Table Of Contents

An Overview of the Cisco IP Phone

Understanding the Cisco IP Phone 7970

What Networking Protocols Are Used?

What Features are Supported on the Cisco IP Phone 7970?

Feature Overview

Configuring Telephony Features

Configuring Network Parameters Using the Cisco IP Phone

Providing Users with Feature Information

Understanding the Requirements for Installing and Configuring the Cisco IP Phone 7970

An Overview of the Cisco IP Phone

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The Cisco IP Phone 7970 is a full-featured telephone that provides voice communication over an Internet Protocol (IP) network. It functions much like a traditional analog telephone, allowing you to place and receive phone calls and to access features such as mute, hold, transfer, speed dial, call forward, and more. In addition, because the phone is connected to your data network, it offers enhanced IP telephony features, including access to network information and services, and customizeable features and services.

The Cisco IP Phone 7970 also provides a color touchscreen, support for up to eight line or speed dial numbers, context-sensitive online help for every button and feature, and a variety of other sophisticated functions.

The Cisco IP Phone 7970 must be configured and managed, like other network devices. The phone supports G.711, G.729, G.729a, G.729b, G.729ab, and uncompressed wideband (16bits, 16kHz) audio compression.

This chapter includes the following topics:

•Understanding the Cisco IP Phone 7970

•What Networking Protocols Are Used?

•What Features are Supported on the Cisco IP Phone 7970?

•Understanding the Requirements for Installing and Configuring the Cisco IP Phone 7970

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Caution Using a cell, mobile, or GSM phone, or two-way radio in close proximity to a Cisco IP Phone might cause interference. For more information, refer to the manufacturer's documentation of the interfering device.

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Understanding the Cisco IP Phone 7970

Figure 1-1 shows the main components of the Cisco IP Phone 7970.

Figure 1-1 Cisco IP Phone 7970

1	Line buttons and speed dial buttons	Each opens/closes a line or speed dials a number. Line buttons are assigned to you. Each indicates line status as follows: •Green, steady—Active call on this line (off-hook) •Green, blinking—Call on hold on this line •Orange, blinking—Incoming call ringing on this line •Red—Shared line, currently in use •No color—No call activity on this line (on-hook) Line buttons can be converted into speed dial buttons. Refer to Cisco IP Phone 7970 Phone Guide for instructions.
2	Footstand button	Allows you to adjust the angle of the phone base.
3	Display button	Removes the touchscreen from sleep mode. Also disables the touchscreen for cleaning.
4	Messages button	Typically auto-dials your voice messaging system.
5	Directories button	Toggles the Directories menu, which provides call logs (Missed, Received, and Placed) and a corporate directory (if available).
6	Help button	Provides access to online help.
7	Settings button	Toggles the Settings menu, which provides access to user settings, network settings, device settings, and information about the phone.
8	Services Button	Toggles the Services menu, which provides access phone services, including assigned services and services to which you have subscribed.
9	Volume button	Controls the volume for a phone call (off-hook) and the ringer (on-hook); adjusts contrast and brightness settings.
10	Speaker button	Toggles the speakerphone on or off.
11	Mute button	Toggles the Mute feature on or off.
12	Headset button	Toggles the headset on or off.
12	Navigation button	Allows you to scroll through menus and highlight items. Use with softkeys to activate highlighted items.

What Networking Protocols Are Used?

Cisco IP Phones support several industry-standard and Cisco networking protocols required for voice communication. Table 1-1 provides an overview of the networking protocols that the Cisco IP Phone 7970 supports.

Table 1-1 Supported Networking Protocols on the Cisco IP Phone 

Networking Protocol	Purpose	Usage Notes
Bootstrap Protocol (BootP)	BootP enables a network device such as the Cisco IP Phone to discover certain startup information, such as its IP address.	If you are using BootP to assign IP addresses to the Cisco IP Phone, the BOOTP Server option shows "Yes" in the network configuration settings on the phone.
Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP)	CDP is a device-discovery protocol that runs on all Cisco-manufactured equipment. Using CDP, a device can advertise its existence to other devices and receive information about other devices in the network.	The Cisco IP Phone uses CDP to communicate information such as auxiliary VLAN ID, per port power management details, and Quality of Service (QoS) configuration information with the Cisco Catalyst switch.
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)	DHCP dynamically allocates and assigns an IP address to network devices. DHCP enables you to connect an IP phone into the network and have the phone become operational without you needing to manually assign an IP address or to configure additional network parameters.	DHCP is enabled by default. If disabled, you must manually configure the IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and a TFTP server on each phone locally. Cisco recommends that you use DHCP custom option 150. With this method, you configure the TFTP server IP address as the option value. For additional supported DCHP configurations, see Cisco CallManager System Guide.
Internet Protocol (IP)	IP is a messaging protocol that addresses and sends packets across the network.	To communicate using IP, network devices must have an assigned IP address, subnet, and gateway. IP addresses, subnets, and gateways identifications are automatically assigned if you are using the Cisco IP Phone with Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). If you are not using DHCP, you must manually assign these properties to each phone locally.
Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP)	RTP is a standard for transporting real-time data, such as interactive voice and video, over data networks.	Cisco IP Phones use the RTP protocol to send and receive real-time voice traffic from other phones and gateways.
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)	TCP is a a connection-oriented transport protocol.	Cisco IP Phones use TCP to connect to Cisco CallManager and to access XML services.
Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP)	TFTP allows you to transfer files over the network. On the Cisco IP Phone, TFTP enables you to obtain a configuration file specific to the phone type.	TFTP requires a TFTP server in your network, which can be automatically identified from the DHCP server. If more than one TFTP server is running in your network, you must manually assign a TFTP server to each phone locally.
User Datagram Protocol (UDP)	UDP is a connectionless messaging protocol for delivery of data packets.	Cisco IP Phones receive and process UDP messages.

