Free Switchvox User Training When You Buy Switchvox SMB Systems from VoIP Supply

March 28, 2014 by Nathan Miloszewski

Free Switchvox User Training when you buy a Switchvox SMB System or Software – Promotion Runs Oct. 1 – Dec. 31, 2013

UPDATE

This promotional combo ends on March 31, 2014.

Free Switchvox User Training Details

Now is a great time for small and medium businesses to step into a new Switchvox SMB Unified Communications (UC) solution.

We’re excited to offer free Switchvox User Training, valued at $995, with the purchase of the following Switchvox SMB appliances and software:

If you’re checking out online, it’s simple. Under “Options” just select the Switchvox User Training box to add it to your order at no charge.

“The Switchvox User Training is an online, self-paced two hour course that will teach anyone in your business the ins and outs of Switchvox, the Switchvox user web suite and GUI, the Switchboard, and Digium phones,” said Ben Sayers, CEO of VoIP Supply.

Every person in your company can use a single user training login to learn how to use and navigate a new Switchvox VoIP phone system which is more than just an office phone system and offers.

VoIP calling, faxing, instant messaging
The Switchboard, an interactive communications dashboard for each user
3rd Party Integration with CRM platforms
Video, presence, conferencing
Detailed reporting

Switchvox system capabilities range from 30 or less users up to 600 users and 150 concurrent calls for a variety of work environments.

First Look: Aastra 6865i 9-Line VoIP Phone

March 21, 2014 by Nathan Miloszewski

Aastra has just released their new Aastra 6800i Series that includes four VoIP phones models to serve a variety of users. The 6800i Series offers Aastra’s best quality, features, and pricing to date with three key selling points:

Design: A thin, modern, space saving design
Audio: Enhanced HD audio for natural sounding calls even with the speakerphone
Power Consumption: Environmentally and budget friendly power saving features

Our first look at the Aastra 6865i is the next level up from the 6863i base model in this range of phones.

What Is It?

The Aastra 6865i is a 9-line VoIP phone in a compact design that offers:

Display: Easy to read 3.4″ LCD display with large fonts and soft white backlighting.
Audio: Includes Aastra’s high definition Hi-Q™ audio technology for clear calls from the handset, headset, or speakerphone.
Connectivity: Dual Gigabit Eithernet ports.
Flexibility: XML capable, 8 programmable keys, and an innovative headset port that supports both DHSG/EHS and 4-pin connections – no additional adapters or cables are needed for wireless headsets.
Power Savings: Uses efficient Power over Ethernet (PoE) Class 2, allows you to set up power management features, and is compatible with an optional energy efficient Level V AC Adapter
Accessories: Wall-mount kit and two Expansion Module options with the color LCD, 28 key M685i Module and the cost efficient 16 key M680i Module.

Who Is It For?

The 6865i is a great choice for small to large business that need a versatile phone with multiple lines and headset options and for anyone who appreciates Aastra’s commitment to power saving features and use of recycled and biodegradable materials in their packaging materials.

Pricing

The 6865i is currently priced at under $155.00.

Availability

The 6863i has an estimated shipping date of April 2014. VoIP Supply is currently taking pre-orders.

Downloads

Aastra 6865i Datasheet

First Look: Aastra 6863i 2-Line VoIP Phone

March 19, 2014 by Nathan Miloszewski

Design: A thin, modern, space saving design
Audio: Enhanced HD audio for natural sounding calls even with the speakerphone
Power Consumption: Environmentally and budget friendly power saving features

Our first look at the Aastra 6863i is the entry level model in this range of phones.

What Is It?

The Aastra 6863i is a dependable 2-line VoIP phone in a compact design that offers:

Display: 2.75″ monochrome LCD display
Audio: Advanced audio processing from software, including Aastra’s high definition Hi-Q™ audio technology, and hardware, provide you with remarkably clear calls from either the handset or the speakerphone.
Connectivity: Dual 10/100 BaseT Ethernet ports
Flexibility: 3 programmable keys
Power Savings: Uses efficient Power over Ethernet (PoE) Class 1, allows you set up power management features, and is compatible with an optional energy efficient Level V AC Adapter
Accessories: An optional wall-mount kit is available

Who Is It For?

