In brief: Snom is a German IP phone manufacturer with a reputation for exceptional audio quality, robust construction, and deep protocol compliance. For SA resellers looking to differentiate on hardware quality, Snom’s D7XX series represents a compelling choice — particularly for executive and management deployments where call quality perceptions matter.
Why Phone Hardware Still Matters in a Softphone World
The rise of softphone apps (3CX’s Windows app, Yeastar Linkus, Zoom Phone mobile) has led some resellers to minimise investment in desk phone hardware. While softphones are appropriate for many use cases, physical IP phones remain the right choice for:
- Receptionists and call handlers who spend hours per day on calls and need dedicated, reliable hardware
- Executive and management users where audio quality reflects professional standards
- Shared/hot-desking environments where personal mobile devices shouldn’t be mixed with business communications
- Meeting rooms and conference facilities requiring consistent hardware
- Environments with poor WiFi or inconsistent internet that make softphone apps unreliable
In these scenarios, the quality of the hardware directly affects user experience and perceived system quality. A mediocre IP phone on an excellent VoIP system produces mediocre audio; a premium phone on the same system produces noticeably better sound.
Snom’s Position in the IP Phone Market
Snom Technology, founded in Berlin in 1997, is one of Europe’s oldest and most respected IP phone manufacturers. The company’s products are known for strict SIP standards compliance (important for compatibility with any PBX platform), European build quality (robust construction designed for long service life), exceptional audio performance (Snom’s acoustic engineering is frequently cited as among the best in the industry), and strong security features (SRTP and TLS support, secure provisioning mechanisms).
In South Africa, Snom products are distributed through Even Flow Distribution, which has invested significantly in building Snom’s SA market presence. The company’s SA certification as a 2023 Platinum Distributor for Snom reflects the strength of this distribution relationship and Snom’s growing presence in the SA market.
The D7XX Series: Features for SA Deployments
Snom’s D7XX series represents the company’s professional business phone range, with models ranging from 4-line handsets to 12-line executive phones and conference units:
D785: Snom’s flagship IP phone with a large colour TFT display, 12 line keys, HD audio with wideband voice, Bluetooth for headset connectivity, and Gigabit Ethernet. Designed for executive users with high call volumes and multiple line management needs. Retail price in SA: approximately R3,500–R4,500 per device.
D765: Mid-range professional phone with 8 line keys, colour display, HD audio, and Gigabit. Strong choice for team leaders and senior staff. Retail: approximately R2,800–R3,500.
D735: Entry professional phone with 4 line keys, display, HD audio, and Gigabit. Suitable for most knowledge worker deployments. Retail: approximately R2,000–R2,800.
D717: Compact entry-level phone suitable for basic staff deployments. Good value in the sub-R2,000 range.
Zoom Certification: What It Means
Snom’s D7XX phones carry Zoom Phone certification, meaning they have been tested and approved by Zoom for use with Zoom Phone (Zoom’s cloud telephony product). Zoom certification verifies that the phones are compatible with Zoom Phone’s provisioning system, support the required codecs and protocols, and deliver the audio quality Zoom expects for its service.
For SA resellers who sell Zoom Phone alongside 3CX or Yeastar, Zoom-certified hardware provides procurement simplicity — one set of phones that works well across multiple platforms. Snom’s phones are also compatible with 3CX and Yeastar P-Series, making them a versatile inventory choice for resellers who serve clients across different platforms.
Provisioning Snom Phones in SA Deployments
Snom phones support auto-provisioning via HTTP/HTTPS from a provisioning server URL. Both 3CX and Yeastar P-Series provide built-in Snom provisioning templates:
In 3CX: Add a Snom phone in the Phones section of the admin console, select the model, enter the MAC address, and 3CX generates a provisioning URL. Enter this URL in the phone’s admin interface, and the phone configures itself automatically with extension credentials, server address, codecs, and BLF keys.
In Yeastar P-Series: Similar auto-provisioning via the P-Series’s built-in device management. Yeastar’s provisioning templates for Snom are maintained and updated by Yeastar to support current firmware versions.
Audio Quality: What Makes Snom Phones Sound Better
Snom’s acoustic advantage comes from several design elements:
- Wideband audio (HD voice): All D7XX phones support the G.722 wideband codec, which captures a broader frequency range than standard G.711. HD voice calls sound noticeably clearer and more natural
- Speaker and microphone quality: Snom invests in higher-quality components than budget alternatives, with better signal-to-noise ratios and acoustic isolation
- Echo cancellation: Snom’s echo cancellation algorithms are class-leading, important for speaker phone calls where acoustic feedback is a common problem with cheaper hardware
What This Means for SA Telecoms Resellers
Premium hardware like Snom’s D7XX series is not appropriate for every deployment, but it’s the right choice for the segment of the SA market that makes purchasing decisions based on quality rather than just price. Executive teams, professional services firms, and call centres where staff perception of the phone system matters will appreciate the difference that Snom hardware makes.
Even Flow Distribution’s SA Snom stock ensures local availability without the extended lead times that can affect imported hardware. For resellers who want to add Snom to their portfolio, contacting Even Flow is the starting point for product pricing, stock availability, and any current partner programme terms.
About the Author
Mechelle Gindra
Mechelle Gindra is the managing editor and lead content strategist at Telecoms-Channel, South Africa's dedicated intelligence platform for telecoms resellers, ICT distributors, and channel partners. She oversees the editorial team's AI-assisted content production pipeline, ensuring vendor news, market analysis, and regulatory updates are accurate, timely, and actionable for the SA telecoms channel community. With deep expertise in the South African telecoms reseller ecosystem, Mechelle directs coverage of vendor partner programmes, ICASA regulatory developments, wholesale market dynamics, and channel business strategy. She is responsible for maintaining Telecoms-Channel's editorial standards, fact-checking processes, and corrections policy.