Related Topic

•Understanding Interactions with Other Cisco IP Telephony Products

What Features are Supported on the Cisco IP Phone 7970?

The Cisco IP Phone 7970 functions much like a traditional analog phone, allowing you to place and receive telephone calls. In addition to traditional telephony features, the Cisco IP Phone includes features that enable you to administer and monitor the phone as a network device.

This section covers the following topics:

•Feature Overview

•Configuring Telephony Features

•Configuring Network Parameters Using the Cisco IP Phone

•Providing Users with Feature Information

Feature Overview

Cisco IP Phones provide traditional telephony functionality, such as call forwarding and transferring, redialing, speed dialing, conference calling, and voice messaging system access. Cisco IP phones also provide a variety of other features. For an overview of the telephony features that the Cisco IP Phone 7970 supports, and for tips on configuring them, see the "Telephony Features Available for the Phone" section on page 5-2.

Like other network devices, you must configure the Cisco IP Phones to prepare them to access Cisco CallManager and the rest of the IP network. Using DHCP, you have fewer settings to modify, but you can choose to manually assign a static IP address and related settings, if your network requires it. For instructions on configuring the network settings on the Cisco IP Phones, see Chapter 4, "Configuring Settings on the Cisco IP Phone."

The Cisco IP Phone 7970 can interact with other services and devices on your IP network to provide enhanced functionality. For example, you can integrate the Cisco IP Phones with the corporate Lightweight Directory Access Protocol 3 (LDAP3) standard directory to enable users to search for co-workers contact information directly from their IP phones. Or, you can use XML to enable users to access information such as weather, stocks, quote of the day, and other web-based information. For information about configuring such services, see the "Configuring Corporate Directories" section on page 5-5 and the "Setting Up Services" section on page 5-7.

Finally, because the Cisco IP Phone is a network device, you can obtain detailed status information from it directly. This information can assist you with troubleshooting any problems users might encounter when using their IP phones. See Chapter 9, "Troubleshooting and Maintenance" for tips on using this information.

Related Topics

•Configuring Settings on the Cisco IP Phone, page 4-1

•Configuring Features, Templates, Services, and Users, page 5-1

•Troubleshooting and Maintenance, page 9-1

Configuring Telephony Features

You can modify certain settings for the Cisco IP Phone 7970 from the Cisco CallManager Administration application. Use this web-based application to set up phone registration criteria and calling search spaces, to configure corporate directories and services, and to modify phone button templates, among other tasks. See the "Telephony Features Available for the Phone" section on page 5-2 and Cisco CallManager Administration Guide for additional information.

In some places, this manual provides partial instructions for procedures that involve Cisco CallManager Administration. These instructions are intended to point you to the appropriate page in the Cisco CallManager application and to provide some initial guidance.

For more information about the Cisco CallManager Administration application, refer to Cisco CallManager Administration Guide. You can also use the context-sensitive help available within the application for guidance. Access context-sensitive help by choosing Help > For this screen from the main menu bar.

You can access the complete Cisco CallManager documentation suite at this location:

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/voice/c_callmg/index.htm

Related Topic

•Telephony Features Available for the Phone, page 5-2

Configuring Network Parameters Using the Cisco IP Phone

You can configure parameters such as DHCP, TFTP, and IP settings on the phone itself. You can also obtain statistics about a current call or firmware versions on the phone.

For more information about configuring features and viewing statistics from the phone, see Chapter 4, "Configuring Settings on the Cisco IP Phone" and Chapter 9, "Troubleshooting and Maintenance."

Providing Users with Feature Information

If you are a system administrator, you are likely the primary source of information for Cisco IP Phone users in your network or company. To ensure that you distribute the most current feature and procedural information, familiarize yourself with Cisco IP Phone documentation. Make sure to visit the Cisco IP Phone web site:

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/voice/c_ipphon/ip_clmgr/english/index.htm.

