliminarily prepared for further dialling. Pressing again makes a call to that number.
In general, the functionality of each of the keys listed above is not unique and is present in the devices of competitors, however, for many of them you will have to make several manipulations in the phone menu to get the desired result, while with us everything is “at hand” when you turn on the device. The versatility of the keys is also important: depending on the situation, you can use them in one way or another.
BLF-keys of the phone can be very easily configured not only by the system administrator, but also by the user of the device. The algorithm is very simple: to start the setup, you need to hold down the desired key for a couple of seconds and the phone's main screen will display its settings menu.
Using the navigation keys, select the type, go to the corresponding submenu, specify the number and label that will be displayed on the additional screen.
Exit the menu. This completes the key setting, in just a couple of simple steps.
We pick up the handset of the phone and pay attention to one more unusual detail: the phone does not have the usual mechanical hang-up tab. The sensor detects the removal or repositioning of the tube in the bed. At first, for many, this is a somewhat unusual sensation, there is no inertia at the moment when we put the receiver in its usual place. But, thanks to the successful tilt angles of the stand, the handset lies like a glove on soft rubberized clamps in the stock. The release tab is a mechanical part that is most exploited and periodically becomes unusable, which means that its absence is an increase in the reliability and life of our phone.
When dialing a number, pay attention to the functionality of predictive dialing. As soon as you dial any 3 digits of the number, the machine will display contacts whose numbers begin with the dialed digits, as well as contacts whose names contain variations of all possible letters that are on the dialed keys.
The keyboard of the phone correctly and clearly fulfills all pressing. Despite the large number of keys, the phone itself is very compact, which is very important in an office environment. It often happens that an employee's desk is filled with folders with documents, stationery, other office attributes and, of course, a computer. In such a situation, there is not much space left for the phone, and the miniaturization of the device is a very big plus. In this Snom D785 can give odds to many competitors.
Now let's talk about sound. Its quality is what determines the quality of the phone itself. Our company is well aware of this, it is not for nothing that Snom has a full-fledged sound laboratory, where all manufactured device models are tested.
We pick up the phone, feeling its pleasant weight, and dial the number. The sound is clear and pleasant, both for reception and for transmission. The interlocutor is perfectly audible, the whole range of emotions is transmitted. The component base of the phone and speakers, in particular, are of high quality, which gives us an almost presence effect during the conversation.
The adjusted shape of the handset allows it not only to be securely located in the body of the device, but also to carry on a conversation for a long time without experiencing discomfort.
Well, if your hands are tired, turn on the speakerphone. The power button is located next to the volume rocker and has its own indicator light, very bright, it's hard not to notice it. You can also use the key to start a call after dialing a number.
The sound on the speakerphone is clear, the interlocutor on the “other side” hears you perfectly, even if you lean back in your office chair or slightly move away from the table. Under the same conditions, a speakerphone will allow you to carry on a conversation without listening.
Accessories
As mentioned earlier, as accessories, it is possible to connect the Snom A230 and Snom A210 wireless dongles and the Snom D7 expansion panel to our telephone as accessories. Let's say a few words about them:
DECT dongle A230 allows you to connect DECT headsets or an external speaker Snom C52 SP to your phone, saving you from unnecessary wires, while maintaining high sound quality and long range, thanks to the DECT standard.
The A210 Wi-Fi module works both in the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency range, which is more than relevant in modern realities, when 2.4 GHz networks are overloaded, but are widely used.
The Snom D7 expansion panel is made in the same style as the phone and complements it with 18 functional DSS keys. You can connect up to 3 of these expansion panels to your phone.
To sum up
Snom D785 is an extraordinary and reliable representative of the flagship line of office IP phones.
Like any device made by man, it is not without minor flaws, but they are more than compensated by the advantages of the device. Snom D785 is easy to use, easy to use, easy to set up. It provides decent sound quality and will serve as a true friend to both the secretary and the manager or other office employee, having all the necessary functionality. Its strict, and at the same time not stereotyped, design will decorate your workplace.
Source: habr.com