[updated Sep. 22, 2004] — Snom has launched a new Linux-based VoIP (voice over IP) phone that supports the latest security standards that make it “practically impossible” to tap VoIP calls, the Berlin-based company says. The Snom 190 targets business users.

The Snom 190 is similar in appearance to another business phone that Snom launched last month, the Snom 220. However, the 190 model includes a smaller, two-line LCD display, and does not support PoE (power over Ethernet).

The Snom is an inexpensive business phone supporting the latest VoIP security standards
(Click to enlarge)

The new 190 does support the IETF's two most recent security standards for VoIP, however, Snom says, including:

• SIPS, or “SIP Secure,” the IETF's RFC2246
• Secure Real-time Transport Protocol, or SRTP, the IETF's RFC3711, providing 128-bit AES encryption

It also supports G.723.1 compression, said to yield high voice quality over low-bitrate connections.

The 190 includes many advanced VoIP features and functions, according to Snom, including number-guessing (look-ahead during dialing, presumably) and call completion when subscriber is busy or doesn't answer. It also supports traditional PBX (private branch exchange) features that include call parking and call pickup, alphanumeric caller ID, and programmable function keys.

Snom lists the 190's specifications and features as follows:

• Linux 2.4.18 kernel
• 4MB of Flash memory
• 16MB of RAM
• 3 dynamic softkeys
• 5 programmable function keys
• headset jack
• STUN, UPnP, ICE support
• SIP and H.323/H.450 support
• NLS (national language support) for internationalization
• Support for SIPS and secure RTP
• NAT support
• dual Ethernet connection
• blind and attended transfer
• call hold, call wait
• music on hold support
• http MoH streaming
• Web server supporting https
• phone book
• 3-way conference call
• re-dial
• several different ring tones
• downloadable WAV-ring tones
• DTMF (RFC2833)
• call completion
• call divert
• number guessing
• speed dialing
• handsfree mode dialing
• missed calls, accepted calls
• call waiting indication
• Plug and Play support
• 16 kHz, 16 bit audio hardware
• G.711 aLaw, uLaw
• G.729A, G722, G.723.1

“In spite of its competitive price, the snom 190 [offers] the maximum security currently technologically possible,” said snom founder Dr. Christian Stredicke.

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