Push that button! All New 3CX Android App

[Nathan Boyd]

For this reason, we have a beta program you can freely join.
https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.tcx.sipphone14

Thanks for the response! I'm in the beta program and noticed and reported this in the beta thread when the new beta version was released. But not all partners are as observant, which is the need for things like this to be in the release notes.

 

[David Rowe]

Some interesting/disappointing replies in here from NB towards customers who are obviously venting frustrations on having the new Android app pushed onto them (like we have). Saying recommendations from partners is "BS" is quite a bold move.

We have somewhere in the vicinity of 150 3CX installs and migrating each customer to v16 from v15.5 is something we are doing, but we are doing with caution, as we've had a few upgrades not go through smoothly. However we're starting to see complaints from our customers now of incompatibility issues with v15.5 and the new Android app which brought me here.

I am glad the legacy version is still available, it will help us out while we transition our PBXs to v16. But I think something for 3CX Staff to keep in mind, is that we're generally the ones who are facing the customer backlash of a change like this, especially when the upgrade has the impact of users not being able to make/receive calls

As a side note, I personally cannot find the newsletter mentioning the the upgraded Android app will only be compatible with v16, so we were also caught off guard. Can someone please let me know what date this was sent out and the subject of the email? I can see a newsletter mentioning an app in beta, but it does not mention anything about needing v16 specifically.

 

[dcook1313]

Just FYI Silent does not work now and the phone will ring.

 

[N_G]

@David Rowe First off the new Android App is absolutely great. It works with latest devices and android versions, supports bluetooth apis, reconnect feature and out of box encryption. New user interface is much better. I use it everyday on a google pixel 3a (quality hardware for just $300) and quite frankly i don't even bother with my deskphone anymore (that is not to say we will not support desk phones). Video is around the corner. Just as an aside it's no easy feat to support all the different android versions and models out there. Sure it needs improvements such as voice mail and other little things.

The majority of our 500k users run v16. Either v16 users had to re install or v15.5 users. Clearly we chose to roll out automatically to our v16 users. V15.5 users can have the old app, just follow the link and its installed in minutes, no biggie.

Now if you are hosting 150 installs then you should have them on v16 already or at least a good part of them. Upgrading from v15.5 to v16 is quick and easy - unless you are not following 3CX guidelines and using custom deployment techniques or unsupported hardware. We moved tens of thousands of customers in a matter of months using our 3CX Instance manager. We also support our partners in the migration process if need be by reviewing the backups in case there is a problem.

If you have 150 installations of 3CX, then it amazes me that you are not visiting our blog regularly or on our app beta program. No we do not send out emails for each app update, it would be spam and be ignored. We have a blog which you can follow. There are numerous blog posts about the android app in the last few months. We also have beta versions available which can be deployed automatically to your phone. You could have been on our beta program and been testing since June. If you are not doing either as a hoster, quite frankly the fault lies with you not with 3CX.

 

[N_G]

@Pyrognome - we are not interested in what your users do in their personal lives either. Nickys point whats that you can check from Whatsapp or Facebook messenger to get an idea about the platform limitations we are working with.

If users do not want to be notified outside of office hours you can now configure this in the out of office hours profile. This profile can be activated automatically as well out of office hours. Nothing admin or user needs to do after a one time configuration.

 

[Ashelis]

Hello,
We are using locally hosted Professional Perpetual 16.0.3.676
Recently I tried to update my Android App to test before I update all company. Unfortunately I couldn't provision because it is forcing me to start webclient with SSL, which I don't have.



How should I do?

 

[NickD_3CX]

Hello,
We are using locally hosted Professional Perpetual 16.0.3.676
Recently I tried to update my Android App to test before I update all company. Unfortunately I couldn't provision because it is forcing me to start webclient with SSL, which I don't have.

View attachment 12616

How should I do?

You can access the WebClient using https:// in front of the IP address and the HTTPS port. The browser will show you a warning, but you can continue. Bring up the QR code and it should work then.

The QR code is dynamically generated depending on the URL you have used to log into the WebClient.

 

[Ashelis]

You can access the WebClient using https:// in front of the IP address and the HTTPS port. The browser will show you a warning, but you can continue. Bring up the QR code and it should work then.

