Editorial

Automatic Provisioning in the Cloud Age

Published on:

December 14, 2012

The addition of the snom 710 to the 700-series has significantly enhanced deployment flexibility, especially with our version 5.0.3 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. And 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.

The availability of the snom 710 was a game changer for the 700-series. Now customers have a range of devices that make it possible to roll out systems into small and large offices. The snom 710 was added to the supported devices in version 5 from the beginning, but version 5.0.3 includes important improvements that make it really easy to roll out these devices.

First of all, snom ONE always offered buttons configuration. The new version makes it a lot easier to deploy phones by using default device button profiles; with these profiles, the PBX automatically picks the right device profile when generating the provisioning data for the devices. In other words, when plugging devices in, the administrator doesn't have to manually assign profiles to users any more: They are automatically picked by the system depending on the device type. For most of the devices in the domain, this is a reasonable setup and usually only a small part of the device requires manual modifications. Not only is this a big time saver, but in many installations the phones' features are untapped because there is no time to set up the buttons correctly.

While we were on it, we also looked at the other hard keys on the devices. In the previous versions, all snom phones were treated equally, but they are not equal. The new version provisions the hard keys depending on the device so, for example, the menu button on the 720 and 760 uses the XML content generated from the PBX.

We also looked at the PBX discovery mechanism. In addition to manual configuration, DHCP option 66, and multicast provisioning, we added a new mechanism that uses the snom XML RPC server to discover the PBX. This new method was primarily designed for hosted PBX operators; in "private cloud" installations, however, it also makes a lot of sense to use this. When the administrator assigns the MAC to an extension, now the PBX publishes that MAC to the central redirection server, so when the phone boots up, it takes the PBX address from there. This works from any location where the phone has access to the public Internet. It also works when the customer factory-resets the device; this means the standard support procedure will ask the in-house or external customer to reset the device and reboot.

This is a big time saver compared to manual setup, where the support staff has to babysit users through the procedure of setting the device up every time something goes wrong. Time is money these days.

Latest Articles

View All

Improve Customer Experience with Vodia’s Agent Activity Dashboard

Every missed call or unresolved issue can cost your business, making agent performance critical for call center success. The Vodia Agent Activity Dashboard provides real-time insights into agent availability, queue performance, and call metrics, enabling supervisors to quickly identify performance gaps, optimize productivity, and enhance customer experience. Agents receive actionable feedback and targeted training, while teams gain the visibility needed to manage workloads efficiently and maintain high service standards. With live monitoring, historical analytics, and smart queue indicators, Vodia ensures every customer interaction is handled effectively, helping businesses stay ahead of expectations and deliver exceptional support.

September 30, 2025

Vodia Brings the Future of Hospitality Communication to NoVacancy Sydney 2025

Vodia participated in NoVacancy Sydney 2025, Australia’s largest conference and exhibition for the accommodation industry, showcasing its cloud PBX solutions designed specifically for hotels, resorts, and other hospitality venues. With advanced VoIP and AI-driven features, Vodia enables properties to provide guests with seamless, personalized experiences while streamlining operations, reducing costs, and boosting staff efficiency. The company highlighted its recent integration with the Shiji Property Management System (PMS) and Microsoft Teams certification, making it a versatile communication platform for both boutique hotels and multinational chains.

September 26, 2025

The Vodia Call Recordings and Transcription Dashboard

The Vodia Call Recordings and Transcription Dashboard is a modern, powerful tool for businesses to manage and analyze call activity efficiently. Its sleek interface provides a widescreen view of key call metrics including average call length, calls per day, and ongoing calls in real time. With filtering, analytics, transcription, and export options, users can easily access, playback, and share recordings. Designed for industries requiring call recording for legal compliance such as healthcare, government, and utilities, it ensures secure storage, encrypted sharing, and more. Combining robust functionality with a user-friendly design, it helps businesses improve customer service, monitor staff performance, resolve disputes, and gain insights.

September 25, 2025