As our last Audience Special presented a review about the Siemens Gigaset S675 IP
(Audience special 5 - Siemens Gigaset 675 IP user review) I would like to present you an user review about the Siemens Gigaset 685 IP now. Thx Jon for this nice work!

If you want to publish an article on this blog pls send me your proposal to this email: info@gigaset-blog.com

I am looking forward to read your input!

Here now Jon's review:
The short version, to save you reading the rest: the S685IP seems to work quite well. The S68H is.. less impressive.

The long version: I've had an S685IP (which comes with an S68H handset) and two additional S68H handsets for a week now. I'd realised that my fixed-line phone/DSL provider (Vodafone Germany, which on a technical level is run by Arcor) was actually using SIP for everything. The box that they provided me with is an integrated DSL modem, firewall and WLAN router - and also has analog and ISDN ports. It converts calls made over these ports into SIP calls. Since everything's using SIP anyway and since they make no secret of the address of their SIP gateway, a SIP phone seems like the best way forward.

Read the full story: Siemens S685IP DECT IP Phone, S68H Handset

Vonage is a VoIP provider which might be used with Siemens Gigaset IP products. Blog reader Julie shows us how she fixed a bug while using the Siemens Gigaset S450 IP and Vonage. She had problems to make an outgoing call although she was able to receive incoming calls. Read the full story here:
Audience special 2 - Using Siemens Gigaset S450 with a VoIP ATA

Now the VoIP provider announced a new CEO: former Cingular Wireless executive Marc Lefar. At the same time Vonage gets a $215 million cash infusion from Silver Point Finance LLC. Let's see if those measures might rescue the company...

Sources:
Vonage Names Marketer Lefar as CEO
Vonage to Name New CEO, Nears Refinancing Deal

People who wear hearing aids will now find it much easier to make phone calls, thanks to cooperation between Siemens Home and Office Communication Devices and Siemens Audiology. Together with the wireless transmission unit known as the “Tek Set” and a Siemens Gigaset cordless phone with Bluetooth, the Siemens “Pure” line hearing aids assume the function of a headset. The user can then hear the other party clearly. The interference from physical sources often experienced by hearing aid wearers using conventional telephony is hereby a thing of the past.

Until now, people who wear a hearing aid have had to hold a telephone handset in a certain way to avoid interference when signals are transmitted from the phone’s loudspeaker to the hearing aid’s microphone. Thanks to Pure hearing aids used in conjunction with a special wireless transmission unit called the Tek Set, and Siemens Gigaset Bluetooth phones, making calls is now much more comfortable.

Setting up the connection to a Pure hearing aid is just as easy as registering any common Bluetooth headset. Once the devices have been linked, incoming calls are indicated acoustically by the hearing aid. The call can then be answered with the aid of the Tek Set, a remote control unit with an integrated microphone, and the call is conducted directly via the hearing aid, without the user having to hold a handset to his or her ear.

The Siemens Gigaset SL370, SL560 and S680 phones as well as their answering machine and IP versions are suitable for connection to the Pure hearing aids.

The Internet-capable Siemens Gigaset phones Siemens SHC can now be used to call further information from the Internet directly onto the phone's display. The screensaver can show the latest status of online auctions at eBay, a daily horoscope and the user’s personal biorhythm. The new free services expand the range of information available, which used to comprise the weather forecast and online phonebook. Users can choose the desired IP service in Gigaset.net at http://www.gigaset.net and access the service using a Siemens Gigaset hybrid phone, such as the Siemens Gigaset S685 IP. The information will appear on the display, without the use of a PC.
If the user has selected the eBay service, for instance, the highest bid and the remaining auction time are shown. The service shown on the display can be changed in Gigaset.net at any time - for example if users wish to see their personal biorhythm or daily horoscope. (All Gigaset IP phone users can also call each other free of charge via Gigaset.net.)

All the information services can be set-up on the portal http://www.gigaset.net. Users obtain their personal account data for logging onto Gigaset.net via the Siemens Gigaset IP phone’s user interface. This allows them to choose a service and display it as the screensaver on the phone. To follow the current status of an eBay auction, users enter the respective article number in Gigaset.net and the latest bid is automatically shown on the display until the auction is ended.

