Christian Stredicke

Editorial

Vodia PBX delivers a comprehensive hospitality communication system that enhances guest experience and streamlines hotel operations. With support for multiple device types, seamless PMS integration, in-house call center functionality, and Microsoft Teams connectivity, hotels can optimize efficiency while maintaining high-quality service. Guests can easily access hotel services, communicate with staff, and integrate their personal devices for a seamless and convenient stay. Advanced automation, multilingual support, AI-driven call management, and building automation features further enhance functionality, making Vodia PBX a powerful, scalable solution for modern hospitality environments.

Announcement

Vodia PBX version 69.5.6 brings several important updates, including real-time AI integration with OpenAI, enabling enhanced workflows, and call transcriptions through the Whisper API, with the option for self-hosting to ensure better data privacy. The release also introduces cloud storage for call recordings via the S3 protocol, offering flexibility and easier compliance. The user interface has been refined for a smoother experience, and queue management features have been improved with added CSV export options. Security is boosted with TLS 1.3, and the release expands VoIP hardware support. Additionally, new Azure cloud hosting and licensing models provide greater flexibility and performance for users.

Editorial

Emergency calls are vital for safety, but misuse of public phones for false alarms can lead to significant costs. To help reduce the impact of these incidents while ensuring quick response in genuine emergencies, PBX systems offer several strategies. One option is to record emergency calls, providing undeniable evidence and discouraging misuse. Another more proactive approach involves screening calls through an internal staff member, like in schools or hotels, before they reach the emergency center. This allows staff to assess the situation and direct help more efficiently. For added reliability, calls can be redirected to the emergency center if no one answers, ensuring the call isn’t lost. These methods are effective in various environments with public phones, from schools to warehouses.

Tech

In the past, pbxnsip offered a module connecting the PBX to property management systems (PMS), enabling features like billing international calls and notifying the front desk about room status updates. This functionality was based on the Universal Hospitality Language Layer (UHLL) protocol, which also supported non-telephony tasks within hotels. While this module was useful, it required additional software and added complexity. For the next release (5.2.5 or 5.3), we’ve integrated UHLL directly into the PBX code, simplifying the setup. Those interested in trying out the new features can email us for access to a beta build.

Tech

In version 5.2.3, we improved the email client to better handle multi-tenant environments. Previously, email problems could affect all domains if one email server went down, causing delays in outgoing messages. We redesigned the client to be multi-tenant while preserving the reliability of the previous setup. However, issues arose with the TLS context when multiple emails were sent in quick succession. This required a patch to resolve the problem. If you upgraded to 5.2.3 before June 28, we recommend repeating the upgrade to ensure the latest email fixes are applied for faster, more reliable email performance.

Tech

The concept of the "Internet of Things" (IoT) can often be clouded by vague terms, and the promise of IPv6 enabling the Internet of Everything seemed like a great solution at first. While the idea of assigning every object its own IP address sounds compelling, the reality is that simpler and more practical solutions are often more effective. In terms of IoT, telephone numbers, especially in the form of extensions, offer a well-understood, universal addressing system that could be used to control devices like shutters, lights, or doors, all through a PBX. Ultimately, a mix of different technologies will likely coexist, enabling seamless interaction across various devices and systems.

Editorial

In version 5.2.3, we made significant updates to the email client, addressing issues with Linux systems and multi-tenant environments. Initially, the email client used a single loop, which caused issues with stability and multi-tenant functionality, as a problem with one email server affected all domains. The solution was to switch to a multi-threaded client, but this introduced its own challenges, especially with the STARTTLS command during the switch between unencrypted and encrypted traffic. After a second build to fix these issues, the email client is now more reliable, especially with fast, independent email delivery for each tenant. If you upgraded before June 28, we recommend reapplying the upgrade to ensure all fixes are in place.

Tech

In version 5.2.3, we've enhanced the localization process for both the web interface and emails. Instead of relying on Excel tables for translations, we now allow partners worldwide to make localized edits directly in the interface, ensuring the translations are contextually accurate. We've moved all text prompts to the cloud for a single, unified translation source. This shift eliminates issues from mixing local content with server data. While some translation inconsistencies, like Russian text appearing in Turkish, have arisen, we encourage users to report such issues to help us improve and fill gaps as new features are added.

Tech

For two years, a vulnerability in certain OpenSSL versions allowed attackers to intercept encrypted traffic, potentially exposing sensitive information like private server keys. This vulnerability, known as Heartbleed, caused a global security crisis. Despite OpenSSL’s open-source nature allowing scrutiny, the bug remained undetected, and there were rumors suggesting some may have exploited it rather than reporting it. Early on, Vodia focused on security, opting for a custom TLS implementation to avoid issues like OpenSSL's memory fragmentation. This decision not only helped sidestep vulnerabilities like Heartbleed but also shielded the PBX from widespread exploits, as attackers lack access to the source code.

Tech

In 5.2.2, we’re addressing a common challenge for SIP phones in LANs that need an outbound proxy based on their location. To provide the required quality of service, devices like Edgewater VoIP routers or even simpler routers route SIP traffic separately from other office data. To offer more flexibility, we’ve introduced a pattern-based list for specifying outbound proxies. This allows you to define specific IP addresses, ports, and transport types for different networks. For example, if a tenant has two offices with different network setups, the domain setting allows administrators to configure outbound proxies for each office using patterns like "1.2.3.4/32/10.0.0.2" or "10.43.0.0/24/edge43.company.com:5061/tls".

