---
title: "Space Probes and SIP Phones: Successful Device Launches with - ECG"
description: Careful testing is crucial for stability before launching new SIP Access Device models The Product Definition must be baked into the Test Plan used to appr
image: https://www.ecg.co/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/regular_voyager_spacecraft-1.jpg
---
[](https://www.ecg.co)
- Who We Are
Company
[**About ECG** Learn about the team behind the networks and services that solve real problems.](https://www.ecg.co/about) [**Careers** Join a fun, collaborative, engineer-owned company.](https://www.ecg.co/careers)
Industries We Serve
[**Enterprises** Optimize multi-site voice networks while meeting compliance requirements.](https://www.ecg.co/sectors/enterprise) [**Universities** Professional services designed for the unique needs of campus networks.](https://www.ecg.co/sectors/universities) [**Government** Engineering services built for government agency voice challenges.](https://www.ecg.co/sectors/government) [**Service Providers** Deep voice expertise to maintain compliance and keep customers connected.](https://www.ecg.co/sectors/service-providers)
- Technologies
**Carrier & Trunking Services** SIP trunking, resilience & carrier interconnect
**Compliance & Call Authentication** STIR/SHAKEN, 603+ & secure signaling
**Unified Communications & Collaboration** UC capabilities & platform expertise
**Platform Reliability & Security** Infrastructure, capture & network fundamentals
### Carrier & Trunking Services
Design, harden, and secure the carrier side of your voice network — from SIP trunking to encrypted media and compliant recording.
[SIP Trunking](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/sip-trunking-consulting-expertise) [SIP Trunking High Availability](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/sip-trunking-high-availability) [STIR/SHAKEN](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/stir-shaken) [603+](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/603-plus-do-not-originate) [eSIM & FMC](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/esim-fmc) [VoIP TLS & SRTP](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/voip-encryption-tls-srtp) [SIPREC](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/siprec-call-recording)
### Compliance & Call Authentication
Meet regulatory requirements end-to-end — call authentication, robocall mitigation, lawful capture, and encrypted signaling.
[STIR/SHAKEN](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/stir-shaken) [603+](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/603-plus-do-not-originate) [Packet Capture / PCAP](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/pcap-wireshark-packet-capture-analysis) [VoIP TLS & SRTP](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/voip-encryption-tls-srtp)
### Unified Communications & Collaboration
Modern UC capabilities backed by deep, hands-on expertise across every major voice platform.
[E911](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/e911) [Business Texting](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/business-texting) [Teams Replace Phone System](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/ms-teams-replace-phone-system) [Provisioning & Endpoint Mgmt](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/sip-provisioning-endpoint-management) [Call Control & Features](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/call-control-features) [SIP Trunking HA](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/sip-trunking-high-availability) [SIPREC](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/siprec-call-recording) [vCon](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/vcon-virtualized-conversations)
Platform Expertise
[BroadWorks](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/broadworks) [NetSapiens](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/netsapiens-support) [Metaswitch Alianza Core](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/metaswitch-alianza-core) [Oracle Communications](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/oracle-communications-support) [Metaswitch Perimeta](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/metaswitch-perimeta) [Sansay VSXi](https://www.ecg.co/sansay-vsxi-session-border-controller)
### Platform Reliability & Security
The infrastructure layer underneath your voice services — engineered, monitored, and secured by people who run it every day.
