It can be annoying when your video is not clear during an important video conferencing meeting. To ensure that you have a clear view at all times with Jabra’s PanaCast web camera, here are some best practices you can follow:
Mount the camera at the eye-level of the participants in the room.
For Zoom users, remember that the Intelligent Zoom feature works up to 3.6m/12ft from PanaCast camera
Check the Field of View: Make sure you are using the optimal viewing angle. This setting is available in Jabra Direct
Adjust the Image Quality: Make sure your brightness and saturation are optimal according to your room settings. This can be found in Jabra Direct
Look around your meeting room to make sure that all participants are under proper lighting
Avoid any lights pointing directly at the Jabra PanaCast Web Camera
Check the Vivid HDR setting to optimize video under any lighting conditions and improve overall real-time experience
Optimize your video settings in your video conferencing application
Connect your cable to the right USB port:
A USB 3.0 port gives you 4K resolution at 30 frames per second
A USB 2.0 port gives you 4K resolution at 22 frames per second
There you have it! Is your PanaCast web camera all optimized and ready for a clear conversation? Share your experience with us!
Is your business utilizing SMS/MMS services? If not, it’s time to consider it! Engaging your customers has never been easier and faster. More and more businesses now use SMS/MMS texting services for a variety of applications including:
Sales promotions
Appointment reminders
Product launches
Identity verification
Alerts & notifications
Surveys
Customer support
Delivery tracking
Event ticketing
Marketing campaign
Contests
And more!
Text Messaging is More Effective Than Emails
Did you know that nearly every text message is opened, compared to only 1 in 5 emails? And almost all text messages are considered priority communications and read within 3 minutes. Customers also show higher engagement and response rates with text messaging! What does this mean? SMS/MMS has a lot of potential for your business!
Bubble by Broadvoice MMS/SMS Texting Services
Bubble by Broadvoice is designed to allow you to interact instantly with your clients no matter where they are — via business SMS/MMS messages. Let’s check out some of its must-have features:
Outbound text automation
Automate customer interactions using these SMS tools:
Textcasts – Broadcast a text message to a list of customer mobile numbers.
Message Templates – Set up automated responses to customer messages.
Timetexts – Schedule text messages one at a time, as a series or as appointment reminders.
Inbound text routing
Turn your call center into an omnichannel contact center with Broadvoice’s exclusive Live Agent Routing feature, which allows you to:
Route customer texts to agent queues just like phone calls.
Leverage built-in intelligence to direct calls to the right department or agent.
Monitor text queues, volume, and even individual interactions.
More Benefits of Bubble by Broadvoice
Avoid wasted time and manpower on missed calls and voicemail messages
Templatize and automate routine notifications and responses
Deliver promotions and special offers straight to your customers
Give customers immediate and responsive service they will rave about
Text enable your software, website, or other applications leveraging the simple API
Let customers contact your teams by text and phone
You are also able to easily monitor your customer engagement with Broadvoice Bubble’s intuitive dashboard!
The rise of remote work has brought opportunities to hackers. VoIP Supply and 3CX co-host a monthly webinar to help our 3CXresellers stay on top of the latest updates/ This month, we focused on the measures you can take to secure your phone system! Let’s take a quick glance at the eight actions you can take immediately:
Setting up your SIP authentication is the first step! The default setting requires a random 10 character alphanumeric SIP ID and password; however, you can secure further with more characters (up to 50)
#2 Extension Security: Voicemail PIN
Do you have PIN numbers for your voicemail? One you enable the default setting, you can set up a random 4-digits of numeric PIN and the system gives you 3 failed attempts. If you don’t need voicemail at all, it’s better to disable the function.
