Hybrid VoIP/PSTN Solution with 6 VoIP Accounts and 3 Calls at Once C610A-IP DECT_6.0 1-Handset Landline Telephone

Overall, a well engineered and designed product:Setup - Via web browser or CD. I used the browser. Unit supports up to 6 VoIP numbers. You will need to know the parameters for your specific provider, and enter user name, login, host, etc... which you obtain from the VoIP provider web site. Siemens has some pre-defined services as well.If you want to use it with a phone line, the unit supports a single jack. You can use it with any service including POTS/Cable phone, Cellular (via adapter), or with your VoIP provider's ATA.You set up each account separately and decide which extensions (inbound/outbound) work with each account. Unfortunately you cannot set up ringtones centrally. You can also pick the codec (or codecs) you wish to use with each account and set volumes per account too.911 setup us easy too. You can use the POTS or VoIP line as the default.It supports VLANs, certificates, and static or Dynamic IP.Voicemail is included and built in, but can be disabled. A variety of Message Waiting options let you customized how you handle the indicators (network or internal or both)For the handsets, I purchased S79H units. To make a call, you dial and then pick the phone line you wish to use, or select the line and then dial. Call clarity is excellent. The S79H handset includes speakerphone and headset jack, and battery is good for 3-5 hrs of talk. A variety of ringtones are included. You can upload contacts via the gigaset.net web site or enter them manually.Overall, I am very pleased with this unit. It is simpler to set up than a traditional ATA and supports as many lines as a home or small office could possibly need. If you combine it with a bluetooth or wired cell adapter you can call for hours without using your battery. The phones are compact and have a nice feel in your hand, and power consumption is much lower than using an Asterisk system. Most importantly, it lets you use low cost VoIP providers in a convenient format.

LOOK AND FEELThe color LCD does not have as high of a resolution as I was expecting, but it is very readable. The color scheme can be adjusted so there is a white or black background. I prefer the black background.The handset is small and light, but feels solid. It is about 1/2 inch shorter than my Panasonic DECT cordless phone. The black plastic has a glossy finish. It does pick up fingerprints (not sure about scratches).SETUPI wanted to assign it a static IP address via its MAC address, but I could not find its MAC anywhere on the device. I had to allow my router issue it an address via DHCP to find its MAC address.To configure it, I typed the device's IP address in my browser and it prompted me for a PIN. I don't believe the quick start guide provided me this information. However a quick Google search found it to be "0000".There are a list of 'common' voip providers that you can choose (I assume these are easier to set up). Neither of my two voip providers were on the list. However, it was not hard to find the appropriate settings and input them.SOUNDWow. Yes, it is exactly what I was missing from my previous setup! I have only used ATAs before with an analog cordless telephone connected to it. It always seemed to me that there was something that was not quite right. There would be an annoying delay, or the call clarity was only moderately better than a cell phone.After placing a few test calls, there is not an annoying delay anymore. Also the calls sound much better (and this is using the PSTN with the G.711 codec).RANGEThis was a big disappointment. These phones have a feature called 'ecomode' that cuts the power that each handset can transmit. I have the transmitting base at one end of the house. With ecomode on, I was not able to use the phone from the other end of the house without the audio breaking up (this is only a single story 1200 sq ft house).With the ecomode turned off, I am able to talk inside the house without the audio breaking up. However, as soon as I step a few feet outside the house, the audio breaks up.The DECT panasonic phones that I have will turn off eco mode (and boost the power automagically) when needed. With these phones, I was able to talk 200' away from the base!**I moved the base to about 8' up on the wall. This improved range a little bit, but I am still not able to turn on ecomode and use the phone in the house without the sound breaking up a little.OTHER THOUGHTSAmazon incorrectly lists the phones as using 'AA' batteries. They use NiMH 'AAA' batteries. This is good since it makes the handset smaller and lighter.Although I am using this in a residential setting, it does seem that that each handset is designed to operate independently, in a business environment, as if they were wired SIP phones on different people's desks.**For example, if I want to add a second handset to the conversation, I must 'conference' them in (They can't just pick up their handset and start talking).Each handset's phonebook is private to that handset and entries are not shared. However, you can clone one handset's phonebook to another handset.

I purchased it and powered it on. It connected and automatically started doing some kind of an update. Then it failed completely. The blue light keeps flashing, and the handset won't connect with base set. I called Siemens customer support, and they said that the phone needs to be returned to place of purchase.Now I can understand there was some kind of an auto update and maybe that failed. The unforgivable design flaw is that the base unit has NO RESET BUTTON. If it ever fails during one of it's auto updates (which it appears you have no control over), you are stuck with an expensive paperweight.Amazon was awesome and took it back and paid for shipping both ways with zero questions asked. Amazon rocks!