Tech

Hosted PBX offers many advantages over local systems, but when it comes to paging phones in a LAN, multicast remains the most efficient solution. Unfortunately, multicast often doesn't work in hosted PBX environments or large corporate networks. One workaround is using a unicast stream that is then converted into multicast through a device in the LAN, often using iptables. Another option is to use snom phones or the PA1, which can convert the audio stream into multicast. Alternatively, a local Vodia mini PBX can be set up to register with the hosted PBX, sending calls to a multicast paging group. This method offers more flexibility and useful features like call recording, making it an ideal solution for handling large volumes of paging.

Tech

In version 5.2.0, ACD statistics have been reworked to provide more detailed insights at the user level, making it easier for agents to track their performance. Users who are part of an ACD can access a link to the wallboard, which now updates in real-time through websockets, ensuring immediate visibility of incoming calls. The wallboard shows call statistics, including total and average call durations, hold time, idle time, and per-agent performance. It also displays the history of recent calls. The web-based wallboard is platform-independent, accessible from any device, and supports remote access, making it ideal for home offices and mobile agents.

Tech

Version 5.2.0 introduces a valuable improvement for extensions with multiple alias numbers. Now, when an inbound call is received, the PBX will send the called alias number to the registered device. If the number isn't on the alias list, the primary extension name is used. This change enhances the PBX’s role beyond being just a PBX to also serve as a trunk engine. It’s particularly beneficial for SIP trunking providers, who can leverage features like PCAP recording, RTCP-XR for SLA monitoring, and the ability to manage both IPv4 and IPv6 interfaces. Additionally, with improved CDR reporting, billing becomes easier, and the PBX scales efficiently with virtualization support.

Tech

When the first version of pbxnsip introduced RTP encryption, it was a pioneering feature, but it didn’t generate the expected marketing success. Back then, customers were just happy if they could hear each other over VoIP. Over time, we refined our SRTP implementation to address challenges like the rollover counter, optimized transcoding, and avoided one-way audio issues. With growing awareness of security, encryption is now a critical focus, yet many providers still don’t encrypt voice traffic. To bridge this gap, we’ve added the ability to write decrypted PCAP files, making troubleshooting encrypted voice easier, and this feature is available in version 5.1.3.

Tech

In 2014, the hosted PBX industry gained more clarity on key technologies, with virtualization becoming crucial. It allows several servers to run on the same hardware, making the process faster and more efficient, and offering robust failover mechanisms to maintain service even during hardware failures. Unlike traditional services, PBX systems require real-time response times measured in milliseconds, which means virtual machines must have exclusive CPU control. Vodia’s multi-tenant solution enables the efficient use of resources, offering a scalable hosted PBX service with minimal disruption, while keeping deployment costs low and allowing rapid expansion.

Tech

In the latest PBX version, a warning sign has been added to the general settings page for domains to help manage international number formats. The system handles two primary number formats: the NANPA region (USA and Canada) with its predictable 10-digit format and the rest of the world, where numbers can start with a country code, area code, or local number. To ensure proper routing, users can enter numbers starting with a plus sign (+), indicating a global format. It's crucial that the PBX knows the country code to route calls accurately. The update also highlights the issue with the outdated practice of dialing a “9” to seize a line, which is no longer necessary in today’s digital and multi-trunk environments.

Tech

After years of absence, the G.726 codec has been reintroduced in version 5.1.3 of the PBX. This codec offers favorable characteristics, including a low data rate of around 56 kbit/s, which is ideal for bandwidth-limited environments. Its lower CPU overhead makes it particularly useful for PBX systems, which handle multiple calls simultaneously. While not ideal for music on hold due to its simple compression, G.726 performs better than more compressed codecs like G.729. Widely supported by devices like snom, Yealink, Linksys, and Grandstream, the PBX now dynamically handles the codec, improving compatibility and performance.

Tech

Troubleshooting a PBX can be challenging, but the goal is to minimize issues through smart design, like providing NAT traversal solutions for SIP endpoints. When issues arise, it’s essential to have the right tools, such as SIP registration reporting, which notifies administrators of registration issues caused by firewalls or unstable internet connections. Additional tools help with provisioning problems by logging generated files and their history. For call-related issues, the PBX now captures call PCAPs based on trunks or extensions, making it easier to isolate specific problems. TLS and SRTP encryption are also addressed by decoding traffic before sending it to the PCAP subsystem, ensuring accurate timestamps for troubleshooting.

Tech

IPv6 was designed to eliminate the need for network address translation (NAT) that became necessary with IPv4 due to the limited number of IP addresses. While IPv6 provides an abundance of addresses, NAT is still being considered by some firewall manufacturers as a necessary feature. For SIP clients, NAT behind IPv6 should work fine, as connection-oriented SIP packets like TCP or TLS handle responses naturally. The main issue with NAT and IPv6 arises when servers inside a network need to be accessed. The solution is simple: configure firewalls to forward packets to the PBX server, maintaining the security of internal devices while enabling remote connectivity.

