Comparison Grandstream GXP1610 vs Gigaset C530A IP

The type defines the overall layout and application of the IP phone.

— Wired telephone. Most models of this type are devices in the form of classic landline telephones, a base and a handset connected to it with a wire. At the same time, we note that the base can also be connected to the network wirelessly, using Wi-Fi(see "Interfaces"). Another kind of wired models are original devices in the form of a handset, which must be connected to another device via USB to work.

— Cordless phone. This category includes all IP phones that have a cordless handset in their design. There are two main types of such devices. The first is similar to cordless telephones: the kit includes a base that connects to the network and a handset that only works through the base. The second one is more like mobile phones: there is no base in the design, and the handset connects to the network directly, usually via Wi-Fi. Anyway, wireless models are very convenient due to the ability to move from place to place while talking — the main thing is not to go beyond the range of WiFi. And models of the second type can generally be constantly carried with you, connecting to different WiFi points as needed. The disadvantages of this option are the high cost and the limited operating time of the handset between recharging.

— Conference phone (speakerphone). A specific type of IP phones that does not have a handset at all and works in a hands-free format (see "Features"). At the same time, most models are designed to ensure that several people around the device can talk on the phone at once. Actually, it is precisely for such situations that speakerphones are designed: for example, they are well suited for meeting rooms.

— Video camera. The presence of built-in video camera in the design of the IP-phone. This feature allows not only voice, but also video communication — of course, if the interlocutor's equipment also supports this communication format. And some models may provide the use of the camera for its traditional purpose — for photo and video shooting.

— Skype support. Support of the popular Skype messenger by the IP phone. Skype features include not only voice, but also video communication, text messaging, as well as calls to numbers of both landline and mobile users. At the same time, this messenger uses its own communication protocols that are incompatible with popular VoIP protocols (see above). Therefore, communication with another IP phone via Skype is possible only if the other phone also supports Skype.

— Android OS. The presence of the Android operating system on the phone. A key feature of such software is the ability to install various additional applications that may not be related to the original purpose of the device at all (for example, games). Thus, the presence of Android in an IP phone, in fact, turns it into a smartphone and allows you to significantly expand the original features of the device. Note that this feature, usually, requires a touch screen.

— Answering machine. The presence of an answe...ring machine in the design of the IP-telephone. This feature assumes at least support for the classic features of an answering machine — playing a greeting message and recording a voice message from the caller. In addition, extra features may be provided — for example, remote listening to messages when entering a password.

— Caller ID. The presence of caller identification feature in the IP-phone. The purpose of this feature is obvious from the name: it allows the user to see the number from which he is being called.

— Conference call. The presence of the conference feature in the phone allows you to use the device for organizing conversations simultaneously between several people. Thus, during a group conversation, the personal presence of each participant is not required — he can be connected to the conference remotely. At the same time, additional features may be provided — for example, switching to a private conversation with one of the participants. Note that the phones of the conference participants may not support conference calls — the main thing is that it is available on the organizer's phone.

— Speakerphone (speakerphone). Support of hands-free mode. In this case, the voice of the person at the other end of the line is broadcast through an external speaker, and your voice is perceived by the microphone built into the phone. This not only makes it possible to talk without holding the handset in hand, but also allows several people to participate in the conversation at the same time — the main thing is that they are close enough to the device. This feature is found quite often in modern IP phones. In conference phones (see "Type") it is generally a regular (and, usually, the only) mode of operation.

— Support of SMS messages. Ability to work with SMS — short text messages, familiar to most users on mobile phones. Thanks to this feature, you can receive and send SMS messages in the same way as it is done from a regular mobile phone (of course, if such features are supported by the network).

— Echo cancellation. The presence of an echo cancellation feature in the design of the IP phone. The features of modern communication are such that in some cases an echo may occur during a conversation — when the user, with a slight delay, hears his own voice in the speaker of the device. This is very inconvenient, so a fairly large number of modern IP devices are equipped with echo cancellation systems.

— Detection of voice activity. The presence of a system that responds to the user's voice. Due to the operation of this system, the signal transmitted by the telephone is divided into two separate modes — "speech" and "pause"; during pauses, the data transfer speed is reduced and their volume is significantly reduced. This helps to save traffic, as well as make optimal use of the communication channel, without "clogging" it with unnecessary data when there is silence on the line. The disadvantage of such systems is the occurrence of unpleasant "deaf" pauses, creating the effect of breaking the connection; however, they can be compensated by generation of comfort noise (see below).