You can also make your voicemail more secure by increasing the PIN digit length (up to 10)
#3 Extension Security: Security Settings
Check out more security settings you can change to protect your system here:
Disable Extension for unused extensions
Disable External calls. Only internal calls possible
PIN Protect. Allow external calls only after entry of Voicemail PIN (Example: 777)
Prevent extensions from REGISTERing from outside the Local LAN
Prevent Apps from connecting from external locations through the tunnel
Set allowed country codes to specify to which countries your calls are allowed to be made. Follow these steps:
→ Settings → Security → Allowed Country Codes
→ Specifies to which countries calls are allowed to be made
→ Uses International Dialing Code from E164 settings
→ Match after Outbound Rule reformatting
→ Must match exactly to be effective
#5 Configure Secure SIP
→ Settings → Security → Secure SIP
→ Certificates pre-configured for 3CX FQDNs
→ Provision telephones in sSIP mode (Manually)
→ Attention: Secure SIP uses TCP port 5061 (Default)
3CX App for Windows
→ Extension → Phone Provisioning → SIP Transport = TLS
#6 SRTP
Encryption of audio streams (RTP)
→ from and to an active extension
→ Using crypto keys
→ Must be activated on Extension & IP Phone (useless without sSIP)
Setup of sRTP IP Phones
→ Enable sRTP via the Web UI of Phones
3CX App for Windows
→ RTP Mode = Only Secure
#7 Anti-Hacking Options
There are more anti-hacking actions you can take:
Failed Authentication Protection
→ Specify the amount of failed Authentication Attempts
→ Once Exceeded → Blacklisted
○ Default → 25 attempts
You can also secure your system further by reducing the number of attempts allowed (min 3). Just be careful that reducing too much may cause legitimate extensions to be Blacklisted!
Failed Challenge Requests
→ Specify the amount of Unchallenged 407 Authentication Requests
→ Once Exceeded → Blacklisted
The default gives you 1000 attempts but again, you can alter this number to reduce attempts allowed (min 100).
Protects against packet floods
Split into 3 levels/barriers
→ Below Amber = no action
→ Amber Barrier reached = 5 seconds (throttling)
→ Red Barrier reached = Blacklist interval
Blacklist Time Interval
→ Once IP is Blacklisted by Anti-Hacking Options
→ Remains Blacklisted for the number of seconds specified
The default number is 86400 s (24 hrs). You can increase value upto a maximum of 1,000,000,000 s (~11,574 days or 31.7 years).
#8 IP Blacklist
Block out unwanted guests by adding their IP address to a blacklist:
→ Dashboard → IP Blacklist
○ When Anti-Hacking criteria are met
→ IPs of ‘perpetrators’ are added
→ Default Global Blacklist Time Interval
You may also manually set up the Blacklist / Whitelist IPs to deny and/or allow certain IPs.
Did you join our VoIP Supply reseller webinar this month? If you didn’t, don’t miss out on this webinar recap! This month, Don talked about our new products, Snom’s new certification with Metaswitch, Broadvoice Bubble features, and so much more. Let’s dive in!
What New Products Should VoIP Resellers Look Out For?
There are many exciting new products being released this month!
Grandstream’s UCM6300
Grandstream’s UCM6300 has drawn a ton of attention and we will have them in stock on Monday (October 26th!). The UCM6300 Series is Grandstream’s latest IP PBXs that support desktop (WebRTC), mobile (Wave app), SIP video conferencing endpoints, IP phones.
ESI’s Access 5D Thermal Reader
Looking for a solution that will help your customers keep their work environment safe during this difficult time? Definitely check out the ESI Access 5D Thermal Reader!
This device is designed to check for a flexible set of variables that can be set by each organization according to their access needs. It utilizes RFID scans, QR codes, and even facial recognition for a wide range of different scenarios and businesses
Patton’s SN500
Don’t forget to also check out Patton’s latest addition to its SmartNode family. Designed for small/home offices and small to medium enterprises, the SN500 supports 4 to 30 concurrent SIP calls.
Metaswitch Certifies Interoperability with Snom SIP Phones
Snom is proud to announce the successful interop of Snom SIP phones with cloud-native communications leader, Metaswitch. The platforms added the following Snom desksets, DECT mobility and conference solutions to Metaswitch PBX solutions, resulting in successful interoperability and ease of configuration:
Have you heard of Broadvoice Bubble? Broadvoice Bubble lets users interact instantly with clients wherever they are via business SMS/MMS messages delivered automatically to their smartphones!