But: If you are interested in those new features please check this "Field report" first:
New Gigaset.net feature: Bid-Watcher for eBay

In this last part of The Siemens Gigaset Story you will read how VoIP became the most important topic for Siemens Gigaset since the year 2006 until now. This article is a continuation of those 3 prior posts:
The Siemens Gigaset Story 1 - How it all began
The Siemens Gigaset Story 2 - The new millennium
The Siemens Gigaset Story 3 - Expanding the portfolio

Let's go on now with the storyline:
The Siemens Gigaset C450 IP, the first hybrid phone to permit cordless telephony over the fixed-line network and the Internet without the need for a PC, was launched in the year 2006. In addition, the first additional services were now offered, including klicktel’s online phone directory, which could be easily accessed from the phone.

» Read more...

The latest Firmware update 07/2008 for the Siemens Gigaset C470 IP, C475 IP, S675 IP and S685 IP enables an eBay push notification on your Siemens Gigaset handset. The new application allows you to observe one eBay auction including the current bid, the bidder himself and the minutes to go until the auction ends. All these information can be seen on the screensaver of your handset. But as it is not possible to place a bid it is only an additional feature and not meant to replace the regular bidding via your computer.

And this is how the Bid-Watcher for eBay works:
Open www.gigaset.net in your Browser. After you are logged in scroll down to the "Bid-Watcher for eBay section" and enter your selected article number. Save your options and you are done. From now on the auction for your article number will be displayed on the screensaver and will show the current bid, the bidder and the minutes to go until the auction ends.

Field report:
Of course I tried the feature myself :-) So there are a couple of things you have to consider: First if you use the keys of the handset the eBay information is of course not visible. When you stop using the keys it while take a couple of moment until you see the Bid-Watcher. If the Handset is not placed in the charging station, the screensaver will disappear after a couple of seconds because the display will turn black in order to save energy. So a constant "Bid-Watching" is only possible if you either push a key from time to time or you put the handset in the charging station, because then the screensaver will be displayed constantly on the handset once activated.
If the handset is in the charging station the information of the Bid-Watcher updates every 15 minutes. In the last 30 minutes of the auction all information will be updated every minute. But bear in mind: As it is not possible to place a bid this feature is generally only additional to your regular bidding via computer.

Here you find all details of the firmware:
Siemens Gigaset C470 IP / C475 IP / S675 IP / S685 IP Firmware update 07/2008

Dear IP-phone community,
pls take notice of the updated firmware of the Siemens Gigaset C470 IP, C475 IP, S675 IP and S685 IP!

How to update the firmware

You don't need to download files. The firmware is updated directly online by the Siemens Gigaset C470 IP, C475 IP, S675 IP or S685 IP. You can easily initiate the update by three steps:

1. Menu » Settings » Base » Firmware Update
2. Enter base station system PIN (default setting: 0000)
3. Press the display key "Yes" to start the download

If your firmware is already up to date, the handset informs you. No action is needed then.

And this is what you get:

New Features

* Compatibility with A58H and C38H Handsets (including Infoscreensaver as Liveticker)
* New languages: Brazilian Portuguese, Russian (country and handset dependent)
* BEL, NLD: Autoconfigurationcode-enquiry added in the Handset's connection assistant

» Read more...

The Siemens Gigaset CE460 IP R is an all-in-one solution for internet calling and surfing on your PC at the same time. It’s also an expandable Siemens phone system that lets you add up to 6 handsets. You can make up to 2 VoIP calls in parallel – and select up to 6 different internet telephony providers directly on the handset’s display. When you’re calling and surfing at the same time, Quality of Service (QoS) technology ensures that your VoIP calls receive priority over PC upload traffic.

more details: Siemens Gigaset CE460 IP R

The Siemens Gigaset C470 IP features dual mode functionality, enabling you to switch between internet and fixed-line calls. You can make internet calls without a PC and access up to 6 SIP accounts from different VoIP providers directly on the handset. It’s also an expandable phone system that will support up to 6 handsets, giving you the freedom to make up to 3 parallel calls.