— Generation of comfortable noise. The presence of a system that generates a quiet constant noise on the line with a timbre that is pleasant to the human ear. This noise does not interfere with conversations and is practically inaudible during them, but it is clearly visible during pauses. Actually, filling these gaps is the main task of this feature: complete silence on the line can create the feeling that the connection is broken, and in the presence of noise, this feeling does not occur.

— Web interface. Support of web interface. This feature allows you to configure the device settings through a regular computer web browser without installing any additional software and without “digging” into the phone itself: just open the service page in the browser at a specific address and all phone settings will be in front of the user. The advantages of the web interface are, firstly, accessibility from any PC or even a smartphone/tablet connected to the local network, and with appropriate settings, via the Internet; secondly, the abundance of settings and the ease of working with them.

— PoE support. Support of PoE — Power over Ethernet technology. This feature allows you to supply power to the device directly via an Ethernet network cable (see "Interfaces"), through the same interface that is used to connect to a computer network. This eliminates the need for a separate electrical connection. Note that in order to use this feature, it must be supported not only by the device itself, but also by the network device (switch or router) to which it is connected.

— NAT/NAPT support. This technology is used to convert internal IP addresses of data packets to external ones and vice versa, thus ensuring that each computer on the local network is connected to the Internet. Support for NAT/NAPT in an IP phone indicates that the device supports certain router features and can be used as an external gateway for a local network (more precisely, subnets — WAN ports are rare even in such devices).

— OpenVPN. VPN stands for "Virtual Private Network". The idea of such a network is that all computers connected to it (including via the Internet) interact as if they are inside the same "local area". This allows you to create private networks, regardless of whether all the necessary terminals are in one physical LAN or not. OpenVPN is one of the most popular (thanks to its free and open source) technologies for creating such networks.

Support of the GAP standard by a wireless type IP phone (see above).

GAP (General Access Protocol) is a technology used in radiotelephones (both conventional and IP). Its main purpose is to make handsets and bases from different manufacturers compatible: GAP supported by the handset and base ensures that they can work properly with each other no matter what brand they are from. In this case, one base can be connected to several handsets, and vice versa. However specific features (like controlling the answering machine from the handset) may not be available when working with non-native bases or handsets.

The maximum number of handsets that can be connected to one wireless IP phone base (see "Type").

Support of more than one handset allows you to organize several parallel handsets on one base — for example, for a large room where it is easier to keep several handsets in different places than to constantly run to the phone to answer a call. In addition, such devices may provide the possibility of a direct connection between the handsets.

The largest number of phone lines to which an IP phone can be connected at the same time. In fact, this is the number of calls that the device can simultaneously work with. Support of multiple telephone lines provides various additional features — switching between calls, organizing conferences (see "Features"), connecting people with each other, etc. The specific features, however, may be different — it all depends on the model.

The largest number of VoIP accounts that can be stored in the phone.

The VoIP account determines through which server (and, accordingly, through which provider) the phone will work. Support for multiple VoIP accounts allows you to switch between them if you wish, using the one that is most convenient at the moment. For example, you can keep one number for calls within the country and use the second, with more favorable international rates, for calls abroad.

The largest quantity of numbers that can be stored simultaneously in the IP phone's own phone book. The phone book speeds up dialing, allows you to display the name of the caller when the caller ID is triggered (see "Features") and provides some other features. The capacity of such a book even in the most modest IP phones is about 100 numbers, and in the most advanced models it can reach a couple of thousand.

The number of ringtones provided by the IP phone. The more of them, the wider the choice of the user, the higher the probability of finding the best option in the list. At the same time, we note that some models allow you to download additional ringtones if you feel like it.

The type of display installed in the handset of the IP phone. Note that only wireless models are equipped with their own displays (see "Type") — in other varieties, the display on the base is more convenient.

— Monochrome. Also, such displays are known as "black and white", although other combinations of colours are also found — for example, green or orange characters. Anyway, monochrome displays do not have such features as colour ones, but they are much cheaper, consume less energy and are quite capable of working with key information (displaying the dialed number, battery status, phone book, etc.).

— Coloured. Colour displays provide more options than monochrome displays — for example, they can be used for video communication, viewing pictures, and even games. And the colour image as a whole looks nicer. On the other hand, these screens are more expensive and require more energy than black and white ones.