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OnSIP Adds Panasonic KX-UTG300 to Boot Server

by Kevin Bartley

OnSIP's boot server offers our customers the latest tested and verified firmware version and user settings for their phone model.

Published: August 26, 2014

OnSIP recently added the Panasonic KX-UTG300 business VoIP phone to our configuration boot server. The KX-UTG300 offers a full 5-inch color LCD touch screen, and a user-friendly graphical interface like a smart phone. In addition to making calls, the phone allows users to check email and view schedules in a calendar, which gives employees a centralized communications experience. The device is designed to be fully interoperable with leading hosted and open-source telecommunication server platforms such as OnSIP. It is fully optimized for OnSIP's HD voice feature.

The Panasonic KX-UTG300
The KX-UTG300

At OnSIP, we uphold a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) ethos that allows our users maximum flexibility in choosing what kind of VoIP phones they want to use at their businesses. We offer objective phone reviews so our customers can chose the right device. This gives OnSIP users plenty of options to choose from, but it also means that there is no 'one size fits all' phone configuration option.

This is why OnSIP operates our own configuration boot server. The boot server offers our customers the latest tested and verified firmware version and user settings for their phone model, thus sidestepping manual configuration. This allows users to get up and running without any configuration hassles, and ensures that they will not have to worry about downloading firmware or otherwise maintaining their device. The feature is built-in to the New Phone option under the Resources tab in the OnSIP Admin Portal.

Adding a new phone in the OnSIP Admin Portal
Panasonic phones supported by the OnSIP boot server

OnSIP NOC Technician Eric Phipps manages and updates our boot server, and I asked him what general operational capabilities are involved. "The boot server hosts a suite of in-house programs that collate user information from our databases. The server puts the information into an encrypted configuration file, and sends it to a registered phone when requested. Phones without boot server support must have configuration information entered manually, which can lead to a lot of mistakes and wasted time."

The entire process takes under three minutes, at which point the phone is fully operational. A given phone's MAC address is passed to the boot server, which then identifies the correct configuration for the phone. The boot server retrieves any information about the phone that has been modified in the Admin Portal, and puts the information into an encrypted file that can be parsed by the specific phone's manufacturing specifications. The phone then decrypts the file, and implements the specifications. The entire feature is, of course, undertaken automatically. I asked Director of Customer Success Larry Browne what the boot server means to his support team.

"The boot server takes all of the fuss out of entering user credentials. There's no sweating to make sure everything is case sensitive and perfect. It operates through two mechanisms, the creation of the resource in the OnSIP Admin Portal, and the boot server address within the phone. This takes all the work out of configuring a VoIP phone, and happy customers make for a happy Customer Success team."

We're happy to give our users full flexibility in their phone choice while also offering them a simple and smooth transition into our service. Please continue to check our blog for the latest phones that have been added to our boot server!