From this site, you can view and order various user guides, including wallet cards. For complete ordering information, see the "Obtaining Documentation" section on page xiv.

In addition to providing users with documentation, it is important to inform them of available Cisco IP Phone features—including features specific to your company or network—and how of to access and customize those features, if appropriate.

For a summary of some of the key information that phone users need their system administrators to provide, see Appendix A, "Providing Information to Users Via a Website."

Understanding the Requirements for Installing and Configuring the Cisco IP Phone 7970

To install and configure the Cisco IP Phone 7970, you must configure some network settings, set up Cisco CallManager, and make changes on the phone.

See Table 1-2 for an overview of required procedures. For detailed information about these steps, refer to the sources shown.

Table 1-2 Cisco IP Phone Installation and Configuration Checklist 

Required Task	Purpose	For More Information
1. Gather the following information for use in Cisco CallManager Administration: –Information requested in the Device Information fields, if applicable, such as the device pool and calling search space. –The Cisco CallManager user to associate with the phone. –The number of lines and associated directory numbers to assign to the phone. –Features to be added to and configured for the phone.	You will refer to this information when using the Phone Configuration web page to configure a device in Cisco CallManager Administration. The Device Information fields on this page will auto-populate if information is relevant and available. Edit fields if you want to override system settings on a per-device basis.	•See the "Adding Phones to the Cisco CallManager Database" section. •See the "Telephony Features Available for the Phone" section on page 5-2. •Refer to Cisco CallManager System Guide. •Refer to Cisco CallManager Administration Guide.
2. Configure routers, gateways, and switches to handle voice communication.	Establishes the infrastructure for the IP telephony network.	See the "Understanding How the Cisco IP Phone Interacts with the Cisco Catalyst Family of Switches" section and the documentation included with these devices.
3. Decide how you want to add phones to the Cisco CallManager database: –With auto-registration –With Cisco CallManager Administration only –With the Bulk Administration Tool (BAT) only –With BAT and the Tool for Auto-Registered Phones Support (TAPS)	How you add the phones to Cisco CallManager determines how the directory number is assigned and whether you need to obtain a MAC address first, among other things. If you choose to register by using Cisco CallManager Administration only or by using BAT only, you should add the device to Cisco CallManager before installing the application on the client PC.	•See the "Adding Phones to the Cisco CallManager Database" section. •Refer to Cisco CallManager Administration Guide. •Refer to Bulk Administration Tool Guide for Cisco CallManager
4. Obtain the MAC address from the IP phone.	Not necessary if you plan to add phones to the Cisco CallManager database using auto-registration only or in conjunction with the Tool for Auto-Registered Phones Support (TAPS). You can determine a phone's MAC address in these ways: •From the phone, choose Settings > Model Information and look at the MAC Address field. •Display the phone's web page and click the Device Information hyperlink.	•See the "Model Information Screen" section on page 7-2. •See the "Accessing the Web Page for a Phone" section on page 8-2.
5. Choose the best power source for the phone.	Determines how the phone receives power.	See the "Providing Power to the Cisco IP Phone 7970" section or the documentation included with the Cisco Catalyst switch.
6. Install the phone in the network.	Adds the phone to the network.	See "Setting Up the Cisco IP Phone".
7. Configure network settings on the phone.	Sets IP settings (if not using DHCP in the network) and assigns a TFTP server.	See the "Network Configuration Menu" section on page 4-4.
8. Configure phone features such as call waiting, call forward, call park, call pickup, and voice messaging system.	Provides enhanced telephony functionality.	See the "Telephony Features Available for the Phone" section on page 5-2, and refer to Cisco CallManager Administration Guide.
9. Modify button templates.	Provides customized phone buttons.	See the "Modifying Phone Button Templates" section on page 5-6.
10. Configure Cisco IP Phone services.	Gives users access to information such as stock quotes and weather reports, which are displayed on the phone as interactive content with text and graphics.	See the "Setting Up Services" section on page 5-7 and refer to Cisco CallManager Administration Guide.
11. Configure directories.	Enables users to search through a corporate directory and to store a set of personal numbers.	See the "Configuring Corporate and Personal Directories" section on page 5-4 and refer to Cisco CallManager Administration Guide.
12. Add users to Cisco CallManager.	Associates users with phones, enabling access to the User Options web-based application where users set up features such as call forwarding and speed dial, and subscribe to services.	See the "Adding Users to Cisco CallManager" section on page 5-7 and refer to Cisco CallManager Administration Guide or context-sensitive help.
13. Provide information to end users about how to use their phones and how to configure their phone options.	Ensures that users have adequate information to successfully use their Cisco IP Phones.	See Appendix A, "Providing Information to Users Via a Website."