Cisco SPA504G (VSRF) Salvage Edition

During 2009 when the world economy was struggling VoIP Supply launched their VoIP Supply Refreshed (VSRF) or Refresh phones as an alternative to new-in-box phones from manufacturers but without the risks and uncertainty of used phones from eBay.

To make this happen VoIP Supply set up a detailed 10 step reconditioning process that each phone goes through where they are examined, upgraded, reset to defaults and repackaged with all of the parts, a CD that includes all the datasheets and manuals and a certificate of Refreshness signed by the VoIP Supply employee who Refreshed the phone. Additionally each phone comes with a six month Plus 6 Warranty that can be extended to 1 year for a small fee.

Earlier this year Nate Martin asked if they could take a phone home to do a custom refresh on the phone. Taking a Cisco SPA504G home Nate worked for two months trying different ways he could customize the phone to mixed results until eventually he unveiled his prototype, Cisco SPA504G (VSRF) Salvage Edition.

While the telephony features of the SPA504G Salvage Edition aren’t any different it has gone through several noticeable cosmetic enhancements:

• Taking inspiration from an Eames Lounge Chair he gave the phone a fresh coat of shiny black paint
• To keep on the Eames theme he replaced the panel around the display with a custom wood panel which he engraved with the Cisco logo and SPA504G model number before varnishing it
• As a further nod to the 1960s the numerical dial pad keys were replaced with old typewriter keys that he was able to salvage from a typewriter he bought from Buffalo ReUse
• Further still with the 60s inspiration the curly phone cable has been replaced by a curly guitar amp cable. An update was the integration of a phone handset cord swivel on both ends to help reduce knots in the cable
• One final change is the replacement of the 4 direction knob for menu navigation with the directional pad from his old Nintendo NES controller

When asked about for his thoughts Ben Sayers, VoIP Supply CEO, first asked for it to be put on his desk before going on to say “I am really impressed with what he has done with creating this phone. Besides being a very unique piece it also incorporates and can be used as an example of a lot of the values that VoIP Supply stands from.”

To show his support for the work that had done VoIP Supply has commissioned an initial run of 25 Cisco SPA504G (VSRF) Salvage phones.