The 6863i is ideal for common areas that need a basic phone, for workers who have low call volumes and don’t need many line appearances or have any use for advanced features, and for anyone who appreciates Aastra’s commitment to power saving features and using recycled and biodegradable materials in their packaging materials.

Pricing

The 6863i is value priced at under $100.

Availability

The 6863i has an estimated shipping date of April 2014. We are currently taking pre-orders.

Downloads

Aastra 6863i Datasheet

First Look: Grandstream GXP2130

March 17, 2014 by Tom Costelloe

Grandstream GXP2130 First Look I’m starting to wonder if the off switch at the Grandstream new phone model assembly line is broken because today they announced another new VoIP phone with even more on the way. The newest model off the conveyor belt is the Grandstream GXP2130.

What is it?

Of the latest enterprise grade VoIP phones in the GXP series Grandstream GXP2130 is the entry level phone; although, entry doesn’t mean it is a stripped down phone. Quite to the contrary the GXP2130 has many of the same features as the GXP2140 and GXP2160 that were released at the end of last year. These similar features include a TFT Color LCD Display, dual gigabit RJ45 ports, support for PoE and EHS support with Plantronics headsets.

What separates the GXP2130 from the other models are some of the feature details and the specs. As an entry level phone the Grandstream GXP2130 has fewer line appearances (3), a smaller display (2.8″ (320×240)) and less programmable keys (12 in total).

Some of the key features and details of the GXP2130 include:

3 Line appearances
4 programmable context-sensitive soft keys
8 programmable BLF extension keys
Support for G.722 HD Voice
2.8″ (320×240) TFT Color LCD Display
Dual Gigabit RJ45 Ports
Built-in auto sensing IEEE 802.3 af Power over Ethernet
Universal Power Supply Included
RJ9 headset port
Support for Electronic Hook Switch (EHS) with Plantronics Headsets
Grandstream GXP2130 Datasheet

Who is it For?

From looking at the specs of the GXP2130 I see a few different users who may find it as a good fit for their telephony needs. The first one that comes to mind is a sales or customer service rep. The multiple line features would give the user the ability to handle more than one call at a time. Another area where there may be a strong use case for this phone is in public spaces such as lobbies or hallways. The programmable keys could easily be programmed to ring departments or individuals.

Pricing

The MSRP for the Grandstream GXP2130 is $99

Availability

This new Grandstream VoIP phone is scheduled to ship from VoIP Supply in early April. You can shop on-line for Grandstream phones on VoIPSupply.com or contact the VoIP Supply sales team at [email protected] or by calling 1-866-582-8591.

VoIP Q & A: Cisco Intercom, WiFi Video Conferencing, and AT&T Small Business VoIP Systems

March 15, 2014 by Nathan Miloszewski

Questions about VoIP devices and services are regularly submitted to VoIPSupply.com through a technical support ticket or via the “Ask The Expert” tab on our product pages.

We respond to these requests directly but more often than not, this Q & A would be helpful for lots of other folks.

Below are your VoIP questions answered – Real questions from real people just like you.

Cisco SPA303G 3-Line VoIP Phone

Q: I am a solo attorney. I have a support person who answers the phone for me. Does this phone have an intercom type feature that allows her to “buzz” me and let me know who’s calling?

A: Yes, the SPA303G does have the intercom feature that you’re looking for.

This feature is called paging and it works like this:

Your IP phone can automatically answer pages from other Cisco IP phones in the office, if your phone administrator has enabled this feature. When your phone is paged, the phone emits a series of beeps, and two-way audio is established between your phone and the phone that called you. You do not have to accept the page.

For more information, go to Page 62 of the Cisco SPA303G User Guide.

