Back to Blog
Tech

snom button mode to the rescue

Published on:

May 2, 2018

Addressing a challenge with LDAP, VoIP phones lack the ability to write new contacts to the address book. For users of snom phones, a solution involves utilizing the snom button mode, specifically the "keyevent" mode with the F_ADR_BOOK parameter. This configuration enables users to add phone numbers directly from the phone keyboard, bypassing the need for PBX login and web interface use. This versatile approach can also be applied to other functions and is similarly available for Grandstream, HTek, and Yealink phones.

Asad Khan

One problem with LDAP is VoIP phones have no way of writing a new contact to the address book. LDAP is a very powerful protocol, but it seems VoIP phones don’t use it to write an address book entry. If I’m wrong please let me know - I’d be happy to know about it.

We had a customer using snom phones who needed a simpler way for users to add phone numbers right from the phone keyboard, without logging into the PBX and using the web interface. We saw two possibilities for this: the first would be to use the snom XML and program a small application to collect user input and send it back to the PBX; the second would be to use the local phone address book along with the LDAP address book.

The problem with the XML solution is it would be usable only from the snom phones and would obviously require changes in the PBX.

Using the phone address book is a lot easier and is even possible without making any changes in the PBX. We actually already have a "backup mode" for snom phones - we can set anything we want in the button configuration of the phone. By using the "keyevent" mode with the F_ADR_BOOK parameter, we can set the phone to call up the address book when a user presses a specific button.

This seems to be the easiest solution for now. The beauty of it is it can also be used for other functions; the list of available functions on the phones is quite lengthy.

P.S. We have similar modes also for Grandstream, HTek phones and Yealink phones. 

Latest Articles

View All
Tech

Mastering Vodia PBX Installation on Linux: A Complete Guide for System Administrators

Installing Vodia PBX on Linux offers system administrators a powerful, enterprise-grade communication solution with built-in monitoring, automated backups, and disaster recovery features. This guide walks through supported Linux distributions, pre-installation requirements, and step-by-step instructions using a universal install script. With options for service monitoring, backup scheduling, and cloud deployment, it ensures a scalable and secure setup. Post-installation, standard Linux tools manage service status, updates, and logs, making ongoing maintenance simple.

June 26, 2025
Announcement

Vodia Now Integrates with Microsoft Dynamics 365

Vodia now integrates its industry-leading PBX with Microsoft Dynamics 365, enabling automatic synchronization of call data with the CRM to enhance customer interaction tracking and streamline communications. This integration offers features such as automatic contact creation for unknown numbers, comprehensive call activity logging including direction, duration, and outcomes, and seamless user matching for accurate call attribution. Designed to empower businesses, this connection supports more efficient and scalable communication workflows within the Microsoft ecosystem.

June 24, 2025
Announcement

Vodia Attends HITEC 2025 Indianapolis

Vodia visited HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis to engage with key hospitality technology partners and explore the latest innovations in the industry. Represented by Sales Engineer Eric Altman, Vodia connected with leaders from Shiji, Agilysis, Maestro, and Oracle. The event offered valuable insights into the evolving hospitality tech stack and affirmed Vodia’s commitment to AI-powered communications. With its recent integration of OpenAI’s Realtime API, Vodia continues to deliver smarter, multilingual guest experiences and more efficient hotel operations.

June 24, 2025