Is a computer required for the SoftChat Calling Plans?

Yes, a free software license is provided which is downloaded and stored on your PC or laptop. The monitor is used to display the video soft phone.

How is the free software license sent?

It’s sent via email to the email address provided when subscribing to the SoftChat Calling Plan.

What other equipment is required?

A web camera (Logitech or Creative Labs) and speakers (if not built into the monitor). A microphone / headset can be used if the PC or laptop supports this device.

How is a SoftChat call dialed or sent?

It’s necessary to use the SIP address (someone@domain.com) or a series of numbers 1000111. Extension numbers can be dialed using three or four digits. With the V2VIP SoftChat Basic Plan it is possible to dial traditional phone numbers for voice calls only.

There are several options to make a call:

• Input the number of the other SoftChat subscriber that’s being called using the computer keyboard and press the Enter key or click on the green telephone icon button on the softphone.
• Use the mouse and left click on the keypad numbers to enter into the SoftChat graphic. After entering all the numbers, click on the Green telephone icon button to initiate the call.
• While keying in a number, a suggestion for the entry may appear, press Tab, then click on the Green telephone icon or press Enter.
• Right-click on an entry number in your Contact list and then scroll down and select Place a Call.
• Drag-n-Drop an entry from the Contacts tab or any of the lists in the Calls tab to the Calls display.
• Double-click the number in your Contact list in Outlook. (See page 20 for more information about using Outlook.)
• Select (single click) the number in your “Contact” list and then click on the green telephone icon.
• Redial: Click on the Redial button.

Video: On the Video drawer, click Start to send video to the other party. The party at the remote site will appear in the top video panel if they have enabled video at their end.

Note: During a call if you want to make another call, just click on the [2] just beneath the graphics screen. This will automatically put the initial call on hold. You can then toggle between the two calls by clicking on the appropriate line buttons 1 and 2.

Ending a Call: Click on the Red telephone icon on the Call display. Details of the call remain on the Display; click Clear, to clear the call.

How to answer a SoftChat call?

The SoftChat phone must be running to answer incoming calls. (If not, calls will be directed to voicemail.)

When the softphone rings the softphone graphic will pop-up and the line of the incoming call is lit. If the Bring to Front is enabled, the phone pops-up at the front of the screen. (See page 33 for more information.)

The SIP address of the person calling is displayed. If the SIP address for this person appears in the Contact list, the SIP address is converted to the display name for that address.

Answer a Call in the following ways:
Click on the Green telephone icon on the SoftChat softphone or click Answer on the Call Alert box.
Click the line number on the softphone.
Press Enter on the keyboard, if the softphone is the active application.

To Ignore a call, click on the Ignore icon on the Call display; a message appears to the caller advising the call could not be made. The phone stops ringing and the calls are added to the Received calls list. Or:
Click on the Voice Mail icon on the Call display to send it immediately to Voicemail.

To Ban a caller, click on the Call display; the call is added to the Received Calls list. In the Received Calls list, click the entry, right-click, choose Ban this Person

Is the SoftChat video phone compatible with the GXV-3000 model?

Both use the H.264 video codec and the same audio codecs for interoperability. At the moment there is a temporary limitation with the size of the image displayed in the video soft phone screen which is only a quarter of the window.
There’s a full screen picture displayed on the GXV-3000 and the audio or voice part of the call is fully-functional on both.