Deerfield.com 3CX Blog

I admit, I am a geek.  For most of my life, I have been interested in, if not at times fanatical about technology.  To be honest, microcomputer operating systems are my passion (starting with cpm, dos, unix, pcmos, novell, windows, linux, mac to name a few), however I enjoy internetworking (LAN/WAN) easily as much.  I guess that would explain why Deerfield has been involved with IP PBX’s over the last 4 years or so (in addition to many other internetworking technologies over the past 2.5 decades).

So, in my spare time – I like to play, and keep abreast of emerging technology.  Especially if it is technology that in some way competes with products or services that we offer.  This time my muse is Google Voice – Google’s foray into the VM meets “single number reach”.  I have been testing and working with Google Voice for a couple of months, and while I am still trying to figure out where it fits into my telephony plan personally, I do think that it is a neat product.  Who’s it for?  If you want the short answer – I would say individual’s and SOHO business.  For those of you that wanted to know only that, you can stop reading now.

For those of you that want to know more; There are some really cool things about Google Voice.  The first thing that I need to point out is that there are two offerings from Google for Google Voice and in the onset you have to choose one or the other.  The first offering is to utilize an existing number that you own, and the second is to use a new Google Voice number.  I chose this second option because when I read the features – this was the more powerful of the two.  If you want to know the exact differences, you can look here.

The things that stand out to me are this – first it is very flexible in allowing you to configure what phones are going to ring when someone calls your Google Voice number, and how these calls are handled.  It even allows you to group callers and have different phones ring, and VM options based upon the calling party.  So for example – you can separate your friends, family, and co-workers into different groups and have unique ring patterns, and VM options for each group.

Additionally, Google puts its search technology on top of this, and also its Gmail technology, and it also allows you to send/receive SMS messages from your Google Voice account.  What you end up with is a single Gmail like interface that allows you to store, sort, read, and search all of your SMS and VM messages. Nice.

The coolest feature (IMHO) is the message transcription capability, which will take a VM message and transcribe it into a text message that you can read in the Google Voice interface, email client, or mobile device. Very cool.  You can read the VM like an email message without having to open a large attachment.  So far, I have to say that I am impressed with the accuracy so far – it’s not perfect, but very usable.  I am also using a Moto Droid, and I am assuming that they are using the same speech-to-text technology found in the Droid OS.

What’s been not completely clear to me is exactly how to use Google Voice personally.  Since we run our business on 3CX Phone System for Windows, most of this capability is built-in, so the only major feature that we are missing is the speech-to-text capability (hint, hint, lol ..).  For testing purposes, I’ve kind of made my cell phone a “silo” of sorts – which is not optimal.  So for me, having access to a modern IP PBX like 3CX, Google Voice does not add that much, but for a small company with an aging dinosaur (or no) phone system, or a small home business – Google Voice might a nice solution.

To coincide with the new release of the 3CX Assistant for 3CX Phone System for Windows, Deerfield.com has released an updated MailFlow plug-in.  Those using the plug-in may get the latest from within MailFlow under "Client Software" directly beneath Agent Views.   You must upgrade your 3CX Assistant prior to upgrading the Plug-in.   The latest 3CX Assistant is available from:  http://ftp.deerfield.com/pub/current/3cxassistantsetup.exe

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One of the coolest integration features of the paid versions of 3CX Phone System for Windows is the ability to talk to MS Exchange Unified Messaging (UM) as a substitute for the 3CX Voice Mail (VM) System.  Basically – this allows tighter integration of 3CX with users of Outlook/MS Exchange by allowing VM’s to appear in a unified messaging inbox.  User of this integrated 3CX/Exchange system can access either their VM’s or corporate email by phone – or in Outlook and Outlook Web Access (OWA).

The primary benefits of this type of deployment is that users can take advantage of Microsoft’s text-to-speech capabilities in UM and MS Exchange.  Actions can be performed such as reading emails (and even replying) via phone.  Voice command can also be used to manage your inbox and perform functions such as deleting or forwarding mail.  In Outlook and OWA – voice mail messages are available in the Inbox and can be played.  Additionally, in UM 2010, voice mail transcripts are available, so users can “read” a voice email directly as a text message.

3CX has just provided an updated guide on how to configure 3CX with either MS Exchange 2007 or 2010’s Unified Messaging.  To view the guide in its entirety – click here.

