The history of Eltex IP phones: from analog stations to flagship solutions with camera

Corporate telephony has undergone more transformations in the last thirty years than in the entire 20th century. From analog PBX systems with a few subscribers to IP phones with the ability to transfer photos and videos and install additional applications.

Eltex was at the origin of these processes in Russia. For our company, the VoIP line is not a side branch of development, but the foundation from which the company's development began.

Our journey began in 1992 with a small team of engineers who were engaged in the development of Selective Service Communication Equipment for operators in Siberia. The first product was a PBX with only three channels. It's a modest device, but it's what started the whole VoIP line.

In 2004, the MC240 digital station was designed. It was one of the most sought–after Eltex products at that time and still successfully works for many large customers. In the 2010s, we took a step further towards the development of telephony equipment – we launched trunk SMG and analog TAU gateways on the market.

And finally, 2017. The first IP phones have been put into mass production: VP-12(P) and VP-15(P). Monochrome display, two SIP accounts, minimal functionality – a typical set for phones of that time. These models have already been discontinued, but many customers still use the devices successfully on the communication networks.

The market dictates its own requirements. In 2023, guided by current trends, we have updated the line of IP phones. This is how the VP-17P, the successor to the VP-15(P) with significantly more powerful hardware, appeared.

• VP-17P is a basic model with a fast quad-core processor.

This device is designed as a massive corporate phone with a focus on ease of use. Along with a fast processor, the casing includes a built-in gigabit switch. Its predecessor, the VP-15, was limited to a user connection speed of 100 Mbps, whereas the VP-17P, thanks to its powerful hardware, can reach speeds of up to 1 Gbps.

VP-17P supports PoE technology, so power is delivered over the same Ethernet line as data. This simplifies its connection and reduces the requirements for equipping the employee's workspace.

The phone's interface user-friendly, multilingual mode is also provided.

• The VP-30P was the second novelty of that year and the first Eltex phone with a color display.

When VP-17P is the rational minimum, VP-30P is the model for those who use their phone frequently and value a representative appearance. We equipped it with a high-resolution color display and a gigabit switch that allows connecting a PC to the enterprise LAN at high speed using the phone port.

The phone responds to commands quickly, the menu works without delay, and the UI is simple and intuitive. The high performance of the device is provided by a powerful dual-core processor, which allows the use of advanced voice processing and enhancement algorithms. At the same time, the high quality of transit traffic transmission at high speed is maintained. A backup mechanism for SIP servers is also introduced: the phone monitors the availability of the main server. If it is temporarily unavailable or completely failed, the phone automatically switches to backup routes.

Additionally, the phone supports the VP-EXT22 console. It makes it easier for managers, secretaries, call center operators, and dispatch services to do their jobs. 22 physical keys with a light indication and 3 virtual pages are provided, bringing the total number of programmable keys to 66.

For most offices, the VP-30P is a high-level multifunctional model that pays off every day.

The pace of technology development can now be tracked by the change of cellphone generations. Remember your first cellphone? Most likely it was a push-button one with no bright colors. Then the IR port, Bluetooth, Internet access, and dozens of applications became available. What was advanced just a few years ago is quickly becoming commonplace.

The VP product line goes through the same stages. Almost every client device now supports wireless technology. Therefore, in 2025, we took into account the trends and introduced a new product – VP-30P-WB. This model is for those who work in a modern office using wireless solutions.

The VP-30P-WB is an evolution of the VP-30P, enhanced by built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules for wireless headsets and connecting to a data network without using twisted pair. This reduces the demands for the network infrastructure.

The device retains all the strengths of the basic model, including a color screen, a powerful platform, and advanced telephony features, while making placement scenarios more flexible.

The new product supports a backup mechanism for SIP servers, ensuring stable and continuous operation. It is also possible to connect up to 3 VP-EXT22 extension consoles to the VP-30P-WB, increasing the number of programmable keys.

Each succeeding generation of gadgets encourages users to demand more from future editions, such as a more user-friendly UI, improved sound, and more extra capabilities. We factor this into our development plan to expand the range of IP phones as requests grow and new use cases appear.

We already have updates planned for the first quarter of 2026. We are preparing the release of two models at once:

• VP-19P – basic phone, evolution of VP-17P model with color display;
• VP-100P – the flagship model based on an Android-like operating system. It supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and is also equipped with a video camera and Bluetooth handset. It is compatible with the VP-EXT22 expansion console.

Eltex telephony is developing as an ecosystem for building a network core, peripheral and auxiliary equipment and software, management and monitoring systems, and endpoints. For example, we update ECSS-10 Softswitch regularly. This is a software package that can work as a PBX or a class 4/5 operator solution.

We pay special attention to the development of the corporate messenger and collaboration solutions – Elph (Desktop and Mobile). Thanks to this application, the employee stays available via the corporate number even outside the office. Elph seamlessly integrates into the overall Eltex VoIP infrastructure.

Throughout the company's history, VoIP has progressed from simple communication systems to a large range of high-performance IP phones with Wi-Fi and its own software environment (ECSS-10, Elph, etc.). Technology will continue to advance at a rapid pace, with the creation of new standards, requirements, and services. Our product line will also continue to evolve. Each generation of VP IP phones is designed to reflect current trends.

To learn more about the models and testing capabilities, please contact Eltex Sales Department at foreign.sales@eltex-co.ru.