» Read more...

The Siemens Gigaset S685 IP offers fixed-line as well as VoIP telephony. It draws a crucial distinction to its precursor the Siemens Gigaset S675 IP: Bluetooth. This allows you to:

* connect a Bluetooth headset with your Gigaset phone
* sync your contacts from your mobile phone as well as your PC with your Gigaset phone

Moreover you can save up to 60% energy because of ECO DECT technology and get your daily horoscope, daily biorhythm or the weather forecast via gigaset.net. Find all facts here:
Siemens Gigaset S685 IP

Presenting the Siemens Gigaset S675 IP

The Siemens Gigaset S675 IP main features are:

* Easy configuration of internet telephony (VoIP) with or without a PC
* Up to 3 calls in parallel: 2 VoIP calls and 1 fixed-line call with multiple handsets
* Screensaver to display internet information services
* Increased virus protection thanks to protected operating system
* Convenient handsfree talking
* CLIP¹ / CNIP¹
* Large illuminated display with 65,000 colors and 128 x 160 pixels
* Intuitive icon-based menu
* SMS¹ with up to 640 characters
* Up to 250 vCard entries to store first name, last name, 3 numbers, e-mail address and birthday of your contacts

¹ Dependent on network operator

Thx Randy 4 this review. The original review can be found here:
hubpages.com

S675IP: I Am Impressed!

As a lifelong geek I go for these things like candy. They're toys and I love to play with them. I have to admit though, that I didn't expect to find so many new innovative features in a phone like this. The phone is not cheap: one base unit with one handset costs 120 Euros and an additional handset will be about 60 more. That puts us at about $250 for the two phones. The feature list is not only extensive though, but surprising. I'm going to describe the two-handset config I expect to use in pour new home/office.

» Read more...

Go ultra-fast – and do it all

Now you can connect at up to 300 Mps and wirelessly stream IP-TV or High Definition video throughout your home. Enjoy the best of digital entertainment on your TV in your living room – and not just on your PC or laptop. Plus, this state-of-the art networking solution lets you surf much faster than ever before, phone over the internet and much more.

Wirelessly stream IP-TV, surf and more – at up to 300 Mbps

Do it all and do it ultra-fast with the Siemens Gigaset SE366 WLAN. This product combines the best of wireless connectivity and functionality. Gigaset’s newest state-of-the-art broadband devices feature thrilling high-speed technology. Plus, it is wireless. That means you can now stream movies in High Definition quality – as well as download data, conveniently phone over the internet and surf like never before. Welcome to life in the fast lane!

Find more facts about the Siemens Gigaset SE366 WLAN.

You are looking @ a transatlantic broadband network which allowes people in London & New York to look at each other in realtime. The network is "rounded off on each end with HD cameras." The innovation will be available to the public 24 hours until June 15th. So if you are not happy with the transmission quality while talking on Skype this might be your go...or you just purchase one of those Siemens Gigaset IP phones ...;)

(read www.cnn.com)

Thx Alan for this great piece of work! The original review can be found here:
www.theopensourcerer.com

Last week I (Alan) purchased a triple set of the brand new Siemens Gigaset S685 IP telephones. This is a DECT home telephone system with support for both PSTN and VOIP services. I’d spent quite some time looking for a decent replacement for our aging and now unreliable existing DECT handsets.

I bought these from a UK based on-line telephone vendor DSTelecom and their service and price was very good. I’d been waiting for this model to become available for a couple of months and they were offering the best price and the were first to get them in stock too!

There were a few reasons I selected these Siemens phones, but the main one is their ability to act as a basic telephone switch between handsets and incoming services. The Base unit can support up to 8 incoming services: 1 x PSTN, 1 x Gigaset VOIP Network, and 6 further VOIP (SIP) services.

This is the latest release and the handsets support very high quality voice between each other and on compatible networks. They also support Bluetooth so you can use a wireless headset and upload/download your mobile phone’s address book etc.

Here’s my personal review of these new phones for use in our home network.

My initial impressions: Nice packaging and a good looking handset.

» Read more...