Q: Our facility in Texas needs to deliver digital instructions to a group of people via video conferencing system. The group has a common school house with electricity but no Internet. They have wifi phone service however most do not have phones. Most families do not have computers or power at home. How can we communicate and teach them remotely? What solutions will we need at our facility and at the remote end?

A: Sounds like you’re in quite the pickle there. There is a solution though, and one that applies to many things in life:

Keep It Simple!

Since the common school house has electricity and WiFi service just use something like mobile Google Hangouts which offers free video calls for face-to-face connections on a tablet, laptop, or even a cell phone on both ends of the connection. No need for a fancy video conferencing system here.

AT&T Syn248 Analog Gateway Phone System

Q: We are seeking to buy a system that supports VOIP gateways as our phones will run on high speed internet. Will this system [AT&T Syn248 Analog Gateway Phone System] work for us? If not, is there another to which you might direct us?

A: Yes, the AT&T Syn248 Analog Gateway is a great entry-level small business phone system to get started with when switching over to VoIP.

The Syn248 can also be stacked with another Syn248 to add additional phone lines if you ever need to expand.

Just remember that the Syn248 analog gateway needs a AT&T Syn248 Desk Phone to operate because it’s a proprietary gateway that only works with the AT&T Syn248 Small Business Phone System. Configure your own AT&T system here:

Stay Tuned

Check back next time for more VoIP Q & A.

Thanks for your questions!

New Grandstream Learning Webinar Series

March 8, 2014 by Nathan Miloszewski

Grandstream Learning Series Hosted by VoIP Supply

VoIP Supply has teamed up with Grandstream to provide the Grandstream Learning Series for you to get a first-hand look at:

Grandstream Phones: New Grandstream GXP2140 and GXP2160 Enterprise VoIP Phones with color touch screens
Grandstream IP PBX: Grandstream UCM6100 IP PBX Series for Unified Communications (UC) applications
Grandstream IP Surveillance: Integrated Grandstream IP Surveillance Solutions
Grandstream Video Phones: Revolutionary Grandstream GXV Series IP Video Phones

When, What, How

The Grandstream Learning Series starts in March 2014 and runs through June 2014. Each live webinar will run for an hour.

Attendees will get in depth looks at the devices and the solutions and have an opportunity to ask questions and get information on how to create a communication or surveillance solution customized for their business.

Plantronics Wireless Headsets Promotion Going On Now

March 7, 2014 by Nathan Miloszewski

Plantronics Wireless Headsets are great. But if you think that they’d be more great if they came with free accessories and a rebate, then you are in luck.

Right now Plantronics is offering two great deals on two great headset series:

Plantronics CS500 XD Series: With every of a CS500 Series headset get your choice of a free EHS Cable or Headset Lifter.
Plantronics Voyager Legend CS: Get a $50 Rebate with each Voyager Legend.

About Plantronics CS500 XD Series

With up to 8.5 hours of talk time and a range of up to 350 feet, the CS500 XD Series gives you great mobility and multitasking capabilities.

The CS500 XD headsets are used with either an Electronic Hookswitch (EHS) Cable or Handset Lifter to remotely answer and end calls.

About Plantronics Voyager Legend CS

Voyager

The Plantronics Voyager Legend CS is a single, behind-the-ear wireless headset tested for comfort that’s designed for all day use because it will pair with both your desktop VoIP phone and cell phone.

This dual-purpose Voyager Legend CS gives you seven hours of talk time to keep you connected while you’re in the office and for when you’re leaving it.

The Difference Between H.264 and MxPEG

March 4, 2014 by Taylor Hamp

If you’ve been looking at a MOBOTIX solution, chances are you’ve noticed MOBOTIX cameras record in all the expected compression’s, and then in an extra compression: MxPEG. You may be asking yourself ‘What is this MxPEG? How does it compare to H.264?’ Let me help you out with that.

