[Asterisk-Dev] Intercom and Paging

[James H. Thompson]

I was wondering if  there are any IP phones that support handsfree Intercom/Paging other than the
ones mentioned below.
Thanks.

From:
    http://www.voip-info.org/wiki-Asterisk+Paging+and+Intercom

On legacy phone systems you can find the following kinds of paging;

  a.. Dial a code to connect to a separate overhead paging and announcement system (like in an
airport)
    a.. Some overhead paging systems also provide a talkback system so that the person being paged
can just speak to respond — background noise issues limit where this feature can be used.
  b.. Dial a code and connect directly to a built-in one-way announcement speaker on one or more
phones
  c.. Dial a code and connect directly to a built-in two-way announcement and talkback function on
one or more phones
    a.. The talkback function is usually setup to be hands free — i.e. the person responding to the
page does not need to take any action other then speaking.

If a phone is in use when a page arrives, some systems can do a "whisper page" so that only the
person being paged can hear the page.


SIP phones for the most part don't support any of these phone based paging functions.
If a SIP phone offers an Auto Answer function, you can approximate limited paging intercom
functionality. The two phones most often mentioned supporting this are:

  a.. Cisco 7940/7960 - see: Cisco 7940-7960 auto-answer config
  b.. Polycom 600 - see: Polycom auto-answer config
  c.. Now also Grandstream BudgeTone phone support Auto Answer with firmware 1.0.4.54 or later


Some analog phones have an Auto Answer function. These phone are often used in door phone systems —
for example Viking Electronics (cache) makes several models.


For overhead paging, you can make an Asterisk Extension go to the sound card, and wire its output to
a traditional external paging system. You can also get boxes to interface an phone FXO or FXS port
directly to a sound system. For example this Smarthome Product (cache)
or a Valcom V-2001A (cache).




See Also
  a.. Perl Program to implement paging via auto answer Polycom phones (cache)
  b.. Asterisk phone door




Jim

James H. Thompson
jht at lava.net