Licensed Cisco 7970- CHI phone with hosted PBX?...

[enquirer]

Hi, here is my set up:

1. Lenovo Thinkpad T500
2. Cisco 7970 with Call manager license
3. Voipfone (voip service provider)
4. ADSL broadband with Be.

I have several ethernet cables and one telephone line at home.

As I have Call Manager license with the phone, I have been told that I already have a PBX. (Please google search "Basic instructions on setting up a Cisco 7970 phone?" and the first link is my thread on yahoo answers- I can't post links it seems.

Also you can google search "Connect a cisco 7970 phone?" and click on the first url.

If this is the case, how do I get this phone working with Cisco- despite the fact the phone is out of warranty?

I most likely am going to have leave Voipfone as they don't support this phone- so is there anyone with a good reputation I can be pointed to that supports Cisco 7970 phones with configuratoin?

 

[Businesswise Solutions]

I'll speak to our technical department tomorrow and get back to you.

 

[enquirer]

Thanks! Might I also add that I don't need a phone, and I do have a Cisco license manager that I would like to utilise if possible. (I've been told that the license is the equivalent of a IP PBX...)

Thanks!

 

[Leo-InstallingIT]

Hi

Unfortunately the Cisco 7960 system is a SCCP (Cisco's proprietory protocol) phone only. So it will only work with a Cisco Communications Manager (previously call manager) system.

Voipfone (and most other providers) only support SIP which is the most common open protocol. To be honest it is most probably going to be cheaper for you to buy another SIP phone, rather than get a connection to a Cisco PBX as this would be expensive.

Do you simply want to use the phone to make and recieve calls from your voipfone service?

Many Thanks

Leo

 

[enquirer]

Hi, I have a 7970- not a 7960. Does what you have said above still apply?

And yes, I have a startup which requires use of a phone. I prefer voip to landlines however.

Thanks

 

[Leo-InstallingIT]

Hi

Sorry - Yes, unfortunately it does. I meant to type 7970 (the 7960 would actually work!).

Personally I would purchase a new SIP phone, which can be pretty cheap these days.

Many Thanks

Leo

 

[Dean Dunn]

I'd echo what the previous poster says. I sold Cisco kit for several years in a previous life, it is good kit but primarily (especially the Call Manager stuff) for corporate marketplace.

You may be able to reflash the phone with SIP compatible firmware, and then connect to a SIP provider.

If you want a SIP compatible service together with PBX features I would recommend voipfone.co.uk, good value and reliable.

Alternatively if you dont want to mess around trying to get your Cisco phone working with SIP, just purchase a new SIP phone, there are lots available SNOM and Grandstream are just two mfrs that make decent SIP equipment.

 

[bigbluebox]

Hi, the company I work for have excellent knowledge with this type of situation and I'm sure they would help you out. We're experts with IP telephony and also Cisco certified. Google "HIGHnet" for contact details, or email the technical team with support at highnet dot com.

Hope you get sorted!

 

[enquirer]

Hi, the company I work for have excellent knowledge with this type of situation and I'm sure they would help you out. We're experts with IP telephony and also Cisco certified. Google "HIGHnet" for contact details, or email the technical team with support at highnet dot com.

Hope you get sorted!

I've done a google search and found the site. Unfortunately I've missed office hours and so will call again next week.

I will also send an email. I paid quite a bit of money for the phone and so don't wish to just buy a new handset. I also bought the phone due to the fact it has a large colour touch screen, something which Snom seems to lack.

Might I ask what your prices will be like to sort this out? Will it be additional to a normal sip account?

Thank you so much!

 

[enquirer]

Hi

Sorry - Yes, unfortunately it does. I meant to type 7970 (the 7960 would actually work!).

Personally I would purchase a new SIP phone, which can be pretty cheap these days.

Many Thanks

Leo

Fingers crossed that there is a work around...

 

[cjd]

The chap that wrote the hacks for the Cisco 7969 on our forum is a Cisco geek - have you tried PMing him? I assume you've tried the hack on the forum for the 79xx series?

http://voipfoneuserforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2827

 

[enquirer]

I'd echo what the previous poster says. I sold Cisco kit for several years in a previous life, it is good kit but primarily (especially the Call Manager stuff) for corporate marketplace.