Video recorded in HDTV (1920 x 1080) is compressed in H.264. It was created for broadcasting high definition video, which is why nowadays it’s the most common video compression out there. While it’s ideal for bandwidth conservation, when paused on a frame, there is a fuzziness to the image. A minor inconvenience really. It’s usually acceptable, which is why most surveillance companies allow H.264 as one of their compression options, but MOBOTIX wasn’t satisfied.

As a surveillance company, MOBOTIX created their own video compression, MxPEG. Upon a vendor/company visit, MOBOTIX had MxPEG compressed video footage they demonstrated for us here at VoIP Supply, and when the footage was paused, the frame was crisp, clean, and clear. This screenshot conveys it perfectly: bees can flap their wings 250 times per second, and this shot was taken from a MOBOTIX camera using the video compression MxPEG.

Not the bees!

As you can see, it’s crystal clear. You can even see the wings perfectly. The reason for this is MxPEG uses what’s called an I-Frame for each frame. H.264 delivers I-Frames, but there are also P-Frames, which are slightly lower quality but more of them. That’s why when watching an HD video, H.264 is ideal because the human eye is only picking up the I-Frames, but when paused, those low quality P-Frames create that fuzziness. Try it out when you get home.

i Frame

So because each frame is an I-Frame and high quality, MxPEG would take up a lot of bandwidth, right? Not at all. MxPEG was created to only record the changing pixels. The static pixels are recorded in the first frames, but after that, the technology in the IP camera is smart enough to recognize the live image isn’t changing, so it conserves bandwidth. The MOBOTIX technology then recognizes when pixels change, such as a moving person or car, and it records only those pixels (tiles, as they’re referred to in the image below) and stores them away under MxPEG compression.

The nice thing about MxPEG is you can run the frame rate as low as 5 fps or even 1 fps and get exceptional images every time, rather than running the H.264 compression at 15 fps or 30 fps and gamble for a crisp image.

Should the situation call for an NVR, Qnap supports MxPEG, but all MOBOTIX IP cameras work as a decentralized system, meaning they can view, process, analyze and record footage all within the camera itself. Depending on exactly what you need to record, everything might be entirely manageable within a MOBOTIX camera itself.

*Images courtesy of MOBOTIX

There’s a New Option for Elastix Systems and You’ll Be Pleasantly Surprised

by Taylor Hamp

VoIP Supply is happy to announce that our Elastix line is now certified compatible with the Yeastar NeoGate TG800 VoIP GSM Gateway.

Previously Yeastar could say they were compatible with Elastix because their hardware worked with Elastix systems, but now it’s official. Yeastar completed the Elastix Certification Test on their NeoGate TG800 GSM Gateway and officially joins the ranks of other certified compatible hardware companies such as CyberData, Digium, Grandstream, Patton, Sangoma, Snom, Xorcom and Yealink.

Yeastar had this to say:

“Yeastar is pleased to announce that [the] NeoGate [TG800] VoIP GSM gateway has successfully completed test of compatibility with the Elastix system for NeoGate TG800. NeoGate is a powerful VoIP GSM gateway with 8 channels, bridging between GSM network and IP-based systems. […] This certificate gives assurance to our customer that the products and services of NeoGate can be seamlessly integrated with Elastix to have an easy and cost-efficient communication.”

GSM gateways act to connect GSM networks (such as wireless telephony carriers) to VoIP networks for two-way communication. The TG800 in particular is ideal for small to medium sized businesses with heavy demands to call mobile networks, or whose offices are in remote locations. GSM gateways are also favored as a fallback solution in case of landline outages.

Yeastar GSM gateways are designed to reduce the cost of telephone calls it can find the cheapest route and use the most economical SIM card. Yeastar NeoGate GSM gateways are compatible with a wide range of IP-PBXs including but not limited to Trixbox, FreeSWITCH, 3CX, and Microsoft Lync.

For more information about GSM gateways or Elastix, talk to one of our experts at 1.800.398.8647 to see if Elastix or Yeastar can meet your business needs.