[EKS / Kubernetes](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/kubernetes-eks) [Critical Network Fundamentals](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/critical-network-fundamentals) [Packet Capture / PCAP](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/pcap-wireshark-packet-capture-analysis) [VMware & Alternatives](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/vmware-alternatives) [Routing, Switching & Firewalls](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/routing-switching-firewalls) [Freeswitch](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/freeswitch-open-source-call-processing)
- How We Do It
Services
[**Services Overview** Our experience and expertise in voice and data engineering.](https://www.ecg.co/services) [**Network Operations** Keep your voice network running with outsourced network operations.](https://www.ecg.co/services/network-operations) [**Staff Augmentation** Expert engineering support to meet deadlines and fill knowledge gaps.](https://www.ecg.co/services/staff-augmentation) [**IT Consulting & Engineering** Complete short-term projects faster with a dedicated project manager.](https://www.ecg.co/services/it-consulting-and-engineering)
- Resources
#### [Utilities Launch Delay Calculator Estimate what a potential product launch delay would cost your business. Try the calculator](https://www.ecg.co/cost-delay-calculator)
#### [Resource Library Guides, White Papers & Tools In-depth resources on voice engineering, compliance, and AI — built from real client work. Explore resources](https://www.ecg.co/resource-library)
#### [Blog Latest from the ECG Team Practical articles on SIP, UC platforms, network operations, and voice AI. Read the blog](https://www.ecg.co/blog)
- [Events](https://www.ecg.co/events)
[Login](https://portal.ecg.co) [Contact](https://www.ecg.co/contact)
Who We Are
[About ECG](https://www.ecg.co/about) [Careers](https://www.ecg.co/careers)
Industries We Serve
[Enterprises](https://www.ecg.co/sectors/enterprise) [Universities](https://www.ecg.co/sectors/universities) [Government](https://www.ecg.co/sectors/government) [Service Providers](https://www.ecg.co/sectors/service-providers)
Technologies
Carrier & Trunking Services
[SIP Trunking](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/sip-trunking-consulting-expertise) [SIP Trunking High Availability](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/sip-trunking-high-availability) [STIR/SHAKEN](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/stir-shaken) [603+](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/603-plus-do-not-originate) [eSIM & FMC](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/esim-fmc) [VoIP TLS & SRTP](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/voip-encryption-tls-srtp) [SIPREC](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/siprec-call-recording)
Compliance & Call Authentication
[STIR/SHAKEN](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/stir-shaken) [603+](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/603-plus-do-not-originate) [Packet Capture / PCAP](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/pcap-wireshark-packet-capture-analysis) [VoIP TLS & SRTP](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/voip-encryption-tls-srtp)
Unified Communications & Collaboration
[E911](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/e911) [Business Texting](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/business-texting) [Teams Replace Phone System](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/ms-teams-replace-phone-system) [Provisioning & Endpoint Mgmt](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/sip-provisioning-endpoint-management) [Call Control & Features](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/call-control-features) [SIP Trunking HA](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/sip-trunking-high-availability) [SIPREC](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/siprec-call-recording) [vCon](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/vcon-virtualized-conversations)
Platform Expertise
[BroadWorks](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/broadworks) [NetSapiens](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/netsapiens-support) [Metaswitch Alianza Core](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/metaswitch-alianza-core) [Oracle Communications](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/oracle-communications-support) [Metaswitch Perimeta](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/metaswitch-perimeta) [Sansay VSXi](https://www.ecg.co/sansay-vsxi-session-border-controller)
Platform Reliability & Security
[EKS / Kubernetes](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/kubernetes-eks) [Critical Network Fundamentals](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/critical-network-fundamentals) [Packet Capture / PCAP](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/pcap-wireshark-packet-capture-analysis) [VMware & Alternatives](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/vmware-alternatives) [Routing, Switching & Firewalls](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/routing-switching-firewalls) [Freeswitch](https://www.ecg.co/technologies/freeswitch-open-source-call-processing)
How We Do It
Services
[Services Overview](https://www.ecg.co/services) [Network Operations](https://www.ecg.co/services/network-operations) [Staff Augmentation](https://www.ecg.co/services/staff-augmentation) [IT Consulting & Engineering](https://www.ecg.co/services/it-consulting-and-engineering)
Resources
[Launch Delay Calculator](https://www.ecg.co/cost-delay-calculator) [Guides, White Papers & Tools](https://www.ecg.co/resource-library) [Latest from the ECG Team](https://www.ecg.co/blog)
[Events](https://www.ecg.co/events)
[Login](https://portal.ecg.co) [Contact](https://www.ecg.co/contact)
# Space Probes and SIP Phones: Successful Device Launches with
By: Mark Lindsey
13 min read
Oct 16, 2017
- **Careful testing is crucial for stability before launching new SIP Access Device models**
- **The Product Definition must be baked into the Test Plan used to approve the device, & new software for it**
- **Customer Technical Support teams need extensive early access to devices before they are deployed**
---
Space Probes are designed to be sent far away, beyond our reach. They run software, and send back data to Home Base. If the Space Probe, dies, it may never call home, and there's not much we can do to fix them from here.
For Voice Operators, the [SIP Phones](https://www.ecg.co/blog/what-is-a-sip-phone-types-benefits-how-it-works), IADs, User Agents, and Soft-phones clients are a bit like Space Probes: Once you deploy them, you can't go touch them. If they never "phone home," you may be out of luck. So you have to plan well to make SIP clients work properly, before they're launched.