The QR code is dynamically generated depending on the URL you have used to log into the WebClient.

Unfortunately it doesn't work. My other services mostly do as you told; they show a warning but I can still access. But for 3CX, it doesn't work. Error message from Firefox is below. (Chome directly denies.)

(I hid the IP. I wanted to show I also use a specific port.)

An error occurred during a connection to 192.--.--.--:5-- SSL received a record that exceeded the maximum permissible length. Error code: SSL_ERROR_RX_RECORD_TOO_LONG

 

[NickD_3CX]

Unfortunately it doesn't work. My other services mostly do as you told; they show a warning but I can still access. But for 3CX, it doesn't work. Error message from Firefox is below. (Chome directly denies.)

(I hid the IP. I wanted to show I also use a specific port.)

An error occurred during a connection to 192.--.--.--:5-- SSL received a record that exceeded the maximum permissible length. Error code: SSL_ERROR_RX_RECORD_TOO_LONG

Are you using the correct port? Default 3CX installations use 5000 for HTTP and 5001 for HTTPS.
If you were initiall logging in with http://192.--.--.--:5000, to log in with HTTPS you would need https://192.--.--.--:5001.
If you chose different ports during the installation of course adjust accordingly.

 

[Ashelis]

Are you using the correct port? Default 3CX installations use 5000 for HTTP and 5001 for HTTPS.
If you were initiall logging in with http://192.--.--.--:5000, to log in with HTTPS you would need https://192.--.--.--:5001.
If you chose different ports during the installation of course adjust accordingly.

Thank you @NickD_3CX, you are right. I was using wrong port with HTTPS.

Then 2nd question: Where can I find new version APK? I must distribute that to all my clients with SOTI Mobi Control since my clients doesn't have play store or any kind of external access.

 

[nb]

Thank you @NickD_3CX, you are right. I was using wrong port with HTTPS.

Then 2nd question: Where can I find new version APK? I must distribute that to all my clients with SOTI Mobi Control since my clients doesn't have play store or any kind of external access.

This is only available via playstore. Any form of mirroring will not work.

 

[nb]

You just saved me a ton of time replying as I would have said everything you said! Maybe 3CX can learn from your response how to respond in a better tone. I am also shocked at how they processed this change and how they are responding. This change has forced upgrade for us due to this new Android App being released. Now we get to deal with everything else that just broke.

We will be leaving 3CX in the near future.

Guys
This is BAD PRACTICE that we had in the app.
Exit without push - You long press on the app, and force stop. SAME THING. NO CODE NEEDED TO BE ADDED.
Removed because REDUNDANT.

Also moving to the new version sounds like a show stopper to us in its current form as it sounds like you cant turn off the app in the android version. We run off of three scenarios for the user phone app:

1. The user is in the office and does not need the app so they disable the app on the phone and use their desk phone.
2. The user is out of the office but doesn't want to be bothered with work stuff (IE: vacation, personal day, with a customer, ETC...).
3. The user is working from home and uses the phone app for all office

You guys cannot move forward with the new app. You like to remain on old stuff. FINE WITH ME. Better. I don't want people like this so negative testing our new product. We don't have bandwidth for this

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tcx.sipphone_legacy

Exit without push is there.

Or download android studio and make your own app and see you later

Take the legacy. And move on.. Have a good weekend and move on to the next interesting technical issue.

 

[Comus_MB]

Also note, press Menu and select "Silent" to silence the app.

Personally I'm excited about the option to disable PUSH by status but we have some users that have not yet embraced using different statuses (although they should). So for those who want the mobile app "as a backup", we instruct them to set the app to "Silent" and then if/when they need, they can press the icon in the top-right corned to exit silent mode.

I noticed more battery use when the account is active, so that for me is another reason I'm preferring to disable the account when I'm in the office (or at home). I haven't tried Silent yet, but I would think the app still is active then.
Enabling and disabling was more user friendly in the previous version I must say as now you have to press and hold twice to get into the menu.