Tech

Recording phone calls is essential for compliance, particularly in industries like brokerage, where proof of phone agreements is required. In the snom ONE PBX, recordings are categorized into automatic and manual types. While manual recordings are handled like voicemail messages, automatic recordings, often generated in bulk in busy call centers, present a challenge for archiving and access. The solution is organizing them in a file system by domain and date for easy retrieval and storage on remote services. The 5.1.3 release introduces HTML5 audio playback for seamless in-browser listening, allowing restricted access to specific recordings without altering file system permissions, though IE users face limitations due to unsupported WAV formats.

Tech

Network Address Translation (NAT) was a workaround for the limited IPv4 addresses, and SIP was designed to be NAT-unfriendly to encourage IPv6 adoption. However, as IPv6 remains far from mainstream, NAT is still a challenge. The Vodia PBX addresses this with a "mini-session border controller," which detects non-routable IPs and ignores SIP routing information. This solution works well with endpoints but faces issues with gateways behind NAT. The upcoming version 5.1.3 introduces a trunk flag to prevent the PBX from updating the SIP route, allowing for better communication. This also simplifies gateway registration, offering a more stable NAT workaround until IPv6 becomes common.

Tech

Vodia PBX offers a Windows-based CSTA browser notification tool that simplifies call handling for web-based CRM users. This lightweight program runs in the taskbar, listens for incoming calls, and opens a web page at a programmable location. To prevent excessive pop-ups, users can configure when the browser opens—such as for ACD or hunt group calls—or manually trigger it via a notification balloon. The tool has been improved to handle connection losses and network changes, ensuring reliable operation. It works with Vodia PBX and other CSTA-compatible systems, with a free trial available for those without a CSTA license.

Tech

Vodia PBX has supported email notifications since the beginning, helping administrators and users stay informed about important events. In version 5.1.1, text messaging (SMS) was introduced, initially for administrators, to enhance real-time notifications. The PBX uses HTTP-based messaging, which is simpler to set up and troubleshoot compared to SMPP. Multi-tenant environments benefit from domain-level configuration, allowing customers to manage their own SMS services. The system also includes retry mechanisms to improve reliability. Once stable, this feature will be extended to user events, further improving communication efficiency within the PBX.

Tech

Traditional PBXs mainly routed calls between PSTN lines and extensions, with trunk-to-trunk calls being rare. Snom ONE followed this model, binding outbound calls to extensions. However, modern businesses with multiple offices and VPN-linked networks require low-latency local call routing. Version 5.1 introduces “inter-office trunks,” allowing calls to be routed directly between PBXs, reducing delays and ensuring local PSTN termination for emergency calls. Calls can now be routed based on dial plans without extension involvement, creating a private telephone network within organizations. This enhances flexibility and efficiency in global enterprise communications.

Tech

Version 5.1 introduces a setting to disable RTCP-XR on trunks, not as a feature, but as a necessity. RTCP-XR provides detailed reports on call quality, including packet arrival times, jitter, and MOS scores, making it valuable for troubleshooting and service-level documentation. However, many service providers use equipment that rejects unknown SDP content, causing interoperability issues. Since most providers and devices don’t support RTCP-XR, the default setting now suppresses its advertisement, ensuring compatibility. If providers adopt it in the future, it can be selectively enabled. This change ensures smoother integration while maintaining call quality diagnostics where possible.

Tech

Previous versions allowed calls from one trunk to be routed through another for cost-effective call termination, commonly used by international offices. Now, the new inter-office trunk feature enhances this by assigning a dial plan directly to the trunk, offering greater flexibility in caller ID presentation. This allows businesses to optimize call routing without linking to specific extensions. While prepaid accounts aren’t supported, the feature enables broader applications, such as acting as a session border controller, handling LAN-WAN traffic, and translating calls between IPv4 and IPv6. Available from version 5.0.10i, this expands the PBX’s role in networked environments

Tech

Traditional PBX phones featured buttons with LED indicators for various functions, often labeled manually. In the SIP world, vendor-specific implementations and limited standards, like the "dialog" standard for BLF, dictate functionality. While BLF allows LED control, actual button behavior relies on provisioning. Vodia PBX extends button provisioning beyond snom to Polycom and Yealink phones, simplifying setup while maintaining functionality. For Polycom, this even enables park orbits, allowing users to park and retrieve calls easily. Though not identical to legacy PBX experiences, these enhancements significantly improve usability and streamline operations for modern VoIP systems.

Tech

SIP's human-readable format, unlike H.323, allows easier understanding of the communication between clients and servers, though not everyone can interpret the details without understanding the specific RFCs. This clarity helps when troubleshooting issues, especially when reviewing SIP logs. In multi-domain environments, however, finding relevant messages can be challenging, especially when filtering by IP only works at the system level. The upcoming version 5.0.11 will address this by allowing domain administrators to access SIP logs, making it easier to diagnose issues in isolated environments, independent of other system traffic. This update promises significant improvements.

Editorial

Passwords remain a crucial vulnerability despite the best security measures. Even with technologies like TLS, SRTP, and certificates securing phone calls, weak passwords still expose systems to attacks. Hackers use automated scanners to find open SIP ports and exploit weak passwords. To address this, snom ONE 5.0.9 now highlights accounts with weak passwords and shows which part is vulnerable. While the system can generate secure passwords, administrators must avoid “No Security” settings to prevent exposure. Implementing strong password policies is a key defense against unauthorized access and potential system misuse.