## Planning the Launch
**The Challenge.** There you are, in
 The $99 Hologram Phone does SIP, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, and your job is to get it to market. Concept, Josselin Zaïgouche
charge of making the amazing new Hologram SIP phone work on your platform. The Product and Marketing folks LOVE this new phone, especially the way it integrates with your clients' PCs and does video calls via Google Hangouts and Apple Facetime. And it's your job to integrate the device into your BroadSoft BroadWorks network.
## Avoiding Device Management Disasters
You've known about the SIP device disasters:
- ...when your Support Staff got calls from customers using the [Yealink T-58V](http://www.yealink.com/products_39.html) phone before they had ever heard of it
- ...and when the Engineering team had a week to roll out video calling on all the [Polycom VVX](http://www.polycom.com/products-services/voice/desktop-solutions/realpresence-desktop-vvx-business-media-phones.html) phones, because customers were buying cameras
- ...or when the CEO of your company got the latest [Mitel 6869](http://www.mitel.com/mitel-6869-sip-phone) phone, and read that the phone could show him his company directory in Microsoft Exchange, but then it didn't work.
- ...and who could forget when you upgraded 1000 phones to discover the new firmware required a different file format?
## BroadWorks for Device Management?
 BroadWorks R20sp1 includes TLS Client Certificate Authentication, key for modern device management.
BroadWorks provides some mature tools for managing new device types, including some important key features:
1. The BroadWorks system owner operator can add a new device type at any time, without BroadSoft's assistance.
2. BroadWorks records many key SIP parameters of the device type.
3. BroadWorks stores the files like software and images, for delivery to the device.
4. BroadWorks automatically generates configuration files as the device user's changes are made
5. BroadWorks system owners can define custom tags to handle new features and situations. Example: Most phones don't support Apple Facetime, but if you have one phone with a FaceTime gateway, you can define "%FACETIME\_GATEWAY%" as a custom tag in BroadWorks. Then BroadWorks can replace that tag macro with the appropriate value for each customer.
6. BroadWorks can deliver the files to the device with HTTP or HTTPS, confirming username/password or SSL client certificate.
7. BroadWorks can signal the device to download the new configuration file.
## Key Milestones for Productizing a SIP Access Device
1. Decide: Which of the Features will you support?
2. Prototyping & Testing: Do the Features Work?
3. Management: Can you Control It?
4. Support: Can you help users use it?
## Features: You Can't Support Them All
Every SIP phone comes with a bazillion features, but no one network can support them all. You have to decide which features you're going to *try to support.* Some of the top features are:
- Ordinary calling with Caller ID
- "HD Voice," usually using G.722
- Power over Ethernet
- LLDP-MED for automatic Ethernet VLAN selection
- Busy Lamp Field (BLF) / Line State Monitoring
- Shared Call Appearance / Shared Lines
- Programmable "Soft Keys"
- Customizable Dial Plans (so the phone knows when you're done dialing)
- Distinctive Ring
- Video Calling
- Bluetooth headset support
- USB headset support
- Multi-party Video Calling
- Multicast Paging (where the speakerphone)
- 3-Way and N-Way Conferencing (where a large number of people can be conferenced together using the conference button)
- Customizable Contact List
- LDAP or Microsoft Active Directory or Exchange directory access
- Customizable background logos
- Calendar integration
## ...But many will try
But there are exotic features on every phone. *Are you going to help your customers if they contact your help center asking about these?*
- [Yealink Android phones can run Android Apps](http://support.yealink.com/attachmentDownload/download?path=upload%2Fattachment%2F2017-7-24%2F5%2F15f9a2bb-707d-4077-a9fa-0c9553e45332%2FDisclaimer_for_Unauthorized_Apps_on_Yealink_Android-based_Phone.pdf)
- [Mitel phones has an XML API](http://edocs.mitel.com/UG/EN/6800i%20Series/4.3%20SP1/58015044_XML%20API%20for%20Mitel%20SIP%20Phones%20Firmware%204.3.0%20SP1.pdf) intended for integration with custom audio applications
- [GrandStream GXP21xx phones support Instant Messaging](https://www.grandstream.com/sites/default/files/Resources/gxp21xx_administration_guide.pdf)
- [Cisco 8800 SIP Phones support assigning a specific ringtone to a specific extension](https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/voice_ip_comm/cuipph/8800-series/3pcc/english/admin-guide/P881_BK_8E76EE4E_00_8800-series-3pcc-admin-guide/P881_BK_8E76EE4E_00_8800-series-3pcc-admin-guide_chapter_0100.html)
- [Polycom UC phones support dual simultaneous registration to two different registrars at the same time](http://support.polycom.com/global/documents/support/setup_maintenance/products/voice/uc_admin_550.pdf)[*for the same SIP account.*](http://support.polycom.com/global/documents/support/setup_maintenance/products/voice/uc_admin_550.pdf)
Practically, new phones are far too complex to support *every feature.* Choose the features you actually intend to fully, thoroughly support.