 

[nb]

I noticed more battery use when the account is active, so that for me is another reason I'm preferring to disable the account when I'm in the office (or at home). I haven't tried Silent yet, but I would think the app still is active then.
Enabling and disabling was more user friendly in the previous version I must say as now you have to press and hold twice to get into the menu.

You are right - silence keeps the app running.
Long press on app, Force stop. 2 seconds still. Do it and let me know if it gets pushed..
it is the standard way

 

[RemoMeyer]

Hello... I am almost each day here, but without comments. I would comment something:

1 - PLEASE back with Groups in Presence/Status of Extensions. We have a lot of Clients with more Branches and only one Instance. Each Branch is in a Group. Today is a chaos in Status-List.

2 - Contacts - I fint (too) unnecessarily have Privat Contacs in 3CX, but is also not a problem. A filter (All contacts / Phone contacts / 3CX contacts) would perfect.

3 - Migration - We use Instance Manager und is needed +/- 10 minutes to upgrade ALL INSTANCES. We should be carefull with "Specials Instances" with Custom Templates, but they are exceptions (we have a Target of null exceptions until 2020).

4 - Voicemail in new App is really difficult. We wait for the next update.

 

[nb]

Hello... I am almost each day here, but without comments. I would comment something:

1 - PLEASE back with Groups in Presence/Status of Extensions. We have a lot of Clients with more Branches and only one Instance. Each Branch is in a Group. Today is a chaos in Status-List.

2 - Contacts - I fint (too) unnecessarily have Privat Contacs in 3CX, but is also not a problem. A filter (All contacts / Phone contacts / 3CX contacts) would perfect.

3 - Migration - We use Instance Manager und is needed +/- 10 minutes to upgrade ALL INSTANCES. We should be carefull with "Specials Instances" with Custom Templates, but they are exceptions (we have a Target of null exceptions until 2020).

4 - Voicemail in new App is really difficult. We wait for the next update.

1. Yes we are going to add tags. the Bridge names. After the name
2. We are going to make a filter for contacts.
3. Unrelated - in the wrong forum. But custom templates means you need to dedicate more time to remain up to date with 3CX. thats why you have exceptions. But that is not for this forum.
4. yes - we have the implementation ready. Next update.

 

[RemoMeyer]

You are right - silence keeps the app running.
Long press on app, Force stop. 2 seconds still. Do it and let me know if it gets pushed..
it is the standard way

We try (exaustly) convence our Clients use the Status - DND, Custom, etc. It s clean (no workarounds) und is visible for the others Extensions.

The name in the main screen was a so important schortcut to disable account. I hope that comes back at soon.

 

[RemoMeyer]

1 -

1. Yes we are going to add tags. the Bridge names. After the name
2. We are going to make a filter for contacts.
3. Unrelated - in the wrong forum. But custom templates means you need to dedicate more time to remain up to date with 3CX. thats why you have exceptions. But that is not for this forum.
4. yes - we have the implementation ready. Next update.

1 - Tags only for Bridges? They have only Groups. Und here in Switzerland (all Europe) they use Lastname als main name. I think we will receive tons of questions, reclamations, etc with this change.

2 - Super Info, I had already readed.

3 - it was a comment of the @David Rowe / @Nick Galea . I agree that we dont need months or more to upgrade, IF we do with the best practices / recommended Configurations.

4 - Thank you again.

 

[Comus_MB]

You are right - silence keeps the app running.
Long press on app, Force stop. 2 seconds still. Do it and let me know if it gets pushed..
it is the standard way

Long press on the app icon shows Silent OFF / ON, can't see how to stop it. Maybe I should long press somewhere else. By accident I now created another icon with just Silent OFF/ON function. That would be great to have for enable or disable the account as well. Long pressing the icon mostly activates moving the icon, so the additional icon works great and fast. By the way, I'm still happy with the new app.

 

[nb]

We try (exaustly) convence our Clients use the Status - DND, Custom, etc. It s clean (no workarounds) und is visible for the others Extensions.

The name in the main screen was a so important schortcut to disable account. I hope that comes back at soon.

I made a video now. How to exit without push QUICKER than before.
Send this to your clients and I bet no one with the right mind will need to come back.

How to exit ANY APP not just 3CX - the answer is inside Android.

Long press
APP INFO
FORCE STOP