Tech

With the release of Internet Explorer 10, users can now access real-time notifications through WebSocket support, a feature introduced in snom ONE version 5.0.6. This allows the user portal to display extension availability, turning it into a web-based attendant console that doesn’t require additional software. As long as the user has a recent web browser, including IE10, they can access the attendant console from various devices, including PCs, tablets, and smartphones that support WebSocket. While the console’s current design may be basic, it will evolve with more features and enhanced functionality in the future.

Editorial

snom ONE allows extensive customization of web pages, emails, and device configurations, making it easy for customers to adjust content through the web interface. This feature is particularly useful for multi-tenant setups, as content can be tailored for different users based on their role. However, customization comes with challenges, especially during software upgrades. Changes made to templates, provisioning files, or translations can be overwritten by new updates, causing issues in the system. To avoid problems, users must review and adjust their customizations after each upgrade, ensuring that any unnecessary changes are removed and that everything works seamlessly.

Editorial

snom ONE has supported IPv6 since the early days of PBXnsip, and while we're still waiting for service providers to fully embrace IPv6, there are more practical issues to address. One of the challenges is the handling of DNS records for IPv4 and IPv6 (A and AAAA). As more services add AAAA records, the problem arises when clients without IPv6 connectivity still receive those records, leading to connection issues. A recent example was Gmail, where the snom ONE email client stopped working due to this. The solution was to prioritize IPv4 records first, though this workaround isn't a permanent fix, as IPv4 will eventually become obsolete.

Tech

TAPI (Telephony Application Programming Interface) has been a staple in connecting user programs with telephony hardware, evolving from physical devices to virtual software solutions. Widely adopted by the PBX industry, snom ONE also provides a TAPI service provider (TSP), with the latest version offering enhanced functionality. The new TSP supports both incoming and outgoing calls, including automatic call clearing even before the phone is picked up. It also includes a reconnection feature for lost connections, addressing internet reliability issues. Available for both 32 and 64-bit systems, users should ensure they install the correct version for their operating system.

Tech

With snom ONE, staying connected during unexpected events like a snow day is simple. By setting up your cell phone or landline number to your snom ONE extension, you can easily forward calls to an auto attendant, hunt group, or agent group. This setup requires designating at least one user to activate the feature. Once enabled, users can forward calls and activate night mode remotely by dialing *80 from their phone. Additionally, the system allows you to change the main greeting to inform callers of special events like snow days, ensuring seamless communication even from home.

Tech

With snom ONE expanding into the cloud, the need for multiple administrators became evident. The new system now includes three distinct roles: the "super administrator," who retains full control over the PBX; the "system administrator," who shares many privileges but cannot alter super administrator accounts; and the "domain administrator," who manages specific domains without impacting account licenses. This new structure eliminates the need for sacrificing accounts for administrative purposes and clarifies roles. Additionally, the "login as" option has been removed, making it clear which role each user holds within the system.

Tech

The auto attendant is a valuable feature that has replaced switchboard operators in many businesses, particularly where cost efficiency and technological advances are key. In version 5.0.4, this feature has been enhanced to offer a more streamlined user experience. The "start" trigger now automatically initiates dial-by-name mode, allowing callers to search for names immediately without selecting options. The new release also includes direct destination options and the ability to disconnect calls after a set period of inactivity, particularly useful for analog lines. Additionally, the system can now include a user’s cell phone in the dial-by-name mode without the caller being aware.

Editorial

The snom 710’s addition to the 700-series has significantly enhanced deployment flexibility, especially with version 5.0.3’s improvements. One key change is the automatic device button profile assignment, which eliminates manual configuration and saves time by allowing the PBX to pick the right profile when provisioning devices. This simplifies deployments and ensures phone features are fully utilized. The update also customizes hard key provisioning per device, improving functionality. Furthermore, the new PBX discovery method using snom XML RPC server streamlines setup, especially for hosted PBX and private cloud users, saving time on troubleshooting and device resets.

Tech

The upgrade process for snom ONE mini and SoHo devices has been clarified. When purchasing a version 5 license, users can now use the device’s MAC address as a promotion code for a 50% discount on bundles like ten, twenty, or premium five, ten, or twenty. The generated license is specific to that MAC address and can only be used once. Additionally, the new premium five license is designed for production use, offering more calls and accounts compared to the free edition, which is only for demonstrations. This helps streamline the upgrade process and offers more flexibility for users.

Tech

In PBX terms, presence typically indicates if someone is on the phone or unavailable. With snom ONE version 5.0.2, we’ve enhanced presence functionality by adding the ability for the PBX to show when a user is on the phone, even if they are using an external device like a mobile phone. This is achieved through an HTTP request to the PBX from the mobile service provider, updating the presence status without needing complex SIP configurations. The system can track call duration and reset the status after a call ends. Additionally, the PBX can relay presence updates to connected platforms like Microsoft Lync.

Editorial

The snom ONE family has a variety of confusing names, but understanding the distinctions can help clarify things. The snom ONE mini is a small, ARM-based device designed for small offices, while the snom ONE plus is a more powerful PC-based server with preinstalled software and hardware. The snom ONE mini is sold through the snom distribution channel, while the snom ONE plus is aimed at resellers who prefer pre-configured devices. The software side of things has shifted from using catchy color names to bundles based on the number of extensions, with snom ONE free being the exception, offering a risk-free entry point. For hardware, options range from standard PC servers to Apple computers and the snom ONE mini, each offering flexibility in how the system is set up.

