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
Announcement

Vodia to Attend CVxExpo 2025 in Glendale, Arizona

Vodia will be attending CVxExpo 2025 in Glendale, Arizona, from November 3–5. Sales Engineer Eric Altman will be on site to meet with current and prospective partners, demonstrating how Vodia’s PBX solutions can strengthen technology roadmaps for 2026. This year, Vodia highlights new integrations with ActiveCampaign, Freshdesk, HighLevel, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Presence, monday.com, and Odoo Cloud, along with enhanced call center capabilities such as agent activity dashboards, call recordings, and transcription features. Partners and attendees can schedule meetings with Eric to learn more about scalable, feature-rich, and cost-effective telecommunications solutions built for enterprises and SMBs.

October 14, 2025
Tech

Enterprise Call Analytics: Real-Time Insights Built Right Into Your PBX

Vodia Enterprise Call Analytics gives businesses comprehensive, real-time insights into every aspect of their call operations. Built natively into the PBX, it delivers live, color-coded dashboards, detailed call records, smart filtering, and exportable data. Enterprises can track key metrics such as answer rates, call volume, peak hours, talk times, and top performers, while also monitoring call quality through integrated MOS scoring. By turning call data into actionable intelligence, Vodia helps organizations optimize team productivity, improve customer experience, manage costs effectively, streamline workflows efficiently, and make smarter, data-driven decisions that contribute directly to revenue, operational performance, and long-term ROI.

October 10, 2025
Editorial

The Vodia PBX and AI Solutions for Healthcare

AI is rapidly reshaping the healthcare landscape by improving how providers communicate, manage patient information, and deliver care. The Vodia PBX combines unified communications with HIPAA-compliant AI features such as automated appointment scheduling, transcription of patient conversations, multilingual support, and telemedicine capabilities. These tools reduce administrative workload, improve patient compliance, and ensure that critical information is accurately documented and easily accessible. From small clinics to major hospitals, Vodia’s intelligent communication platform streamlines operations, enhances collaboration between staff and patients, and ultimately helps healthcare organizations deliver faster, more efficient, and more personalized care.

October 7, 2025