F1000 WiFi Phones need to make/receive calls via USB port

Posts: 5 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 04, 2007 Posts: 5

Here's a feature Harmless Hackers have discovered (so i've read):
http://web.quick.cz/lake/f1000_faq.htm
go to : 1.5 USB Port Interface

Apparently, one can modify the drivers for the USB port so that the phone is able to connect to the internet through it. This would be useful when no wifi connection is available (could even save a life). The update seems to require hardware that most users have no access to, so I'd say Vonage should do it. They can update these phones for USB calling before they ship them, since they install their own locked firmware anyway.

Who's with me?

Posts: 328 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Dec 13, 2005 Posts: 328

The mini-USB will not connect to the internet. It will connect to a tool that can be used to directly write the SIP configurations or to reflash a phone that had corrupted software (one that may seem dead). This is not a question of phone drivers, it is a question of tools to use whatis there already.

For Vonage branded phones, Vonage restricts access to SIP credentials so there would be no use in the configuration tool and if the phone is corrupted while running on Vonage, I believe that they will reflash it if it is returned to them.

Posts: 5 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 04, 2007 Posts: 5

um, NO.
You don't get it. . . you just don't get it.

Howie, I've seen your posts all over the forums, and it's nice that you try to help. Unfortunately, you don't seem to understand the problem half the time.

your response in this string is completely pointless, I honestly have no idea how you thought it was relevant.

I'm not talking about the Web Interface tool, I know that's there. I'm talking about something else entirely!

"The mini-USB will not connect to the internet.", writes Howiewifi.
Yup, Howie, you're right.
But this is the "Feature Request Forum" and I'm describing a feature that the phone doesn't have but can have.

HOWIE, did you even read the page I linked to?

Posts: 328 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Dec 13, 2005 Posts: 328

I did read the page that you linked to and I am very familiar with that page as it is for the generic (unlocked) WiFi phones:

The port at the bottom of the handset is a mini-USB form connector. PC config software can be used to configure handset parameters using this port, but this requires additional hardware (SO writer) connected to PC's COM port and also a software tool. End users are not expected to use the USB port this way and the manufacturer has not published any details about the configuration process.

This says nothing about sending RTP or SIP traffic out that port, because the phone can't do that. There are many USB phones on the market that work with PC soft phones (alternative to headset and microphone), though I believe that those only work with Vonage if you are running a soft phone account on your PC or maybe with the Vonage USB stick (not sure there).

Posts: 5 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 04, 2007 Posts: 5

"PC config software can be used to configure handset parameters using this port"

"Handset Parameters" means using the F1000 like a handset phone: i.e. make and receive voice calls over a wire, like a traditional phone.

Obviously this means "sending RTP or SIP traffic out that port"

Posts: 328 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Dec 13, 2005 Posts: 328

Handset Parameters means SIP configuration information as well as WiFi AP information. It does not mean RTP streams. TO send RTP out of the USB, the phone would either need a PC application that passed SIP credentials and operated like a router (don't know of one) or it would need to just operate like any other USB handset where the SIP termination and credentials are in the PC (maybe Vonage soft phone, not on a main account).

SIP and RTP streams will not go out the USB of the phone.

It is reasonable to put a feature request in to Vonage for a USB phone device, but that is not the F1000 (nor is it the F3000 or any other current UTStarcom product).