GIP300 Trial Experience

Written by Steele 2006.11.20

I just came across Google ad and knew of a IP phone from China . I was stuck by its low price and managed to get one for testing. The testing result was beyond my expectation and this product left me a strong impression with its rich functionality and low price.

At first, I found amazedly that it is a two-line IP phone and can register to two independent ITSP (Internet Telephony Service Provider). Furthermore the two line can be switched by pressing a key easily and there is a display on the LCD to indicate which line you are using now. In addition, though it is a low price IP phone, it supports 3-way conference and is compatible with Asterisk very well. I accomplished a 3-way conference on an Asterisk platform facilely. I made two calls which can be provided by two ITSP (remember what I said before, it is a two-line phone). Finally, the most interesting thing I found from this IP phone is that the IP phone could show me the specific call status indicator such as 100 try and 180 ring etc on the LCD. It may no use to the common customers. But it is very useful when I am making the system deployment.

You could get the specification of this IP Phone GIP300 from its company's websites ( http://www.e3call.com/products/index.htm ), if anyone who is interested in it could download from the above link.

Trial experience

The phone in my hand was in black color and it was the model without POE. I like the appearance design of GIP300 no matter placed in company or at home it is not a bad choice. Another feature I'd love to is that GIP300 can be hung up on the wall. It features two 10/ 100M Ethernet port, one 5V power adapter jack and one 3.5mm headset jack. The power adapter of GIP300 is very special and smart. It is only a little bit bigger than my thumb.

It was easy to understand and operate the keypad even without the manual. I assigned the IP address without reading manual at first. The two Ethernet port can be configured as either switched or routed mode. This design is quite helpful so that I am not afraid how to share only one broadband connection with my PC. When it is configured as switched mode, it can act as two ports switch. Or it is configured as NAT mode with PPPOE and DHCP Server functions, it can act as SOHO router.

The LCD display of GIP300 IP phone is extreme abundant. The status of two Ethernet ports, two lines and the history of missed calls, call transfer, received/dialed call and message waiting indicator could be showed clearly on the LCD. And there is a green LED on the phone panel to indicate the registration status as well.

Besides the IP address assignment, the more advanced settings can be configured through web-based configuration page. The web-base configuration page is simple and easy to use. But I did not understand the meaning of an item named “VPN?on the web configuration page. From the user manual it seems that this VPN option is a special function cooperated with another model equipment of this company to avoid port blocking from the ISP or carrier in some areas or regions.

GIP300 supports NAT transversal completely. I have tested the setting of Outbound Proxy which can cooperate with our system very well. But I didn't verified the STUN function.

GIP300 could support download files including firmware, ring tongs and dial plan. All download files can be selected from the web-based configuration page. Furthermore you aren't afraid the problem of losing settings because all the setting parameters will be reserved after firmware upgrade.

To support dial plan is another big advantage of GIP300. GIP300 supports entire dial plan setting. I can only find such a complete support from Sipura products before.

Another feature I have mentioned is the system log function. This is the very common and useful function to engineer, after all it brings convenience when making the system deployment.

Shortcoming

Firstly it's a pity that the LCD of GIP 300 is not pixel-based but a segment digital LCD screen. Secondly GIP300 provides 8 memory key (M1-M8) but these keys also act as other functions, it looks a little complex from the front panel of GIP300. Finally GIP300 only support SIP protocol but doesn't support IAX2 protocol.

Conclusion:

All in all, I think GIP300 is a perfect product with affordable price. Its 2-line, 8 memory key and 3-way conference function could meet the general application of business phone. Plus its low price, that is the IP phone what I'm looking for.