Key benefits include:
Avoid wasted time and manpower on missed calls and voicemail messages
Templatize and automate routine notifications and responses
Deliver promotions and special offers straight to your customers
Give customers immediate and responsive service
Text-enable your software, website, or other applications
Let customers contact your service by text as well as phone
It’s time to review our new VoIP Hardware this month! The biggest highlight goes to Grandstream’s new UCM6300 Series IP PBX.
Grandstream’s UCM6300 IP PBX
Grandstream’s UCM6300 series is a new series of high-end UCM IP PBXs. The UCM6300 series includes four models, the UCM6301, UCM6302, UCM6304, and UCM6308. These new IP PBXs draw a lot of attention between businesses looking for an increased capacity (up to 5000 users!). Click here to learn more about the UCM6300!
Key Features:
A true enterprise-grade unified communications solution
Increased capacity – up to 5000 users
Included video conferencing platform
Built-in high-availability and hot standby
API available for integrations and interoperability (Asterisk 16)
Yealink’s New T4U Series IP Phones
The next big highlight goes to Yealink’s T4U Series. Yealik’s new T4U Series offers the same elegant appearance as the T4 line, but with improvements on greater interoperability and better collaboration. These IP phones come with secure interoperability, easy customization, and more advanced features such as:
High Expansibility
Optima HD Audio
Acoustic Shield
Efficient Installation and Provisioning
Secure Transport and Interoperability
Patton’s SmartNode 500 Session Border Controller and Router
Designed for small/home offices and small to medium enterprises, the SN500 supports 4 to 30 concurrent SIP calls. The SN500 provides protection to your network, as well as call-quality assurance for ALL-IP business communications.
Key Features:
2 x Ethernet 10/100/1000Base-T
4 SIP Sessions no RTP transcoding (SIP b2b UA) upgradeable
Patton Cloud Orchestrated Advanced CDRs and Call Quality Metrics**
Ready to learn more new VoIP hardware this month? Visit our new product page here or give one of our VoIP solution consultants a call at 1-800-398-8647 today.
VoIP Supply is featuring used Poly products for this month’s top Refresh picks. Our Refresh product line is made up of quality used phones that have been put through our comprehensive 10-step process to help ensure that the products work well and look great.
Another 12-line IP Phone is the VVX 501. This model also features Gigabit ports and has a touch-screen display. This model has less BLF keys than the VVX 411 above and has a different interface, but the functions are very similar.
For the executive user or employees who handle a large number or calls, the Poly VVX 601 IP Phone adds 4 lines with support for up to 16-lines. It also features a larger screen than the previous models with a 4.3in LCD gesture based, multi-touch capable capacitive touchscreen display. The VVX 601 has been designed with managers and high-level employees in mind who can benefit from an expandable office phone.
All of the Poly models featured here are capable of easily integrating with third-party Unified Communications (UC) apps in order to help increase productivity.
For more information about Refresh (like new) products from VoIP Supply contact us as 1-800-398-8647.
For the executive user or employees who handle a large number or calls, the Poly VVX 601 IP Phone adds 4 lines with support for up to 16-lines. It also features a larger screen than the previous models with a 4.3in LCD gesture based, multi-touch capable capacitive touchscreen display. The VVX 601 has been designed with managers and high-level employees in mind who can benefit from an expandable office phone.
All of the Poly models featured here are capable of easily integrating with third-party Unified Communications (UC) apps in order to help increase productivity.
For more information about Refresh (like new) products from VoIP Supply contact us at 1-800-398-8647.
Remote teaching is just as challenging as distance learning. Especially for teachers who had no experience with remote communication devices. Luckily, with the right devices and practice, all teachers can get the hang of it pretty quickly! Our team put together these 4 tips to help you set up an effective virtual classroom:
extend your computer screen to a secondary screen in the room
2. Test Your Invitation
Practice sending out an invitation to children who are remote. You generally have two options:
Everyone who tries to join will be asked to join your classroom
Only allow students who are in your class to join the classroom
3. Check Audio and Video Settings
Make sure your audio and camera devices are selected properly.
