Web client slowly replacing the Mac client ?

[nicolasblanc]

We have just installed version 16 of 3CX on our server and updated the client on our Mac computers, just to discover that the switchboard is not available any more on the Mac client. This is unfortunate, as the switchboard let our employees log in/out to several queues with just 2 to 3 mouse clicks.
The switchboard is still available in the web client, but this means we have to keep the Mac client AND the web client always open just to log in/out to queues. This is quite a regression actually.
Reading the 3CX App for Mac Build history (https://www.3cx.com/blog/change-log/), we have the feeling that only smaller issues are solved in the Mac app, otherwise functions are quite simply discontinued. Maybe 3CX does not have many Mac customers, but this policy won't bring more customers onboard, especially if they feel that they are second class citizens.
The web client is not bad per se, but it is not as user friendly as a "real" native app (and requires more real estate on screen). Furthermore, many companies don't like their employees to have a web browser open all day long just to answer a call or to make phone calls.
So, in my opinion, going towards a web client only is a mistake : the web client should be a help, not a replacement of the native app.

And if you know a trick for logging in/out for queues without using the web client, I would be happy to know about it.

Thank you

 

[houston]

I gather from other posts I've been reading that they intend to retire the Windows client as well.

I suppose that might be easier from a development standpoint.

For a lot of customers, it's not going to be welcome. I think the biggest reason is that web browsers just aren't reliable. They get infected. They get spied on. They crash a lot. They increase network traffic and load on the server. Good to have them as an option, but a well written dedicated app is nearly always better.

Well, on the plus side, with their new subscription pricing you're not locked in. Just decline to renew if something better comes up.

 

[houston]

Chrome just can't handle having a ton of tabs open at once. That was a 3cx webclient tab.

Customers aren't going to tolerate missing calls or having them dropped regularly. I really hope 3cx reconsiders the direction they're heading.

 

[JohnS_3CX]

Hi Nicholas

The webclient is where the development effort will be in the future releases, so eventually the desktop clients as you know them now will be more basic, while the Web Client becomes more feature rich. You will still have the desktop client available for basic things like making, transferring calls etc without the need for a browser, much like the iOS/Android client.

As for the queues, you can log in and out of them as needed using the web client. A manager can also log users in or out at will. You just have to press the button labelled Q which is very user friendly, but I understand it may take some getting used to if you mainly come from the desktop client.



We already have a good switchboard view in the web client which can run as a separate window, a so user does not need to view the tab all the time. As for the screen real estate, mini webclient is in our plans.