Snom has made SIP phones in Berlin since the earliest days of VoIP, and the phones have a reputation to match: solid, secure, long-lived and open. In the GCC, Snom is the choice for organisations that want a desk phone built for a decade of use and a vendor that takes firmware and security seriously. This article covers the range, what distinguishes it and how to deploy it.
The range
- D-series desk phones – from compact two-line models to executive phones with large colour displays, many programmable keys and Gigabit pass-through. Consistent design across the series, so a mixed deployment looks and works the same.
- DECT – single-cell and multi-cell base stations with cordless handsets, from office models to rugged units for warehouses, hospitals and factories. Multi-cell systems cover large sites with seamless handover.
- Conference phones – tabletop units for meeting rooms, with expansion microphones for larger tables.
- Hospitality phones – guest-room models covered in a separate article.
- Accessories – expansion modules, headsets, wall mounts and power supplies.
What distinguishes Snom
Security. Snom phones support TLS, SRTP, 802.1X, VPN and secure provisioning, and Snom publishes security advisories and firmware updates over a long product life. For organisations in finance, government and healthcare this is the deciding factor.
Openness. Snom phones are standards-based SIP devices that work with any compliant PBX, and they expose configuration through XML provisioning and an API. Integrators can do things with a Snom phone that closed platforms do not allow.
Audio. Wideband codecs, well-tuned speakerphones and handsets, and a consistent sound across the range.
Build and longevity. The phones are designed to be in service for many years, with firmware support to match. Total cost over a decade compares well with cheaper phones replaced twice.
Deployment with 3CX and other platforms
Snom is on 3CX’s supported-phone list and auto-provisions: add the MAC address to an extension and the phone configures itself. The same applies to most major SIP platforms through Snom’s provisioning templates. Snom’s device manager provides central firmware and configuration control for larger estates. Zen distributes both 3CX and Snom, so the combination is one that we test and support together.
Choosing models
Reception and assistants: an executive model with an expansion module for a visual busy-lamp field. General staff: a mid-range D-series with a colour display and headset port. Executives: the top D-series models. Mobile staff: DECT handsets on a single- or multi-cell base. Meeting rooms: a conference phone, or, for video rooms, a room system from Yealink or Nearity instead.
Network and provisioning checklist
- PoE switch capacity for every phone.
- A voice VLAN and QoS on the LAN and the firewall.
- Secure provisioning (HTTPS) and TLS/SRTP enabled from day one.
- A firmware baseline chosen and applied before rollout.
- Directory integration (LDAP or the PBX’s directory) so that names appear on the phones.
Snom through Zen
Zen Interactive Technologies has distributed Snom in the UAE and GCC since 2022, with the D-series, DECT and conference models in stock in Dubai and warranty handled locally. See the Snom page for the range and datasheets.