Grandstream GXV3140 Now Skype Certified

As Skype continues to evolve as a service provider it’s inevitable that they will continue to find ways to move away from the desktop and onto the desktop.

Over the summer, Grandstream released a new firmware version that allow it’s GXV3140 to natively support Skype and Skype video calling. Today, Grandstream has taken this one step further by announcing that they Grandstream GXV3140 is now Skype certified.

What’s this mean?

Well, unlike this summers announcement, it means that Skype has officially given the Grandstream GXV3140 its blessing, making it the second videophone on the market for use with Skype. And according to Grandstream,

“Skype certification on the GXV3140 IP multimedia phone creates a seamless video-enabled communications experience from PC to desk phone, giving Skype users the utmost flexibility and convenience for video calling. Grandstream’s GXV3140 bridges the gap between convenient-to-use dedicated voice/video end-points and the increasingly popular world of PC-based Internet multimedia communication offerings like Skype.”

The idea of seamless video communications is a major hurdle to widespread video calling adoption. For the most part there is little interoperability between video calling services and hardware, leaving most companies interested in video calling hesitant to pull the trigger for fear of living in a walled garden.

While this announcement certainly won’t change this, it is a step in the right direction and a sign that more seamless video communications solutions are coming.

Grandstream Networks Adds HD Audio to the GXP2120 and GXP2100 IP Phones

 
Grandstream Networks Adds HD Audio to the GXP2120 and GXP2100 IP Phones   The Grandstream GXP2120 and GXP2100 desktop enterprise SIP telephones were designed for SMBs, and they feature business productivity applications, HD audio quality, and broad SIP interoperability with third-party SIP platforms and devices. Grandstream Networks, maker of IP voice/video telephony and video surveillance solutions, has expanded HD telephony solutions for SMB enterprise communications. The company added to its GXP series of desktop enterprise SIP telephones with the new Grandstream GXP2120 and GXP2100 models. According to Grandstream, the new models were designed to “meet the need for crystal clear voice communication.” The new GXP models come packed with business productivity features and applications, HD audio quality, and broad SIP interoperability with third-party SIP platforms and devices.

The introduction of the GXP2120 and GXP2100 telephones add to Grandstream’s HD voice solutions, joining the recently introduced GXP2110. “Multiple desktop model options give SMBs the ability to select a HD telephone that best fits their size and need,” states a Grandstream Networks press release submitted to EH Publishing.

New Grandstream GXV 3140 IP Video Phone is Skype Certified

 
New Grandstream GXV 3140 IP Video Phone is Skype Certified Grandstream Networks, manufacturer of IP voice/video telephony and video surveillance solutions, announced that its award-winning GXV3140 IP multimedia phone.    The GVX 3140 uses mega-pixel camera and H.264 codec to deliver razor sharp video calling over Internet, is officially certified by Skype and incorporates native Skype embedded software to allow Skype video calling without a PC. Skype’s community of users worldwide, who already have the capability to send and receive free video calls to and from their computers, can now do so with Grandstream’s IP multimedia phone. Designed to strengthen relationships with business colleagues and customers, as well as keep in touch with family and friends, the GXV3140 offers FREE two-way or three-way video calling out-of-the-box along with real-time instant access to a variety of Web and popular social multimedia applications.

“Skype certification on the GXV3140 IP multimedia phone creates a seamless video-enabled communications experience from PC to desk phone, giving Skype users the utmost flexibility and convenience for video calling,” said David Li, CEO of Grandstream Networks. “Grandstream's GXV3140 bridges the gap between convenient-to-use dedicated voice/video end-points and the increasingly popular world of PC-based Internet multimedia communication offerings like Skype."

The Skype-enabled Grandstream GXV3140 is the industry’s first desktop IP multimedia phones compatible with both Skype and SIP open standards for voice & video calling. No service contract or additional monthly fee is required to use Skype for video calling.

With a 4.3” digital color LCD, the ‘always-on’ GXV3140 has an integrated Web browser, giving users convenient, one-touch access to personalized feeds of real-time online information services (such as news video or RSS feeds, weather, IM, stock/currency updates, etc), thousands of Internet radio stations, major Web photo sites (Yahoo Flickr, Photobucket, Phanfare), popular social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter) and Internet streaming entertainment sites like YouTube and Last.fm.

Earlier this year, Grandstream also announced successful Skype Connect™ certification for its IPPBX and gateways. Skype Connect interoperability allows business users to receive calls through their Grandstream IPPBX from Skype users around the world. Companies can now allow their customers and remote employees to make free inbound calls to their corporate PBX system using Skype from anywhere in the world.

“We are pleased to deliver this new video device category that works with Skype and are honored to be selected for our innovation, rich features, and affordability. The GXV3140 phone joins Grandstream’s other Skype-enabled solutions including our IPPBX and gateway products previously certified by Skype,” Li added. “We value our strategic relationship with Skype and look forward to bringing more devices with Skype integration to market in the future.”

Pricing and Availability

The GXV3140 is available through Skype Store and Grandstream’s worldwide distribution partners for $229.00.

Asterisk Grandstream Paging

(Revised for GXP-21xx Series Phones) 10-22-2010

Here is an example of two paging methods that can be used from the Grandsteam GXP-20XX and GXP-21XX series.

These methods can be extended to do many paging tasks. Our favorite is using the GXP-XXXX intercom button to trigger a meetme session with all the extensions in an office.

The first method uses the Paging function in the phone.
This is the most natural and allows you to use the phones built-in feature.
You select your line and hit the OK (GXP-2000) button or the MENU (GXP-20XX,GXP-21XX) button
This puts the phone into paging mode then you dial the extension.

The second method is to prefix the extension with an * character.
This is was the traditional method offered by Grandstream on their site, I have provided them with the first method and they are working on a white paper using the first method.

This example was written to run on Asterisk 1.4.x
(We have run modified version with 1.6.x and 1.8.x as well, on 1.8 you must modify the ChanIsAvail it appears that jumping has been dropped.)
Will post a more up to date 1.8.x version when we get ready to go production. - BEZ (zktech)

[Ext-IN]
exten => _2XXX,n,Set(l_Exten=${EXTEN})
exten => _2XXX,n,Set(l_IsPaging=${SIP_HEADER(Call-Info)})
exten => _2XXX,n,GotoIf($["${l_IsPaging}"="answer-after=0"]?callInterCom|1)
exten => _2XXX,n,Goto(Internal,${EXTEN},1)

exten => _*2XXX,1,Set(l_Exten=${EXTEN})
exten => _*2XXX,n,Goto(callInterCom,1)

exten => callInterCom,1,Macro(CoreExtPage,SIP/${l_Exten})

Please note: The s2 line has been modifed for full RFC compliance: This is requried for GXP-21XX series phones. It is backwards compatiable to the GXP-20XX series phones.

[macro-CoreExtPage]
exten => s,1,ChanIsAvail(${ARG1}|js) ; j is for dump and s is for ANY call
exten => s,2,SIPAddHeader(Call-Info: \;answer-after=0)
exten => s,3,NoOp() ; Add others here
exten => s,4,Dial(${ARG1}|j)
exten => s,5, Hangup
exten => s,105,Hangup

- BEZ (zktech) http://www.zktech.com

Please note this Grandstream link is based on the old version of our examples but may be of some help.
Grandstream Paging PDF