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.
Recording phone calls is an important feature of any PBX. Phone calls sometime need to be recorded for legal purposes, e.g., for brokerage firms that need proof when trading agreements are made over the phone.
On the snom ONE PBX, we differentiate between automatically made recordings and recordings started manually. The manual recordings are treated similar to voicemail messages and are shown in the voicemail section of the web interface. Because there are usually only a handful of such recordings, the manual recordings are not a big problem. The automatic recordings are mostly generated in bulk. Especially in busy call centers, with thousands of calls every day, this poses a difficult question as to how to archive and access the recordings.
The first answer to this question is the file system. By putting the recordings into directories organized by the domain and the date, we make it easy to access files for those who have file system access; it's also easy to permanently store these files on remote storage services. There are several synchronization services for this.
There was always the demand to have the playback for the recordings directly from the web interface, however: HTML5 has added the audio element, which makes it possible to stream the audio directly to the browser without the need to store it and then play it externally. In other words, it becomes possible to play a recording back with a simple click. It also makes it possible to grant access to only certain recordings - for example, only to those made by a certain agent group - without having to tweak file system access. This is what we have added to the upcoming 5.1.3 release. For the various recording locations, we have put a little triangle next to the recording record: when the user clicks on it, it makes the audio player visible and starts the playback.
While we were on it, we also started to add the playback feature in other places like the auto attendant IVR control (see screenshot). This makes it easier, faster and more fun to set the attendant up.
Most desktop browsers support this method. Unfortunately, Internet Explorer is again an exception here because it is unable to play back simple WAV files. Encoding the recordings in MP3 or even AAC isn't an option for the PBX, so we are unable to offer this feature for IE users. In most installations, however, users also have other browsers installed, so it will be possible for practically all users to use this new feature. The feature availability for mobile users is limited, but we expect that over time more and more mobile devices will support the HTML5 audio tag with the WAV format.
Vodia PBX now integrates seamlessly with Freshdesk, an AI-powered customer service platform used by over 73,000 companies worldwide. This integration combines intelligent ticketing and automation with enterprise-grade telephony, enabling automatic contact creation, detailed call tracking, and streamlined agent workflows. By improving call center efficiency and customer interaction management, it helps businesses enhance productivity and customer satisfaction. Vodia continues to strengthen its ecosystem with integrations to leading business software, delivering top-tier cloud PBX solutions.
Prepaid cloud instances are transforming how PBX systems are deployed by offering a faster, simpler, and more flexible approach. With Vodia PBX now available on AWS, Azure, and DigitalOcean, businesses can launch a fully licensed, production-ready phone system in just minutes, without complicated setup or licensing delays. These preconfigured environments allow IT teams, decision-makers, and MSPs to test real-world VoIP performance, MS Teams integration, and mobile apps directly within their own cloud account. By removing traditional friction and offering full control, Vodia’s prepaid cloud instances provide a smarter and more efficient way to evaluate and deploy a modern PBX.
Vodia will participate in ChannelCon 2025, taking place in Nashville, TN, from July 29 to 31, with Sales Engineer Eric Altman attending on behalf of the company. ChannelCon, hosted by the Global Technology Industry Alliance (GTIA), is the premier vendor-neutral event dedicated to the worldwide IT channel. It brings together MSPs, service providers, vendors, and distributors for three days of expert panels, networking sessions, and special events designed to foster innovation and collaboration in the tech industry. Altman will highlight Vodia’s latest CRM integrations underscoring Vodia’s commitment to equipping partners with dynamic, enterprise-grade phone systems.
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