## Prototyping and Testing: Prove Those Features Work
Once you've chosen your features, you can develop prototype templates so that BroadWorks can generate configuration files for that phone. In most cases, in the BroadSoft community, responsible vendors will post prototype templates with example configuration files to BroadSoft's site, Xchange. These configuration file samples can be in one of the categories, "Interoperability - CPE Kit" or "Interoperability - Configuration Guide".
## Essential Parts of an Identity/Device Profile Type
An Identity/Device Profile Type (IDPT) is a specific model of device, such as a SIP phone.
 BroadWorks supports an unlimited number of Identity/Device Profile Types (IDPTs).
The key parts are:
- Profile: Identity/Device Profile Type (IDPT) Profile
- File Templates: Identity/Device Profile Type (IDPT) Files & Authentication
- Custom Tags
> **Once a specific device (with a specific MAC address) is created in BroadWorks you can't change its Identity/Device Profile Type (IDPT). But [ECG](https://www.ecg.co/products/alpaca/)[](https://www.ecg.co/products/alpaca/)[Alpaca can move a device to a new device type, retaining all of its custom settings, users, authentication, Shared Call Appearance Settings, and even custom files.](https://www.ecg.co/products/alpaca/)**
### Profile
In the IDPT Profile, you can set key settings that apply to every device of that type, such as:
- What should the SIP Request URI look like?
- Does the device supports RTP early media?
- Can the device register?
- Does it support HTTP authentication?
- How does it handle Privacy headers?
Ideally, your vendor will specify these settings exactly.
 The Identity/Device Profile Type (IDPT) Profile page allows you to set key SIP features and controls for the IDPT. These are applied to every device of this type on the platform.
### Files
For each IDPT, BroadWorks allows you to upload any number of templates and static files. Templates can be translated by an elaborate process of search-and-replace, and are usually used for configuration files. Static files are typically firmware/software and graphic images.
 BroadWorks can store a set of files for each IDPT: some are templates to be customized for each phone, and some files are static, like firmware.
### File Template Example: BWDEVICE\_%BWMACADDRESS%.cfg
An excerpt from the template **BWDEVICE\_%BWMACADDRESS%.cfg** is shown below, for the device type "Polycom VVX 500". When a "Polycom VVX 500" phone is defined on the system, and assigned the MAC address 004fb2012345, then the file **BWDEVICE\_0004fb2012345.cfg** would be created.
#### Sample Template: **BWDEVICE\_%BWMACADDRESS%.cfg**
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
```
**[ECG](https://www.ecg.co/products/alpaca/)[](https://www.ecg.co/products/alpaca/)[Alpaca](https://www.ecg.co/products/alpaca/), can be used to selectively update tags on devices within a BroadWorks platform. This is routinely used to upgrade specific devices, e.g., 1000 devices per maintenance window.**
>
> **Alpaca can also selectively send the command to the SIP phones to reset them, and then monitor to confirm that all phones reboot properly.**
### Logging.
All software generates logs. A manageable SIP access device puts the logs somewhere useable. With BroadWorks, you can have the device upload its logs, and BroadWorks can retain those logs for viewing on the Profile Server.
Alternately, some operators configure devices to send logs to a central log collector via syslog.
### New Device Procedures.
When onboarding a new device, be sure to specify the requirements for new devices. What should happen to a new device from the manufacturer?
Some operators require that a certain URL be provisioned in the phone, e.g., **https://xsp.voipcarrier.co/dms/start**
But this means that a new-in-box phone cannot be sent directly to the end user, without the user's intervention in the process.
Some vendors, including Polycom and Yealink, offer a redirection service. To use these, new, or factory defaulted, phone with Internet service can reach out to the phone manufacturer to get a URL to the voice operator. For example, the phone 0004b2012345 could connect to Polycom to be told to go to **https://xsp.voipcarrier.co/dms/vvx600**.This works only because the voice operator has registered that MAC address with Polycom, and registered the URL.