As a side note – 3CX will also integrate with just about any another email server, such as IceWarp Server, or Kerio Connect.  This will also provide the ability to receive VM and email in the same unified inbox. What MS Exchange UM provides over and above this capability is the text-to-speech, voice command capability, and transcription capability.  However – using 3CX with a “vanilla” email server can greatly reduce costs and simply installation and maintenance, while still providing a highly integrated system.

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I guess there’s really no other way to say it than.. “kickin’ butt” .  That’s what is going on over at 3CX these days.  Just following their blog posts has kept me busy – let alone all of the other progress that’s being made to ensure that 3CX Phone System for Windows becomes the premier IP PBX software in the space.  And we’re not just talking about IP PBX software space – but also the IP PBX space in general.

It seems that the world is waking up to the idea that the corporate phone system of today can be just another Windows server application – just like MS Exchange, or SQL Server.  The days of a proprietary dedicated box and enormous service contracts are now a thing of the past.  Running a 3CX Phone System on your favorite Windows box, and integrating to your favorite email, groupware and CRM systems is as easy as it gets.

Briefly – let me get you up to date on the recent blog posts over at 3CX for the past day or so …

1. 3CX Phone System and ATOM N270 Processor Benchmarking – this is a blog post detailing how well 3CX performs on Intel’s latest line of low-power / low cost processors.  Located here.

2. 3CX Assistant integration with Outlook, Salesforce.com – this is a blog post detailing the functionality of 3CX’s CRM plug-in technology and a guide on how to set it up with Outlook and Salesforce.com.  Located here.

If you’re not looking at 3CX today as an end-user customer, or partner – today might be a good day to reconsider that!

3CX provides monthly free training Webcasts for parties interested in - or looking to deploy 3CX Phone System for Windows, and the next one is scheduled for Thursday 11 March 2010 at 1500hrs (GMT+1).

This will be presented via Microsoft Live Meeting using its built-in VoIP for audio – so there will be no need to call into a conference call number.

To Join the Webcast:

Go to https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/meetwith3cx/join?id=GZ3M8K&role=attend and follow the on-screen instructions. No prior registration is necessary.

We should be able to accommodate anyone who wants to be present! (previously the limit was 25)

The Agenda

• Extensions
  • Creating Extensions
  • Voicemail Options for Extensions
  • Provisioning for Extensions, including BLF
  • Forwarding Rules for Extensions
  • Remote Extensions
  • VoIP Phone direct without Tunnel
  • VoIP Phone with Tunnel
  • Tunnel use with standard phones
• Gateways
  • Creating a Gateway
  • Demonstrate ease-of-implementation for Config-File-capable devices
  • Configuring DID/DDI numbers
• VoIP Providers
  • Creating a VoIP Provider
  • Demonstrate ease-of-implementation for Supported Provider Templates
  • Configuring DID/DDI numbers
• Bridge Connections
  • Master (No Tunnel)
  • Slave (NoTunnel)
• Other Features
  • Ring Groups
  • Auto Attendants / Digital Receptionists
  • Queues

3CX is looking forward to seeing you online!

As is the case with most Windows-based server applications - there is a universe of customers that will be looking to utilize them in a Windows Terminal Services environment. 3CX Phone System for Windows has answered this call by releasing a version of the 3CX Assistant optimized for Windows Terminal Services this week.

After high demand from 3CX administrators worldwide, 3CX have finalized a version of the 3CX Assistant that is specifically designed for Windows Server OS with Terminal service roles enabled. Click on over to the 3CX Blog for the specifics of this release here.

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Recently in February, Packt Publishing released the first hard-copy paperback (that I am aware of) on the popular 3CX IP PBX Phone System for Windows. The book is called "The 3CX IP PBX Tutorial", and is co-authored my Matt Landis and Robert Lloyd. Matt Landis, longtime 3CX enthusiast and VAR, has spent considerable time learning the "in's and out's" of 3CX, and has taken the time to document the most-sought information by new 3CX customers in the book. From what I can see already - the book contains a substantial amount of useful information for anyone looking to deploy 3CX, potentially saving new deployments the trials and tribulations of installing a new IP PBX.

I will be providing a more in-depth review of the book once I am finished, however if you are interested, you can get a preview by looking at one of the chapters that is hosted online on Packt Publishing. The chapter entitiled "Trunks—Connecting to the Outside World" is available online as a .pdf and can be viewed here.

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Today, 3CX launched the latest version of the 3CX Assistant for 3CX Phone System for Windows.