For Google Meet Users:
Click ‘three dots’ in the bottom right of the Google Meet room
Click ‘Settings’
Audio tab
Microphone
Konftel Ego/55Wx
Speakers
Konftel Ego/55Wx
Video tab
Konftel Cam20/Cam50
Send ‘High Resolution’
For Zoom Users:
Click ‘^’ next to Mute
Select a Microphone
Select the Konftel Ego/Konftel 55WX
Click ‘^’ next to Video
Konftel Cam20/Cam50
4. Get Familiar with Your Controls:
Play around with the control settings ahead of time will help you prepare for the real class sessions. How do you mute and unmute a student? How do you share your entire screen or a Chrome tab? Check out these basics:
Are you trying to configure your voice message number on the Fanvil X6 IP phone? You need to configure the number first before you can retrieve any voice messages coming in. Let’s see how this can be easily accomplished:
How to Configure The Voice Message Number on Fanvil’s X6 IP Phone
When the device is in the default standby mode,
Browser the DSS LCD items until you find the [MWI] button.
Press [MWI] button to open the voice message configuration screen, select the line to be configured with up/down navigator keys.
Press [Edit] button to enable and edit the voice message number, when done, press [OK] button to save the configuration
Are you using Poly (Polycom) phones? Pairing the right VoIP headset with your Polycom VoIP phone is an important factor to enable clear communications. Let’s check out some of the best Poly (Polycom) compatible headsets on the market.
Featuring three different wearing styles, the Plantronics CS540 headset is best known for being lightweight (only 21 grams). The Plantronics CS540 is also equipped with one-touch controls, energy efficient power management, and simple plug-and-talk installation to optimize your satisfaction. If you have a limited budget, the refurbished Plantronics CS540 is available at our refresh center.
Som helpful features and functions include:
Range up to 350-feet away for maximum mobility
Offers you a choice of three wearing options to match your personal style
Premium wideband audio quality
One-touch call answer/end, vol +/-, and mute
Smart power management system optimizes for range and talk time
The Poly EncorePro HW520V is an over the head binaural headset designed for a variety of businesses, including contact centers. The HW520V VoIP headset provides soft ear cushions, making it easy to wear for hours at a time.
See why our customers love the HW520V:
Adjustable Fit for all day comfort
Noise cancelling boom
Visual and Tactile Positioning
Designed for call-intensive environments
SoundGuard Technology
What headset are you using for Polycom phones? We want to know.
If you still think only having firewalls would be enough to protect your phone system, you are really putting your system at risk! Firewalls were not designed for VoIP traffic, therefore, they don’t understand the SIP protocol and routing needs to provide proper protection. In our Session Border Controllers (SBCs) webinar with Sangoma, we demonstrated why having an SBC is crucial to your business. Here’s a quick flashback:
As remote working became a new normal, cybersecurity is now more important than ever! An SBC allows access to authorized endpoints on remote worker premises. This eliminates interoperation and firewall issues on corporate and remote worker networks, maintain security.
With an SBC, your system is able to detect and handle any attacks, adding an additional layer of control and protection.
3 Top Benefits of Sangoma SBCs
Sangoma’s SBCs are one of the most popular SBC options at VoIP Supply for a reason! While there are a ton of benefits we want to share with you, let’s start from these top three advantages:
Ease of Installation and Use
Simple Licensing
Straight Forward Configuration for Complex Solutions
Security: Numerous features such as IDS/IPS, ACL, Filtering and more
Poly’s Blackwire 3210 is a USB, one-ear VoIP headset that comes with advanced features. It is perfect for businesses using softphones on a regular basis. 
The Poly EncorePro HW520V is an over the head binaural headset designed for a variety of businesses, including contact centers. The HW520V VoIP headset provides soft ear cushions, making it easy to wear for hours at a time.
