Grandstream VPK (Virtual Multi-Purpose Keys) Guide

Supported Devices

The following table shows Grandstream products supporting the VPK feature:

Introduction

Grandstream GXP21XX IP phones have introduced a new VPK (“Virtual Multi-Purpose Keys”) feature to add more flexibility and provide a better user experience using Multi-Purpose Keys modes. With the new VPK feature design, line keys can be assigned with multiple functions. Users also have the ability to add more VPKs, which will be displayed on different screens. The screens are dynamically added to match the extra VPKs and incrementally indexed on the top of the main screen (1 to 4) until reaching the maximum number of supported VPKs.

Using VPK, users can monitor extensions, use speed dial numbers, send DTMF during calls, and more from their phone screens directly. Switching between screens shows configured VPKs and brings more flexibility to the user's experience.

If using standard MPK on a GXP2160 IP phone, which supports 6 line keys, customers can use 1 LINE key for the main SIP accounts and the 5 others (not including built-in MPKs) can be used for monitoring/speed dial or any other available features using that account. While using the VPK feature on the same GXP2160, customers can configure the same LINE key with up to 4 features virtually mapped on different screens. For example, Line 1 key can be configured as LINE on the first screen, BLF on screen 2, Speed Dial on screen 3, and Call Park on screen 4.

Below screenshot shows the 4 screen pages of the GXP2160:

Figure 1: VPK Pages

Fixed and Dynamic VPK

Fixed VPK

Fixed VPKs are the hard line keys on each phone model; their default mode is “Line” and support all other modes (BLF, Speed Dial…). Each phone model has a specific number of hard line keys limiting the number of supported Fixed VPKs. For instance, GXP2170 has 12 Line keys, allowing it to support 12 Fixed VPKs.

Dynamic VPK

Dynamic VPKs are virtual keys that can be added by users. Each phone model has a specific number of allowed Dynamic VPKs, depending on the number of hard line keys and screens. For instance, GXP2170 has 12 hard keys, and the number of supported VPKs (Fixed and Dynamic) is 48 VPK = 12 (Fixed VPK) x 4 (screens). Available Dynamic VPKs are 36 VPK = 48 VPK - 12 hard keys. The screens are dynamically added to match the extra VPKs and incrementally indexed on the top of the main screen (1 to 4) until reaching the maximum number of supported VPKs.

Note: Dynamic VPKs support all available modes (BLF, Speed Dial, Call Park, transfer…) except LINE, Shared Line, and NONE modes.

Fixed/Dynamic VPK per Phone Model

The table below shows how many Fixed/Dynamic VPKs each GXP model supports.

Table 1: Fixed/Dynamic VPK per Phone Model

Note: Even if a fixed VPK has its mode set to “None”, the number of allowed Dynamic VPKs will not change.

VPK Configuration

To configure, add, edit, or delete a VPK, follow these steps:

1. Access the Web GUI of the GXP phone.
2. Go to Settings → Programmable Keys → Virtual Multi-Purpose Keys.

Figure 2: Virtual Multi-Purpose Keys page

Configure Fixed or Dynamic VPKs as follows:

a. Fixed VPK:

• Press the Edit VPK button.
• Select the mode to use from the Mode dropdown list.
• Select the Account# from the Accounts dropdown list.
• Enter a description text in the Description field (optional).
• Enter the value sequence for each mode in the Value field if required.
• Press the Save button to save your configuration (the Reset button allows to reset all fields to default values).
• Press Save VPK to apply changes to the VPK.

Note: Fixed VPKs can only be edited. Adding or deleting Fixed VPK is not allowed.

b. Dynamic VPK

• Press Add VPK to create a new Dynamic VPK.
• Select the mode to use from the Mode dropdown list.
• Select the Account# from the Accounts dropdown list.
• Enter a description text in the Description field (optional).
• Enter the value sequence for each mode in the Value field if required.
• Press the Save button to save your configuration (the Reset button allows to reset the VPK to default value).
• Press Save VPK to apply changes to the VPK.

Note: Once added and saved, Edit VPK and Delete VPK buttons will appear. Customers can press the Edit VPK button to edit or Delete VPK to remove the selected VPK.

Example for Fixed VPK: A customer's GXP2170 has a SIP account registered on Account 1 and needs to monitor extension 1000. The following values need to be used: Mode: Busy Lamp Field (BLF), Accounts: Account 1 (selected), Description: BLF_1000 (optional), Value: 1000.

Figure 3: Fixed VPK – Edit

Figure 4: Add VPK

Example for Dynamic VPK: A customer's GXP2170 has a SIP account registered on Account 1 and wants to add a Speed Dial for extension 1001. Below values need to be used: Mode: Speed Dial, Accounts: Account 1 (selected), Description: SP_1001 (optional), Value: 1001.

Figure 5: Dynamic VPK

VPK Modes and Indication

Fixed VPK supports all available modes (20 modes), while Dynamic VPK does not support Line, Shared Line, and None modes (17 modes).

The following table provides a description of each mode, as well as state, icon, and LED status.

Screen Examples

The following screenshots show the GXP2170 screen's first two pages:

Figure 6: Screen Example - Page 1

Figure 7: Screen Example - Page 2