Info from Cisco:


Already added in firmware 6.0 which is in beta right now (Sept -03)


(1) Short problem description:

Intercom/pager for SIP images

(3) Possible solution (what did you expect):

There needs to be the ability to transmit intercom messages via SIP phones. This is a vital feature in most office phone systems, especially enterprises that are not "cube farms" where users can always be expected to be beside their phones.  There needs to be a method by which a phone will automatically answer and transmit a sound over the speaker in "real time".  Multicast would of course be optimal, but to reduce complexity a unicast method is also acceptable; this most often is used in small clusters (5-10 phones) where even at G.711 rates the traffic volume on a 100mbps ethernet in unicast would not normally be an issue.  Security of some type would need to be implemented to avoid unwanted broadcasts from unauthorized sources.  Intercom is a similar issue.

(5) Workaround used currently (if applicable):

Using expect scripts and telnet to get into the test mode of the phone and pressing the required "keys" to pick up the phone automatically.  Very, very, very ugly.

(6) The behaviour wanted exists in product (name manufacturer and product as exactly as possible):

I believe exists in the SKINNY images, and of course all standard PBX platforms have this feature (I have lost bids on VoIP due to the lack of the paging ability in Cisco SIP phones)

(7) Would you classify this as:

(B) Missing feature: Can not deploy before fixed

(9) Contact Information:

John Todd <jtodd@SPAM.loligo.com>

(11) Report:

Message-Id: <p05210656bb1cfefe5479@loligo.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 13:15:22 -0700