Reviews:
 ·Comcast
| reply to Trev
Re: [Equipment] Some very formal market research: Gigaset said by Trev:Just replying to a couple points for now; more will follow later today or tomorrow.
said by Mike Wolf:Regarding the Line Selectoin issue: Why not just have the handset prompt to select a line before each call or upon pressing the "Talk" button?
Here's the use case: - whole family shares the "main line" - one family member works from home and sometimes uses the "office line" Ideally general family members can use the phone just like the phone they do now. The one member who works from home and only occasionally needs CLID to show the office number doesn't want to be prompted each call. You can adjust each handset to prompt or only have specific handsets access and recieve certain lines.
said by Trev:The next-call-uses-this-line feature could be perfect, if it weren't for forcing the phone into speakerphone mode :/
said by Mike Wolf:Regarding the Info Center issue: I don't know why this is a problem, I think it would be a nice selling point for the user to check their email, news, and weather. You can go into the Info Center website on Gigaset.net and deselect all the different items.
Can you get a weather forecast for Victoria, BC, Canada? I didn't know how many Victorias there are in the world, but sadly my home town isn't on the list. I tried searching for Canada as well -- both on News and Weather -- and again, I didn't realize how many Canadas there are in the world, but none were the country I call home. Well yes you can, I just did and posted a screenshot. All I did was type in "Victoria BC"
said by Trev:The email would be useful if it had IMAP. In addition to AcroVoice, I'm part owner of an IT consulting company. We don't even allow our customers to use POP3; the only email access we permit is encrypted IMAP. These phones don't support that encryption nor IMAP.
You seem to forget that users want to access their own email accounts such as hotmail, gmail, aol, yahoo, and so forth, all of which may use POP3.
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I'm always up for a good chat and helping with VoIP testing so my contact info is below.
Gigaset.net: Michael Wolf
Callcentric: 17772288600
SIP URI: sip:226976325024#9@sip.gigaset.net and sip:17772288600@in.callcentric.com
Skype: MikeWolf051 |
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Reviews:
·Comcast
1 edit | reply to Trev
said by Trev:said by Mike Wolf:Regarding the auto-mic mute issue: When I run into that problem I just press the Mic button again and it unmutes so it doesn't affect really. I mean honestly if a user is setting up their voicemail I would think they'd dial the code themselves like *123 which is carried out like a normal telephone call thus the mic is not auto muted so I would think this is a moot point?
Many moot points -- these are mostly my observations that I thought might be useful to others that would like to read about Gigasets -- in particular the C610A IP (I'd rather get the C610 IP as it doesn't have the answering machine, but it's not as readily available). You can always deactivate the answering machine. |
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 TrevIP Telephony AddictPremium
join:2009-06-29
Victoria, BC
kudos:4 | reply to Mike Wolf
said by Mike Wolf:Well yes you can, I just did and posted a screenshot. All I did was type in "Victoria BC"
There we go. The secret is to include the province. Just searching for Canadian city names doesn't work.
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Wondering what I do? Find out at »www.digitalcon.ca
Get your Obihai ATA in Canada. |
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Reviews:
·Comcast
| Yup  It's the same with cities in the U.S., there's at least 12 places named "Beachwood" 's in the U.S. |
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 TrimlinePremium
join:2004-10-24
Windermere, FL
 ·Callcentric
| reply to Trev
said by Trev:I
Volume - my final opinion:
- Totally fine for my own needs, however I can understand concerns with users in noisy environments or with mild hearing loss. I think I will make note of this for any potential users.
Lack of dial plan:
- doesn't seem to be an issue; users can be told to use it like a cell phone rather than a desk phone. Since it's cordless this is much easier to get used to than a desk phone would be.
Those are the two show-stoppers. Send it back.
Volume: Don't do this to your customers. Lack of volume control is a big deal. It makes a total difference in "satisfaction". If I can't hear you, why bother to call.
Dial Plan: It does not pass the wife test - 7 digit dialing, etc.. Any SIP phone without a dial plan is not worthy, believe me, don't even try this on your customers.
These two items alone caused me to return my "defective" Gigasets. I don't want glamor, I want functionality. The Gigaset line delivers neither. |
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TrevIP Telephony AddictPremium
join:2009-06-29
Victoria, BC
kudos:4 | said by Trimline:Those are the two show-stoppers. Send it back.
Volume: Don't do this to your customers. Lack of volume control is a big deal. It makes a total difference in "satisfaction". If I can't hear you, why bother to call.
Dial Plan: It does not pass the wife test - 7 digit dialing, etc.. Any SIP phone without a dial plan is not worthy, believe me, don't even try this on your customers.
These two items alone caused me to return my "defective" Gigasets. I don't want glamor, I want functionality. The Gigaset line delivers neither.
I'm still playing around with this for a bit. Overall, I like these phones so far. Just waiting to have a guest come over and ask to use the phone so I can see if they can figure out it
The dial plan isn't really an issue... you can still grab a dial tone and start punching in digits. The server side (with AcroVoice, anyway) will figure out how to connect the call whether it was dialed with seven, ten, or eleven digits. The chief complaint about the lack of dial plan is the 4 second delay; this can't be eliminated without a client-side dial plan that knows the number has been fully dialed.
The delay is of course eliminated if you dial first and then hit the offhook button.