This new 3CX Assistant build has improved updating functionality.

In addition,  we have improved the TAPI driver such that it supports other applications besides Microsoft Outlook. Any TAPI aware CRM package can now launch calls, and if it supports ‘inbound TAPI’, a pop up will show with a customer record, based on the incoming Caller ID.

Some of this functionality might require a reinstall (as it involves the updater), but in many cases you can deploy the Assistant update via the server. (The first time the Assistant will be updated, 2 updates will occur subsequently). The below is the full change log:

Added: New TAPI driver can send caller ID information to any CRM package that supports the TAPI standard
Added: TAPI functionality in SiP Forked ID scenarios
Added: Czech translation
Added: Option to remember selection to either Auto-update or Not to update on login
Added: Virtualization for permissions in Update procedure to make the update procedure more stable in low permission windows user accounts
Added: CRM Outlook add now now compatible with limited User accounts (Standard user)
Added: Ability to update 3CX Assistant when user has limited rights (Standard user) but specifying the local administrator password.
Added: 3CX Assistant now supports switching between users on Vista and win7

Improved: 3CX TAPI driver now supports both outbound and INBOUND notification
Improved: Installation procedure for users with limited rights (Standard users) in Windows Vista and Windows 7
Improved: Faster login of 3CX Assistant on some machines
Improved: Updating of 3CX Assistant is now multi-user aware. Even machines with multiple 3CX Assistant installs can be updated as well as 3CX Assistant installs with limited rights

Fixed: Tapi is now no longer enabled in the 3CX Phone System Free edition
Fixed: Some rare scenarios would cause the Assistant to get stuck
Fixed: 3CX Phone integration remained grayed in preferences even though integration was selected
Fixed: Cancel Button in assistant’s installation was not canceling the installation
Fixed: Installation issues in repair and modify

You can download the update from Deerfield.net here, or use the check for updates function in 3CX Phone System (providing you have the latest build)

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Ramp up your sales of 3CX for 2010!

3CX resellers are encouraged to attend this free channel training webinar hosted by Deerfield.com on Thursday, February 25, 2010 from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (ET). You will become familiar with the 3CX Call Assistant and MyPhone Portal and discover some real world applications that you can use to sell to your customers.

Additionally. listen to 3CX Premium Partner Matthew Orr walk us through his most recent 3CX installations and learn from his successes and mistakes.

Discover how to become 3CX Certified – to be more knowledgeable about 3CX and receive more leads.

Agenda:

• 3CX Call Assistant and MyPhone Portal Training (Mike Ryan – 3CX Product Manager)
• 3CX Premium Partner will share his success stories and lessons learned with 3CX (Matthew Orr with Infosys Consulting – 3CX Premium Partner)
• 3CX Certification – How to get Certified and where to find training resources (Don Hoyt – 3CX Channel Manager)
• Q and A Session

There is no charge for this event, register here today.  Space is limited. 

To learn more about this event please contact the Deerfield.com Reseller Department at: 800.599.8856, skype.deerfield, or email: sales@deerfield.com.

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A sign of a successful technology product (of almost any kind) is something known as “third party” product support.  Basically a product has reached a critical market penetration when “third party” developers see a market opportunity for add-ons and enhancements for the original product.  3CX Phone System for Windows has become one such product, and we are pleased to announce that 3CX launched today the 3CX 3rd Party Application Solution Page on the 3CX website.

The add ons range from integration modules for CRM systems to Voice applications developed with the 3CX Voice Application Designer.

Currently, solutions from Bortech, Deerfield, InfoSys,  MDL solutions and SWS are featured.

Partners interested in developing add on applications for 3CX Phone System should review the 3CX APIs available on http://wiki.3cx.com/api. For integration with CRM solutions, 3CX recommends using the CRM plug in API – since you can re-use the 3CX C# code, you just need to adapt the “CRM calls” with the calls of the CRM package you wish to support.  If you have a project or solution that you wish to integrate with and require help in using these APIs, contact your channel manager for more information.

If you have an Add on already available for 3CX, and you are a 3CX Premium or Preferred partner, let 3CX know and they will list your solution! You can view the currently available list of 3rd party 3CX Add-ons here.

Cisco SPA Phones have the ability to look up for phone numbers and contacts in an Active Directory/LDAP. For this a template needs to be created and  the Cisco Phones need to be re-provisioned with this template to enable them  to access Active Directory and take AD user information from there.

