- 4.3" digital TFT color LCD (480x272 resolution), 1.3M pixel CMOS camera with privacy shutter
- SD/MMC/SDHC, USB, stereo headset with microphone, stereo audio output, video output, 2-angle stand, wall mountable
- G.711 (a/u-law), G.722 (wideband), G.723.1, G.729A/B, GSM-FR, G.726-32 (pending) voice codec and AAC, MP3, WMA, Real, Ogg-Vorbis audio codec
- Web browser, IM with Yahoo/MSN/Google, RSS feeds of weather/news/stocks, Internet radio, music/video streaming/playing from SD/USB card/Internet, Yahoo Flickr web photo album, alarm clock, calendar, games, music ring tone, etc
- Intuitive graphic user interface with customizable skins, multi-language, multiple virtual screens
5 Years back I was already considering a solution like the GXV3140.
At that time the devices came with some kind of VOIP account bundle. So I was skeptical.
Especially Grandstream as a budget maker has a long history for hit or miss products.
If Grandstream can pull this product of the right way, make it work and actually deliver on the promises the brochure gives then this will be a 6 star product.
Grandstream has been promising before features that didn't make it into later firmware versions. So when I heard the GXV3140 comes out with all this killer applications built in I was even more skeptical.
The GXV3140 is clearly a device that focuses towards "one size fits all" in other words quantity.
The GXV3140 must be Grandstream's answer to the Germans "Eierlegende Wollmilchsau."*
Skype
Google voice
Browser
IM (Gmail, MSN, QQ, Yahoo)
Weather
Calender
(Display of holiday names in local language)
Currency converter
Calculator
Stock ticker
RSS feeds
Mp3 player
Internat radio (streaming)
phonebook
3 sip accounts
TV out connection (audio/video)
USB port
SD slot
With this vast amount of functionality the device can literally fulfill "little" technical wonders.
As a sidenode: The "bigger" wonders are fulfilled by you during the configuration period ;-)
The key to this success is that after configuration the user can enjoy all those applications without PC knowledge.
With all this privileges comes of course a new level of responsibilities. So keep in mind that running so many applications on a network device naturally increases the risk of becoming unstable.
The good thing (from security point of view) is most applications need to be started first before they can be used.
So first advice I would give is to update to the latest firmware.
(Users have been complaining about stability on earlier version.)
--Update June 2010: ---
Since the official GA release of Firmware 1.0.1.18 (GA) on 24th August 2009 the phone has come a loooong way.
It became considerably more stable and usable.
--Update November 2010 ---
Latest firmware version is 1.0.7.3
--Update March 20111 ---
Firmware was overhauled and Interface feels now fast and snappy.
Especially web browser seems to have been improved again.
--Update April 20111 ---
Linux Skype Ver. 2.2.xxx is now fully working with the GXV3140
This means that Grandstreams GXV3140 / Skype client now fully works with Windows / Mac / Linux Skype clients !!
Lets hope that next Skypes mobile client versions will include H.264 video.
Its pretty cool to have that much functionality after the initial 4 days of configuration.
So I don't need to startup my PC for smaller tasks anymore and my desk looks cleaner too.
My only complaint (for now) is that 3 sip accounts is no way enough for me.
(I would require roughly 6+). If you use 3 incoming DIDs (Tokyo, London, New York) with different providers and 3 others for outgoing calls than you already have an issue.
It can be an invaluable advantage to change the provider at a push of a button when the carriers voice quality varies. (as it does with many budget providers).
Having said that The GXV3140 has a remarkable voice quality even when the network is sluggish.
I am (still) a long term (5+ years) SNOM 360 user (and fan) and was buffled that the GXV3140 delivers even better voice quality.
The voice is literally crystal clear. Your partner will hear you taking a breath in and out. (and that's no joke !!)
I have to confirm yet if Netmeeting will work with it.
Ekiga does (think of it as a sip based Netmeeting) and there are other compatible softphones out there too like f.e portsip, eyeBeam etc.
Its pretty cool that you can receive PC calls.
This means that your partner does Not have to buy the GXV3140 if (s)he doesn't want to.
The video experience itself is pretty cool too, you can start to consider it a replacement for a video conference system.
For ADSL / SOHO users:
With Video Bit Rate : 256kbps it feels still like a web cam experience.
But, the video size is sufficient to confirm that its your mum on the other side.
That alone can make it worth if you live far away from people you care about.
I have read stories about it being used in health care as well.
For professional users:
With Video Bit Rate : 512kbps 1024kbps it delivers quality like a video conference system.
The video can be output on your TV screen.
The quality is so good that it will bring tears (not only) to your granny.
That stuff just wasen't possible not so long time ago.
The key to being able to enjoying it is the networks latency and that is where you (usually) don't have influence in long distance calls.
Nevertheless we have been running tests between Tokyo (Japan) and Frankfurt (Germany). The slower end of the line ran on a DSL 384 kbps SOHO connection.
We found that it gave us sufficient performance to make us want to deploy it further.
Summary:
Spending $250 on a VoIP phone is not cheap, but with this amount of functionality its well worth considering. You get the most used functions accessible from your desk for the fraction of a power consumption a PC has.
In addition it also offers non technical users accessible functionality in a new package.
If you think about being able to see the people that are close to you, whether or not they are within the same building or on the other side of the street, the country or the ocean, then this alone is a big time motivation.
While the video experience alone might be the most attraction for some, for me its really the combination with the other applications that pull each separate function together and make it a whole package.
Also note while most phones are not used when you dont call, this phone has a screensaver, digital photo frame function, mp3 player, internet radio streaming function, weather function, currency converter etc. all build in.
Have I even mentioned yet that the interface currently already supports 11 languages ?