Tech

Vodia PBX now allows users to schedule reports beyond daily intervals, supporting weekly, monthly, and quarterly options. Reports can be combined, such as “0:00/week 0:00/month,” to send both weekly and monthly reports at midnight. However, caution is needed when scheduling quarterly reports on busy systems due to performance concerns. The web interface now offers period selection for reports, such as the current or previous day, week, or month. While this simplifies report generation, large systems should be mindful of potential slowdowns when accessing large amounts of data. The "Try" button continues to generate daily reports.

Announcement

Vodia’s 2024 recap highlights several key milestones, including the certification of our PBX for Microsoft Teams, which will shape the direction of our platform moving forward. We’re addressing areas where Teams falls short, particularly through SIP interoperability. In addition, our efforts to integrate Realtime AI via APIs have shown great progress, with exciting advancements planned for 2025. We’ve also made significant improvements to our PBX interface, transitioning to the more modern Tailwind framework, and launched a native Android app. iOS improvements are also in the pipeline. With AI set to transform telephony, Vodia is positioned to lead the way, bringing AI-driven capabilities to enhance productivity in 2025.

Editorial

Efficient and warm communication between hotel staff and guests is essential for increasing guest satisfaction and driving revenue. Vodia offers a secure, feature-rich communication platform that integrates seamlessly with major Property Management Systems (PMS), enhancing guest interactions. From in-room devices to smartphone-based communication, Vodia ensures guests can easily contact hotel services, whether they’re on-site or away. This integrated solution reduces costs, improves operational efficiency, and protects guest privacy. With Vodia’s hospitality solution, hotels can foster positive guest experiences, encourage loyalty, and boost their reputation, all while simplifying communication methods.

Tech

This document details the beta version of the Vodia PBX that connects to the OpenAI realtime API, enabling users to interact with a chatbot via telephone. The backend JavaScript code facilitates the connection, handling audio input and output, and the WebSocket connection to the OpenAI API. The setup requires a Vodia PBX version 69.5.3 or higher, an API key, and a license with an IVR node. The demo can be accessed by editing the ivrnode.js template and creating an IVR node in the tenant. The system supports various VoIP devices and offers good voice quality. Future improvements include voice activity detection and the ability to take actions based on OpenAI responses.

Announcement

Vodia is excited to announce that its PBX is now certified for Microsoft Teams, enabling seamless voice integration with Teams’ collaboration tools. This certification allows Teams users to leverage advanced PBX features, such as call routing, auto attendants, voicemail, and more, while ensuring secure and high-quality voice services. The integration also supports various industries like hospitality, healthcare and manufacturing, where Teams users can now make and receive calls via Vodia’s certified SBC. With the Vodia PBX, organizations can streamline their communication processes and reduce costs while ensuring continuity and flexibility across all channels.

Editorial

As spam and robocalls increasingly disrupt businesses, Vodia Networks offers advanced filtering in its PBX system, including anonymous call detection and, in partnership with TrueCNAM, a spam scoring feature. This integration assigns each incoming call a spam score, allowing companies to block or redirect high-risk calls. Configurable at the domain and user levels, this feature — available in Vodia PBX version 58.4 — provides flexibility for hosted PBX clients to customize call handling and protect productivity.

Editorial

In hosted PBX environments, Yealink's Zero Touch provisioning simplifies the phone setup process by automating configuration without user intervention. The phone contacts Yealink’s redirection service (with its MAC address), retrieves the provisioning server details and automatically fetches its configuration. This integration has been added to the Vodia PBX, similar to an earlier feature for snom phones. The process ensures secure provisioning by verifying client certificates, enhancing ease of setup. Users can access this feature by obtaining login credentials from Yealink, and the integration is available in Vodia's upcoming version 5.3.1.

Editorial

Vodia’s cloud PBX system enhances the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) function for hotels, allowing guests to manage their privacy through buttons in the room or on the phone. The system syncs with PMS for seamless functionality, enabling hotel operators to manually override DND when guests struggle to disable it. For critical situations, like room service follow-ups, the system allows specific extensions to bypass DND, ensuring guests are reachable when needed. VIP guest management features, guest-to-guest call restrictions and automatic resets upon checkout ensure privacy, security, and convenience, improving the guest experience while maintaining operational efficiency.

Tech

In the late 1980s, prank calls were a common form of entertainment but often caused confusion, similar to today’s call forwarding glitches. Recently, a client migrating to a new PBX system experienced disruptions when users mistyped numbers for call forwarding. While user errors are common, there's a bigger concern: calls being misdirected to emergency numbers or costly lines, especially since many VoIP phones lack security features. Solutions include restricting call forwarding to internal numbers, blocking access or allowing only specific, pre-approved numbers. Ultimately, balancing control over settings is essential to prevent glitches while keeping systems user-friendly.

Announcement

We recently launched Vodia Phone 2, a new Android app designed to enhance mobile user experience. This new app, written in Kotlin, replaces the previous version that was based on HTML5. The rewrite addresses performance issues, such as high resource consumption and suboptimal control over incoming calls and the microphone, which were problematic with the HTML5 WebRTC framework. By leveraging the Android native dialer API, the new app ensures quick, safe call handling. While both apps are currently available, users are encouraged to transition to Vodia Phone 2 for improved functionality. Vodia Networks continues to support a wide range of enterprise telephony needs with their advanced PBX software.