.. have some Cisco SPA’s that you’d like to use with 3CX Phone System for Windows?  Like to use Windows Active Directory for your phone book? Read on!

In this next video installment of the the Visual Application Designer (VAD) for 3CX Phone System, Nick Galea walks you through creating your first 3CX application. This guided tour demonstrates how creating a simple 3CX app can query a customer for their customer number and then route the call to the appropriate extension, ring group, or queue.

This YouTube video will explain step by step how to create a sample application. This first part shows how to design the main flow, while the second part shows how to design the error handler and the disconnect handler flows.

Skills Covered by this Module

• Creating a new project
• Adding components to the callflow
• Creating a custom component to avoid spaghetti diagrams
• Adding input and output properties to the custom component
• Using the custom component

Here’s a “can’t miss” webinar if you are in the process of deploying a 3CX Phone System for yourself, or others.  Learning how to properly and automatically provision phone extensions is one of the biggest time-savers in a 3CX installation.  Join Kevin Attard Compagno for the Webcast, and learn how easy it really is!

3CX will now be providing additional free training Webcasts on more advanced topics. They have changed their online conferencing solution from Webex to Microsoft Live Meeting and can now support an unlimited number of attendees. The webcast will use built-in VoIP for audio – so there will be no need to call into a conference call number.

The first one is scheduled for Tuesday 16 February 2010 at 1500hrs (GMT+1).

To Join the Webcast:

Go to https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/meetwith3cx/join?id=8KFN4K&role=attend and follow the on-screen instructions. No prior registration is necessary.

We should be able to accommodate anyone who wants to be present! (previously the limit was 25)

The Agenda

• Extension and Phone Provisioning
  • Time & Date, TimeZone, DST
  • Preparing the Extension for Provisioning via the 3CX Management Console
  • Setting the Phone to retrieve its configuration files:
    • via DHCP Option 66
    • manually

Looking forward to seeing you online!

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OK.  I have to admit I was very skeptical, if not gagging on the idea of carrying a line of SIP phones named "Yealink".  I learned of them about a year ago, actually from Nick Galea (3CX CEO) originally.  If I recall - he told me that he had been contacted by their reps and were interested in having 3CX perform interop testing on their line of products (3CX since has completed testing - and 3CX Phone System software contains templates for some models now).  My skepticism was furthered by the fact that these phones have a MSRP far below other popular quality brands, and.. oh yeah, they are called "Yealink" ..  I remember briefly inquiring about distribution of these phones and learned that at that time we'd have to purchase a full container of them and go through the import process ourselves.  They were not being warehoused in the US at that time.  I thought..  no way .. end of story, forget about them, move on ...

Then about three months ago, I'm in Mike Ryan's office (Deerfield 3CX Product Manager) and he's got some new phone sitting on his desk... yup, a Yealink.  Apparently the US Yealink rep sent one of these to him for testing, and Mike's been in discussions with him about adding them to our product portfolio.  He offered to let me try it - but then I couldn't bring myself to putting a "Yealink" on my desk.  Mike at that time told me that he was very impressed with the phone - in particular how easy is was to provision, and use.  Yeah, right (I thought) and left his office.  But then on a subsequent trip into his office, I glanced over and saw that he was actually still using the forbidden "Y" phone and the screen display was actually showing the 3CX Logo.  How cool, you mean I can put a piece of black tape over the Yealink name (I joked) and have a 3CX phone on my desk!?  Ok - so I agreed to try it.  Mike reset it back to factory defaults and gave it to me.

So back I went to my office and I provisioned it.  From a manual provisioning standpoint (when you hand enter sip account details, etc.) I have to admit that is was probably the easiest sip phone I have ever set up.  Then I started to use it, and actually by the end of the week - I grew to really like this phone.  The particular model I was testing was the T28P, which retails for $188.95.  It is very easy to use, and the sound quality rivals those phones that we have in the upper end of the price spectrum (~$250-$300).  So afterward Mike Ryan took (stole) the phone back from me - but I have to admit I am sold on the value that the "phones that start with Y" bring - and actually asked him to get them into our product portfolio.  Which he did.  BTW - they are now being warehoused and supported here in the US, and are available via our Deerfield.net VoIP and IP PBX Solutions Center.  Is it OK if I just call it the "Y" phone?

Update:  With the new release of 3CX 8.0.10824 - additional support for Yealink has been added.  Specifically, improved provisioning templates, and the ability to remotely reboot the phones from the 3CX admin.