## Support: Enabling yourself to do a great job
The final step *before rollout of a new device type* is ensuring your Customer Support department have adequate access and experience.
**Provide the Customer Support with the device to use.** It's remarkably common for operators to neglect to give their support folks experience on the devices that customers have. This leads to stress and poor customer service.
**Have Customer Support run through the Test Plan** to be sure they understand all of the supported features and settings. Since the Test Plan encapsulates the entire product definition, this means that Customer Support will know how to do it well.
> **The consulting firm, [ECG](https://www.ecg.co), offers Voice Carrier technical consulting, including the proper rollout of new devices types, and support of Voice access devices in BroadWorks and other multi-vendor environments. [www.ecg.co](https://www.ecg.co), info@ecg.co**
[broadworks](https://www.ecg.co/blog/tag/broadworks) [features](https://www.ecg.co/blog/tag/features) [engineering](https://www.ecg.co/blog/tag/engineering) [voip](https://www.ecg.co/blog/tag/voip) [devices](https://www.ecg.co/blog/tag/devices) [sip](https://www.ecg.co/blog/tag/sip)
## Similar posts
[](https://www.ecg.co/blog/what-is-a-sip-phone-types-benefits-how-it-works)
### [What Is A SIP Phone & How Does It Work? A Detailed Guide](https://www.ecg.co/blog/what-is-a-sip-phone-types-benefits-how-it-works)
[](https://www.ecg.co/blog/148-poly-ccx-phones-a-new-option-with-proven-software)
### [Poly CCX phones - A new option with proven software](https://www.ecg.co/blog/148-poly-ccx-phones-a-new-option-with-proven-software)
[](https://www.ecg.co/blog/sip-vs-voip-an-easy-guide)
### [SIP vs VoIP: Explanation, Comparison, Key Differences & Tips](https://www.ecg.co/blog/sip-vs-voip-an-easy-guide)
## Need Help With Your Network or AI Project?
Get expert advice from engineers who've solved complex problems for carriers, enterprises, and government agencies.
[Let's Talk](https://www.ecg.co/contact)
[](http://ECG,%20Inc)
505 North Toombs St. Suite A
Valdosta, Georgia 31601 USA
#### Headquarters
[](http://ECG,%20Inc)
- 1.866.324.0700 US Toll-free
- 1.229.244.2099 International
- 1.229.244.2399 Fax
- [info@e-c-group.com](mailto:info@e-c-group.com)
#### Services
[](http://ECG,%20Inc)
- [Overview](https://www.ecg.co/services)
- [Network Operations](https://www.ecg.co/services/network-operations)
- [Custom AI Development](https://www.ecg.co/services/custom-ai-development)
- [Outsourced NOC Support](https://www.ecg.co/services/outsourced-noc-support)
- [Staff Augmentation](https://www.ecg.co/services/staff-augmentation)
- [IT Consulting & Engineering](https://www.ecg.co/services/it-consulting-and-engineering)
#### Company
[](http://ECG,%20Inc)
- [About](https://www.ecg.co/about)
- [Careers](https://www.ecg.co/careers)
- [Blog](https://www.ecg.co/blog)
- [Resources](https://www.ecg.co/resource-library)
- [Events](https://www.ecg.co/events)
© ECG, Inc. [Privacy Policy](https://9353907.hs-sites.com/privacy)
```json
{
"@context" : "https://schema.org",
"@type" : "BlogPosting",
"author" : {
"@type" : "Person",
"name" : "Mark Lindsey",
"url" : "https://www.ecg.co/blog/author/mark-lindsey"
},
"dateModified" : "2026-05-05T13:32:25.723Z",
"datePublished" : "2017-10-16T04:00:00.000Z",
"headline" : "Space Probes and SIP Phones: Successful Device Launches with - ECG",
"image" : [ "https://www.ecg.co/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/regular_voyager_spacecraft-1.jpg" ],
"mainEntityOfPage" : {
"@id" : "https://www.ecg.co/blog/126-space-probes-and-sip-phones-successful-device-launches-with-broadworks",
"@type" : "WebPage"
},
"publisher" : {
"@type" : "Organization",
"logo" : {
"@type" : "ImageObject",
"url" : "https://www.ecg.co/hubfs/ECG_hexagons_and_url_borderless.jpeg"
},
"name" : "ECG, Inc"
}
}
```