Announcement

NEC's exit from the on-premise telephone systems market has left many customers at a crossroads, seeking effective alternatives. Vodia provides a seamless transition to our on-premise PBX, utilizing a proven migration path and advanced VoIP technology. In recent migrations, we observed the deep-rooted reliance on "lines" within NEC systems. Our approach ensured a smooth adaptation, teaching users to transition from the old two-step process to a more intuitive VoIP interface. VoIP eliminates physical lines, offering a robust, efficient, and user-friendly communication solution. With Vodia, your organization can continue to communicate effectively, ensuring business continuity and enhanced communication capabilities.

Tech

We are excited to announce Vodia PBX version 69.3, designed to enhance stability in challenging environments with improved logging and packet burst resilience. Key updates include automatic audio file conversion, handling for 130 Australian numbers, expanded Avaya support, enhanced Call Detail Records with SIP packets and RTP statistics, and cloud storage for call recordings. Additionally, we've added support for new devices from Fanvil and Grandstream, improved redirection settings, registration refresh for devices, hotline dialing, and more detailed system performance statistics available through Prometheus.

Tech

At Vodia, we recognize the inherent challenges facing enterprise VoIP, particularly in maintaining high-quality audio connections amidst factors like jitter, network latency, and packet loss. These issues disrupt the seamless communication experience essential for business operations. To address these challenges, we've developed innovative solutions within our PBX, such as recording decrypted RTP packets and offering flexible options for data privacy. Our commitment lies in resolving these obstacles efficiently, ensuring businesses can rely on uninterrupted communication without compromising on security or performance.

Announcement

Vodia recently released version 69.2.4, the latest update to their industry-leading cloud phone system. This update boasts a completely rebuilt frontend, providing a modern user experience, and integrates seamlessly with nearly any browser-based platform. A key feature is integration with Grafana, a powerful tool that enables comprehensive monitoring of Vodia instances across various platforms. Version 69.2.4 also brings several other improvements, including the ability to add custom notes to accounts, sending CDR emails for regular extensions, and enhanced support for Mitel 68xx and 69xx series phones.

Editorial

The Short Messaging Service (SMS) is under pressure from apps that can do far more than just send messages. Despite being essential for two-factor authentication and online banking TANs, its overall importance has declined. Messenger services like WhatsApp, with over 2 billion users globally, have become the preferred choice for communication, offering text, image, and video sharing, even for calls. Concerns arise over data privacy as these apps monetize user information, contrasting with regulated local telephone companies.

Announcement

In the end-of-year update, Christian Stredicke, CEO, reflects on a transformative 2023. Version 69 was introduced with significant under-the-hood changes, and innovations included pioneering passkey support and enhanced video call capabilities to adapt to the post-COVID world of hybrid work. Looking ahead to 2024, Vodia is working on a new Android app and addressing concerns about the future of texting in telecommunications. Your continued support is vital, and we look forward to a prosperous 2024.

Announcement

Cove Central teams up with QuestBlue and Vodia to revolutionize communication solutions for MSPs nationwide. This elite turnkey partnership simplifies FCC compliance, integrates global cloud capabilities, and redefines industry standards. With Cove Central's TAPP, MSPs gain white-glove support and 24x7 service, setting a new standard in unified communications.

Announcement

With a vast network of IT professionals, 888VoIP has been instrumental in helping VoIP companies achieve major success through loyalty and dedicated service. Their focus on interoperability has led to seamless plug-and-play integration with industry giants like Cisco, Polycom, Yealink, and more. This integration significantly reduces installation costs and system downtime, enhancing customer satisfaction. The transition to a concurrent call license model simplifies the acquisition of licenses through 888VoIP, ensuring a smoother deployment process.

Editorial

We are nearing the end of our tenth anniversary year, and I must say it’s been quite a year. It’s been ten years of innovation in VoIP and cloud communications, and we remain at the vanguard of the industry. We founded Vodia a decade ago with a commitment to innovative software development, and this commitment has only strengthened over the past 10 years. It is the core of what we do.

Tech

A few months ago, we adopted "passkeys" technology at Vodia. Our challenge with second-factor authentication was finding reliable options for end users and since SMS and USB keys were limited, email was left as the only feasible choice. Yet, email confirmation for phone system access is inconvenient and not always available. It’s only about logging into your phone system, not Fort Knox.

Tech

We designed the Vodia phone system, the industry’s most feature-rich, on a lawful groundwork and list of requirements, both in the EU and in the USA, for processing personal data.

Tech

The wallboard displays the current day’s information; at midnight, everything is reset to zero and another day begins. There are a few key metrics for each queue shown on the wallboard: the numbers are updated in real time, for example, and when a call comes in the number of waiting callers is automatically updated.

Tech

Instead of installing an executable, use the browser! Because browsers have their own sandbox model for each web page, this gives you far better security. In addition to controlling the file system access, browsers also control microphones and cameras; when in use, they make sure the user can see what is being accessed and when. The browser also comes with an additional “feature”: when you close the tab, you are naturally on “do-not-disturb.” This is especially important for people working from home.

Editorial

When it comes to the right telephone system, the exact ratio doesn’t even matter: the system needs to support all modes of communication. Most organizations are figuring out which mode works best for each employee, and it would be unwise to address this while installing a new system. There are users who don't like to use the app and prefer a desktop phone; other users prefer the app. And there are cases when users want both.

