Windows 3CX Client - How long will it last?

[infused]

We've got quite a few systems out there now. We've trialed the Chrome extension and had nothing but issues with it. Not because of the extension itself, more so that users need to login to activate it, or chrome decides to block the mic/speakers. So we've reverted back to the client in most cases.

How long is the client going to stick around? No one really has an issue with it and it just works.

 

[house1]

+1
We are about to roll out a 120+ extension system with windows clients AND Kuandu busy lights. The Busy lights do not work with the Chrome Client. The Windows client does not do a good job scheduling Conferences (No emails sent). I certainly don't want customer to buy 100 busy lights and the windows client beig depreciated in 6mos-1yr

 

[cobaltit]

There is definitely a push to move to a Chrome client but there has been no specific mention of EOLing the windows client. The same conversation is being had in our super secret forum.

 

[VoIPTools]

What has been said is that 3CX will not be adding any new features to 3CX Phone for Windows. As we have all discovered, the Welcome email no longer provides a link to 3CX Phone for Windows. I have not heard any EOL dates either. When 3CX removed their CRM plugins, we suspended offering our CRM integrations (plugins) due to the uncertainty.

While personally I'm a big fan of 3CX Phone for Windows, you must appreciate that from 3CX's perspective, supporting Windows, MAC, and Web clients requires a lot of effort. If they could consolidate all three clients into just the web client, that would result in huge labor savings for them -- one client for Windows, MAC, and add Linux too as a bonus.

 

[VoIPTools]

In case you missed it...

On October 4th, 2019, Nick Galea, CTO and Founder of 3CX said on the 3CX forums:

The Windows client will not always exist. A windows softphone will, thats a different thing. Client side CRM integration has been deprecated already.

On March 25, 2020 Nick Galea, had this to say about 3CX Phone for Windows:

The links are going back in Update 5. It was never the intention to discontinue a windows softphone but rather make the client more like a softphone. That said, in update 5 we have put a lot of work into the current Windows client - updating its libraries, fixing issues and making it more efficient, with a view to keeping it as a client for the coming years.

On March 31, 2020, a 3CX newsletter stated:

We also decided to update and improve the Windows client. We integrated our new APIs, updated its libraries, fixed outstanding issues and made it much more efficient. All with a view to keep it as a client for the coming years. More improvements are planned such as bringing CSTA support to it.

Update 5 should be released by the end of the month and it’s important to update as soon as possible this time. Plan for it now.