Bitcoin Now Accepted at VoIP Supply

March 1, 2014 by Nathan Miloszewski

Note: Beginning June of 2017, we are no longer accepting Bitcoin as a form of payment.

Beginning on March 1, 2014 customers can begin using Bitcoin as a form of payment for orders with VoIP Supply.

VoIP Supply is the second company in Western New York or, the greater Buffalo and Niagara Falls area for you out-of-towners, and we are joining some other nationally known e-tailers like Overstock.com in recognizing this digital currency.

I asked Ben Sayers, CEO of VoIP Supply, a few questions to help further explain this decision.

4 Quick Questions with VoIP Supply CEO Ben Sayers about Bitcoin

VoIP Insider: For over 10 years VoIP Supply has been helping people transfer voice over the internet. Did you ever think you’d be helping people transfer a digital currency through the internet as well?

Ben Sayers: While I can’t make any claim to predicting the rise of digital currency and its use as a global payment system, we did get involved in VoIP when it was in its infancy as it relates to main stream adoption by business and phone system integration companies. Being on the leading edge of technology is part of our culture and inspiring other businesses to get involved by leading the way is just the way we always try to be.

VI: How can customers benefit from VoIP Supply now accepting Bitcoin as a form of payment?

Ben Sayers, VoIP Supply CEO, talks about Bitcoin

Sayers: One of the notable ways that our international customers will benefit immediately is through the quickness of payment. Compare the 7-10 days it takes today’s banking system to complete an international wire transfer to the seconds, perhaps minutes that it takes to send payment via Bitcoin.

For domestic companies, the ease of use and ability to complete large transactions without limitations placed on individuals and companies by credit card companies is of benefit. Furthermore, there is far less chance of fraud with no credit card data being transmitted or stored anywhere.

VI: For anyone that doesn’t have a digital wallet yet, any advice for getting started with Bitcoin?

Sayers: Getting started is simple, there are several online wallet companies making it easier and easier every day. Coinbase.com and Coinkite.com are two that make it quick and painless. First though, I would recommend visiting Bitcoin.org to gain a basic understanding of the technology, how it works, why it exists and some general terminology.

VI: Why is VoIP Supply joining the Bitcoin movement or, what do you hope to see in the future for this new economy?

Sayers: The monetary system hasn’t changed in decades and certainly hasn’t kept pace with technology. I’m excited to see a new platform that is usable as both global currency and payment system with easy integration into today’s systems of commerce. I personally don’t believe that the use and scope of this technology has even had its surface scratched and based on the incredible amount of VC money flooding into the concept, I’m certainly not alone.

As an online retailer, the reduced transaction fees, increased speed of transactions, global reach and use, reduction in fraud capabilities and the inability for credit card companies to approve charge-backs based on their personal best interest are all appealing reasons for using Bitcoin.

Need More Info?

Click the following for more information:

Free Switchvox User Training When You Buy Switchvox SMB Systems from VoIP Supply

UPDATE

Free Switchvox User Training Details

First Look: Aastra 6865i 9-Line VoIP Phone

What Is It?

Who Is It For?

Pricing

Availability

Downloads

First Look: Aastra 6863i 2-Line VoIP Phone

What Is It?

Who Is It For?

Pricing

Availability

Downloads

First Look: Grandstream GXP2130

What is it?

Who is it For?

Pricing

Availability

VoIP Q & A: Cisco Intercom, WiFi Video Conferencing, and AT&T Small Business VoIP Systems

Stay Tuned

New Grandstream Learning Webinar Series

When, What, How

Plantronics Wireless Headsets Promotion Going On Now

About Plantronics CS500 XD Series

About Plantronics Voyager Legend CS

The Difference Between H.264 and MxPEG

There’s a New Option for Elastix Systems and You’ll Be Pleasantly Surprised

Bitcoin Now Accepted at VoIP Supply

Note: Beginning June of 2017, we are no longer accepting Bitcoin as a form of payment.

4 Quick Questions with VoIP Supply CEO Ben Sayers about Bitcoin

Need More Info?

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