Announcement

Even though our Vodia PBX was designed for running on a public IP address from day one, it also gives you excellent on premise performance, making it a natural fit for DECT installations. The Vodia IOP is ideal for running the PBX in a private network if you don’t want to run a whole server just for the PBX; together with a DECT base station, this will give you everything you need to run a powerful, robust communication solution.

Announcement

With the wide availability of passkeys on all mainstream browsers, users and administrators can conveniently access the Vodia PBX while enjoying an unprecedented level of security.

Announcement

The most exciting part of the new release is the new front end — we are convinced the user-facing front end will play a crucial role in the coming years in delivering increased value to our end users. We were happy with our 67/68 front end, but we thought we could improve it and we ended up rebuilding it entirely. Version 69 puts the Vodia PBX front end on a solid foundation for years to come.

This is an auspicious occasion – we are marking the tenth anniversary of Vodia as a company. Congratulations, that is quite an achievement. And that’s what our podcast is going to be about, marking the path from 2012 to 2022, quite an evolution, lots of interesting things along the way, not to mention the pandemic and hybrid work and a whole bunch of things.

Tech

White-labeling is a way manufacturers support well-known brands, simplifying both market access and customer recognition. It is used in many industries, including the telecom industry. While it’s easy to brand web pages and emails (including the Vodia PBX frontend and backend), white-labeling hardware and apps is a different topic.

Editorial

Eric Altman, Sales Engineer, Vodia: I understand Vodia is reaching its 10-year anniversary. It’s a pretty significant thing. Can you go through the evolution of Vodia? Where we’ve been and, actually, where we’re going? Christian Stredicke, President and CEO, Vodia: It started much longer than ten years ago. It started in 2005 and under a different name, Pbxnsip. “PBX” for PBX, “n” for and “sip” for session initiation protocol. At that time you clearly saw the cloud already, and there was no product readily available that was ready for the cloud but was carrier-grade. There was BroadSoft and a company called Sylantro which was ultimately acquired by BroadSoft. But these were really big, big deployments. There was nothing for a small MSP so it would be able to run a small PBX in the cloud. That was the original goal, to write software that can be used by these people.

Editorial

The Vodia app also makes it so you can set business hours, for the entire company or for individual employees, all within the PBX. This means no one can call an employee late at night or on a weekend or holiday. This is a key requirement for many employees, who worry using their smartphones means receiving work calls at all hours.

Announcement

WOBURN, MA. – Oct. 22, 2013 – Today Vodia Networks Inc announced its cloud-based PBX solution for SMBs, that provides a highly robust and feature rich communications platform to cater to the ever growing needs of today’s distributed and mobile workforce. The cloud-based service called “Hosted I AM” or “hostedi.am” enables businesses to lower the total cost of ownership of their telephone systems by providing a managed phone system on the cloud along with a complete suite of business features. For businesses with multiple branch offices, hostedi.am provides a single system that will seamlessly connect all locations without the need for a complex infrastructure.

Announcement

Vodia’s Click-to-call feature will allow businesses to do just that by harnessing each of their customer’s web site visits into a sales opportunity by enabling their potential customers to talk to them in real-time. This new cutting-edge feature will enable internet users to place calls to a business directly from the website of the business, without the need for a phone or the need to download any software. The feature will provide business owners with a “Click-to-Call” button that they would be able to place on their company home page. Website visitors of the business will be able to talk to a company representative using a WebRTC enabled web browser by simply clicking the “Click-to-call” button.

Announcement

WOBURN, MA. – Nov. 19, 2013 – Vodia Networks Inc announced today a new diagnostics feature for its IP-PBX product line and hostedi.am cloud service. The new feature allows administrators to capture call and audio data directly on the PBX for diagnostics, without the need for any external packet capture tools.

Announcement

Vodia Networks Inc a leading developer of IP-PBX and Call Center software announced today its commitment to further HTML5 support for its IP-PBX product line and hostedi.am cloud phone service.

Announcement

Vodia Networks Inc announced today the adoption of JavaScript Object Notation or JSON for its IP-PBX solution and hostedi.am cloud phone service. The new JSON based interface of the Vodia IP-PBX solution will enable integration with Call reporting tools, Property Management System (PMS), Home Automation systems and HVAC remote control.

Announcement

Vodia® Networks has once again taken the lead by introducing a VoIP-in-a-Box solution based on open standards that is designed to work seamlessly across all IP handsets, giving users the ultimate freedom in end-device selection. With this new feature, as soon the IP handsets are plugged into the network, Vodia® PBX automatically detects all the phones in your network and lists them on the admin portal. The listed information includes Vendor type, MAC address and IP address of each detected device. The administrator can then simply assign a PBX user to the phone by selecting a user profile from a drop down. The IP handset then automatically reboots and configures itself with the assigned user profile. Configuration information may include customer name, password, email address, telephone number, ring tone, class of service, QoS (Quality of Service), SIP URI, SIP proxy server, call server FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) or IP address, and other parameters.

Announcement

Vodia Networks Inc announced today the availability of its Vodia® mini PBX appliance through “IP Phone Warehouse”. Vodia® mini PBX brings the highly successful Vodia® PBX software to a compact low-power/high-performance appliance, and delivers A-Grade business telephony features such as Auto receptionist, Automatic call distribution, Video, SMS notifications and mobility, ensuring a higher productivity for your business and a significant reduction in the overall TCO. Further value-add features such as Fax-to-email, Click-to-call, Address book synchronization, Call recording, CRM integration and Microsoft® Lync presence, allow the Vodia® mini to provide SMBs with functionality that has so far been only seen on larger UC solutions.