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Wondering what I do? Find out at »www.digitalcon.ca
Get your Obihai ATA in Canada. |
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OZOPremium
join:2003-01-17
kudos:2 | Why not to make its sound explicitly loud in the first place? So, users could go and use volume control to put volume down to the level they need. We all are different with our hearing abilities. But that's not it. I know callers that talk very quietly and I almost always have to play a guessing game with them - what did they say??? It's also matter of environment where (and sometimes when) you use the phone. In some cases loud sound is very well welcomed. I know that from my experience with my old Panasonic, where I miss the ability to make it somehow louder, than it works... It's a big drawback, if you ask me.
Dial plan is important for IP phone, I completely agree with Trimline  on that. It's not only about calling 7 digit numbers. This functionality allows users to choose VoIP providers per each type of call. For example, I'd like to use tf.callwithus.com gateway with phone number prefixed automatically, when I dial 1-800/855/866/888 numbers... I can easily do that right now with CSipSimple SIP client (Android smartphone). Why I can't do the same with hardware SIP phone too?
And finally I expect form IP phone to be able to call URI addresses / SIP numbers without a big hassle, using local phone book or directly. We all are going to do that soon, either we want it or not. And I don't want to be forced to buy a new IP phone in couple of years down the road just because of the lack of such support in current devices...
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Keep it simple, it'll become complex by itself... |
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| reply to Trimline
wow... |
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gweidenh
join:2002-05-18
Houston, TX
kudos:1 | reply to OZO
said by OZO:For example, I'd like to use tf.callwithus.com gateway with phone number prefixed automatically, when I dial 1-800/855/866/888 numbers... I can easily do that right now with CSipSimple SIP client (Android smartphone). Why I can't do the same with hardware SIP phone too?
You can easily do this with the Gigaset dial plan.
Simply set the dial plan to use the callwithus account anytime the number starts with 1800, 1855, 1866, or 1888.
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OZOPremium
join:2003-01-17
kudos:2 | I meant something like this (just as example):
• Matching rule: ^((\+?1)?(8(00|55|66|77|88)[2-9]\d{6}))$
• Replace with: $1@tf.callwithus.com
It's simple and elegant way to call toll free numbers directly via CWU (or any other similar) provider.
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Keep it simple, it'll become complex by itself... |
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| reply to Trev
I tried out the Gigaset a couple of months ago. Couldn't get started. Tech support said it was missing software snd I should return it, l which I did. |
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OZOPremium
join:2003-01-17
kudos:2 | reply to OZO
And BTW, Panasonics IP phones (both the 500 and 550 models) offer dial plan support...
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Keep it simple, it'll become complex by itself... |
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garys_2kPremium
join:2004-05-07
Farmington, MI Reviews:
·callwithus
·Callcentric
| reply to Trev
said by Trev:said by Trimline:Those are the two show-stoppers. Send it back.
Volume: Don't do this to your customers. Lack of volume control is a big deal. It makes a total difference in "satisfaction". If I can't hear you, why bother to call.
I'm still playing around with this for a bit. Overall, I like these phones so far. Please don't discount the volume issue. You may like the phone for a lot of reasons but if something as basic as being marginally able to use it is reported by a LOT of people then, IMHO, you should drop it from consideration. That is a BIG deal. |
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 nunyaWho is John Galt?Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
kudos:8
·Charter
 ·surpasshosting
·voip.ms
| reply to Trev
After some reading, I see that I overlooked a volume setting on the unit. After setting to the highest volume, it does seem about right for me. I think Gigaset needs to shift the volume higher on all settings.
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If someone refers to herself / himself as a "guru", they probably aren't. |
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| As I find the volume loud already even on the lowest setting, perhaps it would be a better solution to make the volume level have a wider range? |
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DavesnothereNo-BHELL-ity DOES have its Advantages
join:2009-06-15
START&Cogeco
kudos:6 | reply to nunya
I for one would be quite willing to pay the extra $50 or so that the Panasonic KX-TGP500 costs over the Giggleset C610A IP, in order to not have the several well-discussed hassles of the lesser priced brand.
So who's with me on this ? |
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nunyaWho is John Galt?Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
kudos:8 Reviews:
·Charter
·surpasshosting
·voip.ms
| I've never been impressed with Panasonic products. In the world of phone systems, they have a pretty rough reputation. I hate them and Toshiba about the same.
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If someone refers to herself / himself as a "guru", they probably aren't. |
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OZOPremium
join:2003-01-17
kudos:2 | What don't you like about Panasonic? Could you please share your experience with us?
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Keep it simple, it'll become complex by itself... |
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TrevIP Telephony AddictPremium
join:2009-06-29
Victoria, BC
kudos:4 | reply to garys_2k
said by garys_2k:Please don't discount the volume issue. You may like the phone for a lot of reasons but if something as basic as being marginally able to use it is reported by a LOT of people then, IMHO, you should drop it from consideration. That is a BIG deal.
It's not discounted. It remains a concern, but not necessarily a concern that can't be compensated for or perhaps resolved in some fashion.
As with all products AcroVoice sells, I use them myself for some time before allowing them to be sent out to customers. I've had one call where I had a hard time hearing the caller. They were calling from a rural area that had a wonderful analog back haul full of background noise and frequent pops and clicks. The voice was very faint on top of the constant hiss.
I had to transfer the call to my Aastra to have a decent conversation.
I've let Gigaset know my thoughts and am awaiting to see if there's hope for a change or if the volume levels are set and that's that.
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Wondering what I do? Find out at »www.digitalcon.ca
Get your Obihai ATA in Canada. |
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