In this update:
- 3CX version 18 – Beta 1
- 3CX iOS and Android App Betas
- 3CX Intermediate Technical training
- Grandstream announces new GRP model IP phones
- Grandstream – GDMS
- 3CX licensing
- Need demo equipment?
- Grandstream ex-demo and EOL clearance
- Case studies – local stories to share?
- Marketing materials
- Firmware for IP phones
- Join our LinkedIn VoIP community
3CX version 18 – Beta 1
3CX version 18 – Beta 1 is now available! 3CX now say that v18 is feature complete. In this (Beta 1) release there has been further refinement of the WebClient and Windows Desktop App. The Windows Desktop App has easily configurable BLFs that you can pop out or hide depending on your requirements. But we’ve saved the big news until last – 3CX now natively supports Microsoft Teams! With the Teams integration, Teams users can dial 3CX users and vice versa (Enterprise Edition only after launch, but in all Editions during Beta). To read the full Beta 1 news visit here. From the blog you can link to 3CX’s Teams Integration home page here and to the Microsoft Teams Business Configuration Guide here. The Microsoft 365 integration guide found here has also been updated and clearly states which features are available within each of 3CX’s editions. Please remember that Beta releases are not recommended for production systems but are designed for testing on inhouse demo systems. Have feedback on the new Beta release and its new features? Let us know at voip@sofsol.co.nz and go in the draw to receive a goody bag of 3CX branded merchandise. We’re testing it out ourselves – it would be great to compare notes.
3CX iOS and Android App Betas
Have you joined the Beta programmes for iOS or Android? Information is available on the 3CX blog and if you’re testing out the new apps, we’d love your feedback. Let us know what you like or don’t like at voip@sofsol.co.nz and we’ll pop you in the draw to win a 3CX branded merchandise goody bag.
3CX Intermediate Technical training
We are holding a 3CX Intermediate Technical training event on Wednesday 11th August. This event is an online live event delivered by Kenny Cheung, our Technical Specialist. We are restricting the attendee numbers and will be encouraging discussion and conversation between participants. The training is scheduled for half a day, and we encourage all participants to complete the exam at the end. Kenny will stay online to assist in brainstorming answers. Secure your spot here. We look forward to you joining us for the 9am kick off!
Grandstream announces new GRP model IP phones
The latest models added to the higher end GRP series are the GRP2624 and GRP2634. First stock is expected late August and we can take pre-orders now. Both phones feature 8-lines, POE and WiFi on board and are great replacements for GXP2135 and GXP2160 units. The GRP2624 can also have up to 4 GBX20 extension modules added to it. The GRP2634 features the still very popular paper BLF options. Like all the GRP261X phones they feature unified firmware and can be provisioned from GDMS for mass deployment. If you’d like to know more, please reach out to sales@sofsol.co.nz.
Grandstream – GDMS
GDMS (Grandstream Device Management System) is designed for provisioning, management, monitoring and troubleshooting of all modern Grandstream devices. The GDMS Introduction Guide (download here) walks you through the core features and capabilities. GDMS accounts are free and direct from the Grandstream GDMS site. Grandstream also has a YouTube video walkthrough of the solution, showing it in action. It’s available here. Do you need more advice around GDMS? Reach out to us at voip@sofsol.co.nz.
3CX licensing
As previously communicated mid-June, 3CX released their new v18 pricing and in general, reduced prices across the board. The Annual Subscription license is the way of the future. 3CX has been encouraging partners to move older perpetual licenses to this newer licensing model. If you trade-in a perpetual license, 3CX gives you one free year of the license at the same level. If you need advice on how to do this, our VoIP team (voip@sofsol.co.nz) can advise you. If you do trade-in a license, please let our admin team (admin@sofsol.co.nz) know so they can mark your renewal for 2022 as a Subscription. You’ll still get an auto-quote from us then. Perpetual Maintenance now costs the same as an Annual Subscription, so the time to trade-in is now.
Need demo equipment?
Just a reminder that we operate quite an extensive range of Grandstream and Yealink demo equipment that you can borrow to put it through its paces. If you have a requirement, please reach out to megan@sofsol.co.nz and she’ll be happy to assist.
Grandstream ex-demo and EOL clearance
We have ex-demo units available to purchase at a reduced cost. All units are checked by our team and factory re-set. Boxes are intact but open. Soft Solutions will honour a 3-month warranty from date of sale of ex-demo units. We are also clearing our GXP17XX series inventory as it starts to go EOL and these have the standard 12 months warranty from date of sale. These are excellent units including a desktop WiFi option. At present we have the following available:
- Ex-demo units – sold at under half of the normal reseller purchase price:
- 1 x GWN7000 Multi-WAN Gigabit VPN Router – make us an offer
- 1 x GXP1625 HD IP Phone 2-line PoE – $20.00 excl.
- 1 x GXP1760 HD IP Phone 6-line PoE – $30.00 excl.
- 1 x GXP1760W HD IP Phone 6-line PoE WiFi – $40.00 excl.
- 1 x GXP2135 HD IP Phone 2.8″ Colour Screen 8-line PoE – $45.00 excl.
- Clearance units going EOL, reseller purchase further reduced:
- 6 x GXP1760 HD IP Phone 6-line PoE – $65.00 excl.
- 7 X GXP1760W HD IP Phone 6-line PoE WiFi – $90.00 excl.
- 19 x GXP1782 HD IP Phone 8-line Gigabit PoE – $75.00 excl.
Please contact voip@sofsol.co.nz if you are interested in purchasing any of these units while they are available.
Case studies – local stories to share?
There is nothing better than a local and relatable case study to help you get a sale across the line. We are looking for more NZ stories to have turned in to case studies. Do you have a success story to share? We have a simple questionnaire you can work through with your customer – 3CX’s marketing team does the rest. It’s a great opportunity to touch base with customers and ensure everything’s working as it should. If you have a customer that might participate, contact our VoIP Brand Manager, Megan Twentyman. We’ll make the process painless.
Marketing materials
Several partners took up the option to have 3CX datasheets customised with their logo. This is a service that Soft Solutions offer. We are now waiting for version 18 to be released and what new marketing materials are offered by 3CX at this time. At present the 3CX website has the most up-to-date information available. If you need help to find anything on the website please reach out to Megan Twentyman for further assistance.
Firmware for IP phones
Remember it is vital to keep checking for updated firmware, for your VoIP hardware. Grandstream and Yealink release new firmware as it is developed. The firmware is available free of charge from their respective websites. If you are ever trouble-shooting any issue with 3CX, the first thing they will check is whether your hardware has the most up-to-date version. Now is a great time to ensure everything is up-to-date and working optimally.
Join our LinkedIn VoIP community
Our “Soft Solutions NZ VoIP Community” group has been created for customers to discuss VoIP related topics. Keep up to date with upcoming Soft Solutions events, VoIP updates and any other general VoIP news. Join the LinkedIn group here.
Thank you for reading.
The VoIP Team at Soft Solutions
Phone: 09 306 0450, Freephone: 0800 733 233, E-mail: voip@sofsol.co.nz.