Announcement

Vodia Networks Inc a leading provider of PBX and contact center software, announced today a strategic partnership that will enable Vodia to offer advanced call reporting and analytics functionality for its IP-PBX solution in cooperation with nordic Telecom (NTC). The partnership aims to bring Nordic Telecom’s rich value-added Call reporting solution as an add-on to Vodia’s advanced IP-PBX platform, which will enable businesses and service providers to perform detailed analysis of their call traffic ultimately leading to an improved customer service and steady sales growth.

Announcement

Today, two of the most critical components of any hospitality property are its phone system (PBX) and the Property Management System (PMS). Both the PBX and PMS are going through a rapid modernization trend in the hospitality industry with most of the hotels migrating from traditional TDM based systems to their more modern IP based kin. Traditional PBXs are being replaced by IP based PBXs to benefit from the advantages the new VoIP technology. Traditional Property Management Systems (PMS) are also being replaced by more modern IP based systems that can seamlessly integrate with other IP based systems and services.

Editorial

The recent case of phone call fraud highlights the growing risks of PBX systems being compromised, with hackers using them to dial expensive numbers. This situation often arises when the PBX is used as a "least cost router" to route calls through expensive destinations. However, even without external voice traffic, bots on local networks can exploit PBX systems by accessing the TAPI feature, dialing numbers directly from a computer. To mitigate risks, it's crucial to ensure strong security measures, like checking for viruses, using secure passwords, and verifying the fraud detection features offered by service providers. Also, restrict expensive number calls via the PBX dial plan and ensure TAPI licenses are carefully managed.

Tech

Failover capabilities are essential for ensuring uninterrupted service in PBX installations, especially with the growing use of high-bandwidth wireless connections like 4G. Traditionally, PBX systems use LAN-based IP addresses, but dynamically switching to a public IP address during failover has posed challenges. To address this, a new feature has been introduced where the PBX periodically probes a specified URL to detect its public IP address and adjusts the routing table accordingly. This feature simplifies the process, eliminating the need for complex scripts and allowing systems to automatically switch to the correct IP during failover, ensuring continuous operation. The feature will be available in version 5.2.5.

Editorial

For someone who has struggled with SIP interoperability for the past 15 years that has an earthshaking impact. Instead of arguing about SIP headers, UDP and RFC, WebRTC makes it now possible that the PBX vendor writes the software for the clients. The interoperability is essentially JavaScript which has very little room for interpretations (compared to SIP). That means we can offer all possible features of the PBX in the browser without any interop problems, on practically all platforms that are out there. This will make SIP softphones superfluous.

Announcement

The app called “Vodia Phone”, now available through the Google Play Store, will allow Vodia PBX users to make and receive voice calls over data networks using any Android mobile devices running Android 4.1 or higher. Based on the WebRTC technology, the app will be particularly beneficial for business users who want to use their mobile device to place voice calls over 3G or Wi-Fi through their Vodia PBX system while using their business number. An iOS version is planned for release in a few weeks.

Tech

Vodia PBX enables selective call screening, allowing only specific callers, like a boss’s spouse, to bypass screening, while others are redirected. Internal permissions control who can directly reach certain extensions, while external SPAM filtering uses either an address book or external detection. White-listed callers receive low SPAM scores to pass through, while unknown or high-risk numbers are redirected for screening or asked to leave a message, ensuring essential contacts connect directly.

Editorial

It’s not just the pandemic: Vodia been preaching #workfromanywhere it for a long time, since our cloud PBX makes it possible, but the pandemic has certainly accelerated it. We’ve seen a lot of companies where at least a few staff members choose to work from home, or need to, and for a long time IT departments were wary of undertaking the necessary migrations to make this possible, but with the pandemic and the shift of entire teams away from the office, it’s become a top priority to make it so an organization’s telephone system can accommodate working from anywhere.

Editorial

2021 was dominated by #workfromanywhere, #workfromhome, #hybridwork and, of course, the ubiquity of Zoom, Google hangouts and Microsoft Teams. Over the summer, when a significant percentage of people were vaccinated, many companies, including Apple and Google, predicted their employees would soon be returning to the office, but it turned out most people desired either hybrid or completely remote work; few workers wanted to return to an office full-time. Then, at the beginning of December, we faced a global outbreak of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and, once again, the conversation returned exclusively to remote work. We may be having this conversation for quite a while.

Editorial

In this March 24, 2022 podcast, Christian Stredicke, CEO of Vodia, discusses the company's use of WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communications) to enhance business communication systems. WebRTC enables voice and video directly through browsers, solving interoperability issues common in VoIP. Christian highlights the flexibility of Vodia’s cloud phone systems, allowing seamless communication between various devices, including browsers, desktop phones, and SIP trunks. WebRTC's secure, low-latency environment is essential for improving user experience, and Christian sees it as a game-changer for future communications.

Announcement

We are excited about this! 888VoIP is the leading distributor for VoIP in the United States. The 888 networks reaches out to practically every IT professional that works with VoIP. 888 VoIP has helped many VoIP companies to become major industry players through their dedicated service and loyalty.