Are there any portable phones that support BLFs?

[jbryant84]

Is anyone aware of any portable phones that have BLF/Programmable button functionality? We're using W60 portable phones for all installs currently and are creating 501/SP1, 502/SP2 forwarding extensions that allow them to park and retrieve parked calls, but something more streamlined would be nice (using this method, portables are unable to view if anyone is parked, they can't see if any extensions are busy, etc.) I obviously would want to use an officially 3CX supported phone but would settle for one that isn't.

 

[leejor]

By "portable", do you mean a cordless handset, a wireless desk set ?

If it is simply something that uses Wifi, and it can be a desk phone, as it's going to sit in one place for a while after being moved, then you do have some options. You could add a small Wifi Ethernet adapter to any Ethernet connected set. Some are small enough to attach to the underside. Or you could look into a Wifi desk set. My personal favourite is the Cisco SPA525G (which, when first released, got glowing reviews from some of the 3CX staff, as I recall) Although not officially supported it allows manual configuration through a GUI, Wifi, Bluetooth, multiple servers (and more), and because it is discontinued, can usually be found, used, at "fire sale prices" ($15-$25). I wouldn't attempt an install using a large number of them, but a one-off, for a "special" location, is easily do-able.

 

[jbryant84]

We have some legacy customers using those phones, they can be provisioned thru 3CX and aren't too bad. I'm looking for a true cordless portable phone that has any programmable buttons available.

 

[leejor]

Because of the limited space on the handset, most manuafacturereswill try to add a few extra line keys (because that is what most users want), and not much else, as it isn't really meant to replace a desk set, just provide portability. There are a limited number of DECT (or Wifi), VoIP handsets available to begin with, and less if some are not available in counties because of DECT frequency restrictions of certain models. I have to assume you are willing to go to a non-3CX supported device and attempt to configure yourself, which, for a basic device is probably do-able, but, for BLF keys, and the like, you may run into some difficulties. If you are prepared for that, then do a Google search for cordless DECT VoIP handsets, or visit the site(s) of a supplier. You will probable come up with a dozen or so choices. You'll then have to eliminate the ones that don't support the features you want. If you come up with a couple that do, then do some searches about using those models with 3CX, and how difficult that may, or may not, be.