Devices that can connect to 3CX as extensions
Earlier we noted that traditional phone systems depended on the manufacturer of the PBX phone system to make the extensions that connected to it. With the introduction of the SIP protocol standards, any VoIP phone system that adheres to SIP standards can connect to any SIP-based extension that adheres to SIP standards. This is a powerful openness that the 3CX Phone System leverages to allow many phone handsets and softphones to be used as extensions with 3CX.
Note
This wonderful ability for all SIP devices to interoperate is theoretical. Sometimes the SIP standard has multiple ways of doing something and different manufacturers use different methods making things break down. Thankfully, 3CX has done a lot of interoperability testing which is available at http://wiki.3cx.com/phone-configuration/firmwares-tested.
Let's take a look at some different categories of extensions that can connect to 3CX.
Softphones
We've already covered the 3CX Phone. One nice thing about softphones is that they have a very low cost as compared to hardphones and they often bring a higher level of integration to your computer. There are some other well-known manufacturers who also make some nice softphones.
X-Lite by CounterPath
X-Lite is a very nice, free softphone that adds some features not available in the 3CX softphone. One such feature is video phone conversations between extensions on your phone system. 3CX does not officially support videos, but since X-Lite adheres to protocol standards, the 3CX Phone System will pass the video along. Another feature of X-Lite is a built-in instant messaging client that works with a standard SIP simple instant messaging server. This phone is supported by 3CX and more information about it is available at http://www.counterpath.com/.
Zoiper Communicator
The Zoiper Communicator is another SIP softphone that has a free edition, a nice user interface, and brings some interesting features within the reach of 3CX. It can act as a T.38 Fax sending and receiving device, has video calls ability, has a built-in instant messaging client, and provides a hosted instant message server too. Zoiper is not on the supported list of softphones for 3CX, so you will be on your own if you use it. More information about the Zoiper Communicator can be found at http://www.zoiper.com/.
SIP phones
Hardphones or handsets are similar to what has been on desks for the last 50 years and are still the most popular way to use a phone system. Some very common SIP phone manufacturers are Polycom, GrandStream, Snom, Cisco, Aastra, and Linksys. Various phones from these vendors are on the 3CX supported list.
Analog phones
VoIP phone systems are amazing at accommodating old hardware. Using an Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) device that converts an analog phone signal to the SIP protocol, you can use almost any old analog phone device with your modern, state-of-the-art VoIP phone system.
Other SIP hardware and software devices
Following are some other SIP-based hardware devices that can act as an extension to 3CX:
- Ceiling speakers that can be used to page:
http://www.cyberdata.net/products/voip/digitalanalog/ ceilingspkr/index.html
- Security camera you can call to listen to, talk to, or watch (via video phone):
- Intercom door phones:
http://www.cyberdata.net/products/voip/digitalanalog/ intercomindoor/index.html
- Door opener:
- Software to do outbound calling:
This is not an attempt to list all the SIP devices that could possibly connect to 3CX, but just to give you an idea about what some of the possibilities are. Also note that these devices are not on the recommended 3CX devices list.