You may be able to reflash the phone with SIP compatible firmware, and then connect to a SIP provider.

If you want a SIP compatible service together with PBX features I would recommend voipfone.co.uk, good value and reliable.

Alternatively if you dont want to mess around trying to get your Cisco phone working with SIP, just purchase a new SIP phone, there are lots available SNOM and Grandstream are just two mfrs that make decent SIP equipment.

Yep, I'm with voipfone.co.uk- and yes they are good, but I'm willing to change voip provider to get this phone working. It was even them who suggested I buy a hard phone due to the cut outs I was getting during calls...

 

[enquirer]

The chap that wrote the hacks for the Cisco 7969 on our forum is a Cisco geek - have you tried PMing him? I assume you've tried the hack on the forum for the 79xx series?

(I can't post links yet- not up to 15 posts

Hi, thanks for the link! However, this quote did stand out to me: "The only good thing about the cisco phones is the look, they are complicated and most of the features are restricted when using them on sip."

And no, I haven't tried any hack. I'd much prefer for someone to do it for me remotely-and minimise the restrictions that apply when using the phone with SIP, which I know can be done through some companies.

I've pretty much set up my business myself and site myself, and this is one more headach I'd like to take a hands off approach with.

 

[enquirer]

Can anyone else confirm for me whether or not a SINGLE cisco phone can be used on Ciscos phone system?

I've just been told by a rude Yank at Cisco (I call I UK number and yet I get transferred to the US :|) that it is not possible- after being told something totally different elsewhere.

I must say that I dislike Ciscos bureaucratic nature. No wonder their business has been in decline the last few years...

 

[cjd]

Well you're trying to make a phone do something that the manufacturers never intended or wanted. It's really not worth the candle - a basic snom 300 is twice the phone the Cisco will be if it's ever castrated enough to accept an open SIP stack.

But I wish you luck with your efforts - if you find anything, stick it on the forum

 

[Dean Dunn]

Enquirer,

You can probably make it work, but just because you can, do you really want to? It sometimes nice to tinker with technology, but also its good just to buy something, plug it in and get it working!

If you are interested in running your own PBX - give piafs (PBX in a flash) a look. I've used it before and it is pretty good. It is based on Asterisk and is pretty good, but be prepared to spend.

 

[enquirer]

Enquirer,

You can probably make it work, but just because you can, do you really want to? It sometimes nice to tinker with technology, but also its good just to buy something, plug it in and get it working!

If you are interested in running your own PBX - give piafs (PBX in a flash) a look. I've used it before and it is pretty good. It is based on Asterisk and is pretty good, but be prepared to spend.

I've discovered this is not neccesary now!

 

[enquirer]

Hi, the company I work for have excellent knowledge with this type of situation and I'm sure they would help you out. We're experts with IP telephony and also Cisco certified. Google "HIGHnet" for contact details, or email the technical team with support at highnet dot com.

Hope you get sorted!

Hi,

I sent 2 emails and even left a message on the listed telephones voicemail of your company.

No one got back to me.

 

[enquirer]

Hi,

I sent 2 emails and even left a message on the listed telephones voicemail of your company.

No one got back to me.

Hi, the company I work for have excellent knowledge with this type of situation and I'm sure they would help you out. We're experts with IP telephony and also Cisco certified. Google "HIGHnet" for contact details, or email the technical team with support at highnet dot com.

Hope you get sorted!

Hi,

I sent 2 emails and even left a message on the listed telephones voicemail of your company.

No one got back to me.

Voicenet Solutions did get in contact with me a couple of days after my first contact and....

They have no issue whatsoever getting my telephone to work with Skinny. People with issues with Cisco phones like mine seems to be a regular occurance according to a channel manager I've been in frequent contact with.

http://www.voicenet-solutions.com/

They even have a mini user guide section dedicated to my particular handset.

http://www.voicenet-solutions.com/ip-phones/cisco-phones

As I have now orded the correct adaptor for my telephone, all I need to do is wait till then (which should be mid next week) and have him flash the phone for me.