English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese (twice), Korean, Japanese etc. (the last language I am guessing is either Russian or perhaps Greek).
Overall, in its current state I think its well worth 4 stars.
Three things that immediately got my attention:
First, upgrade your phone to the latest firmware.
Second, I personally would like to see the GXV3140 offer at least 6 sip accounts.
This way I could take all current accounts from the "old" phone over to the new phone.
Thirdly, I would loved to see the device design more elegant and in different colours than black. (f.e coffee cream or pearl white) perhaps at some time skins will be available in several colors.
* A fairytale pig, which in addition gives milk and lays eggs and with a skin made of wool. You get the idea ? ;-)
This product shows Grandstreams commitment to develop it towards a six star killer application.
--Stay tuned ---
Buy GrandStream GXV3140 IP Multimedia Phone With 4.3inch LCD Now
I bought several HT 486 ATA to connect my family all around the world. It was easy to set up the device with Sipphone.com. The voice quality is great most of the time. When it is bad, I guess it has someting to do with the internet Traffic.Pro: good value, light weight (both the adaptor and the 110-240 power adaptor) Actually, it is the smallest and lightest power adaptor I have ever seen (less than two thumbs put together, and very light). Offers a PC port and a PSTN port (when your voip fails, this PSTN port is your backup for regular phone). Economic in postage to send the unit overseas. The manufactuer grandstream.com website is very useful.
Con: Only has one phone line capability.
Read Best Reviews of GrandStream GXV3140 IP Multimedia Phone With 4.3inch LCD Here
I bought 2 of these devices and both stopped working in a few months, whereas Handytone 286 that I bought 4 years back works without any issues.Want GrandStream GXV3140 IP Multimedia Phone With 4.3inch LCD Discount?
Before everything, let me say that I purchased this product mainly because of the "Certified for Skype" note on the manufacturers web site. Other features seemed impressive as well so I thought it would be a great solution with some added features. Also, let me add, before I begin, that I am an IT guy so I have some technical knowledge.Certified for Skype proved not to be really true. Out of the box my phone came without Skype or even Skype support. Had to find out, by reading blogs and support site, that I have to upgrade the firmware on the phone in order to be able to use Skype on it. This was not that straightforward, and I guess it would be difficult if you don't have technical knowledge.
After that Skype started working fine on the phone. But....
After several months, the phone screen would simply go black after turning the phone on and going to the Skype screen. Tried calling the support and was extremely disappointed. They basically told me to submit the ticket on their web support site. I explained to them that I already did and that it has been a week and nobody has even acknowledged my question. After that I got a feedback on the support ticket but when I replied with all of the items that they needed from me, again no response from them. It went so far that my ticket was automatically closed because there was no activity on the ticket from them! I called again and I explained that I had no response on the ticket, that the ticket is now closed and that I cannot use my Skype on the phone. Their response was simply to use other options on the phone to call people, to stop using Skype on it !!!!
So I went back on the forums and blogs and somehow figured out that I had to again do factory reset of the phone. I did that on my own and the phone worked for a while but several months later, again the black screen. Another reset and again it works, probably until the next black screen. Oh, and every factory reset that I do, deletes all of your data and settings so you have to do it all over again after every reset.
Support web site says that this is a firmware problem that has been resolved by a firmware fix. The only problem is that that was more then a year ago since they released that upgrade and I am still continuing to have the problem even though I have firmware that is up to date.
In essence, if you want to use this for Skype you might not have problems, but if you do you have to figure out how to resolve them yourself as "support" is useless.
I have not used other features of the phone a lot but they seem to work great.
First, the good stuff. It works.
Video quality differs. Skype is okay, H.264 at 512k, SIP not so much, H.263 even at 1024k sucks compared to skype's video.
Speakerphone is probably the best part of the whole experience. It's clear, loud, with full bass and treble.
Camera is actually quite good. What's more, it has a mechanical wheel on the back of the phone that adjusts the angle. This, combined with two-angle positioning stand gives the phone a lot of flexibility.
You could use it as conference room equipment the composite tv-out with stereo works just fine, and you can assign a hotkey for switching between LCD and a TV.
Another thing that 'just works' (although setting it up is not easy at all) is a screensaver feeding of a flickr account. I just upload pictures to my flickr and they appear on the screen of my mom's phone WITHOUT ANY ACTION from her. Priceless!
Now for the 'not so good' stuff.
The phone (purchased in 2012!) came with NO SKYPE support, despite the box and the manual. The recommended upgrade route (via TFTP via Grandstream servers) doesn't work. I had to set up an TFTP server and upgrade via it. Didn't bother with the 'stable' version, went for the latest beta instead. Consequently everything positive about this phone is based on the latest beta (which is NOT available on their web site, I downloaded it off some obscure internet forum. Their support looks like crap.
Just forget about anything else but the SIP/Skype functions. The Grandstream engineers must have figured that once they've built a computer inside, it's a shame not to load it with all sorts of crappy buzzwords. Too bad, it's all unusable. The browser just hangs (with the rest of the phone) when I try to stream a flash-based TV channel, thank you.
While fb/twitter and even some IMs technically work, using anything but voice+video is a pain. Grandstream clearly hasn't heard about the interface design and usability. It all sucks big time.
Even the non-essential phone functions suck: phonebook is unusable (to dial you need to press some 10-12 buttons, COME ON!), and for a truly great laugh just go to youtube and search for 'setting up a conference call on GXV3140': you need a full-time operator to be able to set up a conference call.
Things that work are: speakerphone, redial, hold, video loopback and transfer. That's it.
I'm still very satisfied, however: for $147 I paid for it it's a steal. I'm considering buying another one, for myself, to replace my ancient Cisco 7940G.
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