The Grandstream WP8x6 supports vCard phonebooks, allowing users to easily import and export contact information through the Web UI. This feature simplifies contact management by enabling bulk uploads, backups, and seamless transfer of phonebook entries between devices. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to upload and download vCard phonebooks using the WP8x6 Web UI.

What is a vCard Phonebook?

A vCard phonebook is a digital contact file stored in vCard .vcf file format, which is a standard format used to save and share contact information.

vCard Phonebook Properties

The vCard format can support a wide range of Properties, but for the purposes of this guide, focusing on the WP8x6, we will concentrate on the key Properties outlined below:

vCard Phonebook Properties

Example of vCard Phonebook

Below is a standard vCard phonebook, presenting the structure of the format: the contact entry begins with BEGIN:VCARD, specifies the vCard version, lists the properties described above, and concludes with END:VCARD.

BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:3.0
N:Doe;John
FN:John Doe
TITLE:Network Engineer
ROLE:Support Engineer
TEL;TYPE=WORK:1000
TEL;TYPE=HOME:1001
TEL;TYPE=CELL:1002
TEL:1003
ORG:Tech Corp;IT
END:VCARD

WP8x6 vCard Phonebook Support

Firmware

Before using the vCard phonebook feature, please make sure the firmware on the phone is upgraded to the latest version. Please refer to the following link for firmware upgrading information: https://www.grandstream.com/support/firmware

vCard Phonebook Properties on the WP8x6

When a vCard phonebook is imported into a WP8x6 device, the Wi-Fi phone processes the file and prioritizes the properties according to its internal handling rules, as described below:

• Naming Properties: The WP8x6 Wi-Fi phone handles vCard naming properties N and FN according to the following rules:
  
  
  • If the vCard contains only the FN:John Doe property, The phone displays the name as “John Doe”, but internally interprets the entire string as the first name and automatically sets the N property as N:;John Doe
  • If the vCard contains only the N:Doe;John property, The phone interprets John as the first name and Doe as the last name, and displays the name as “John Doe”.
  • When both N:Doe;John and FN:John Doe properties are present in the vCard, The phone gives priority to the N property for display and internal processing.

• Job Title Properties: The WP8x6 Wi-Fi phone handles vCard job title properties TITLE and ROLE according to the following rules:
  
  
  • If the vCard contains only the ROLE:Support Engineer property, The phone displays “Support Engineer” as the contact’s Job Title, but internally sets the TITLE property as TITLE:Support Engineer;.
  • If the vCard contains only the TITLE:Network Engineer property, The phone displays “Network Engineer” as the contact’s Job Title.
  • If both TITLE:Network Engineer and ROLE:Support Engineer properties are present in the vCard, The phone gives priority to the TITLE property for display and internal processing.

• Phone Number Priority: The prioritized phone number is the one dialed by default when calling a contact. Supported types include HOME, WORK, and CELL (MOBILE), with WORK being the highest priority by default.
  
  
  • If the number type is MOBILE, it is automatically set to CELL.
  • If no type is set, the phone defaults the number type to WORK.
  • If a number type is set to a value other than HOME, WORK, CELL(MOBILE), it is automatically set to WORK.
  • A contact supports up to 10 telephone numbers, and a number type may be assigned to multiple entries.
  • When multiple WORK numbers exist, the order in the vCard file determines the default number.

Based on these rules, the example vCard phonebook above will be interpreted by the WP8x6 as follows:

BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:3.0
N:Doe;John
TITLE:Network Engineer
TEL;TYPE=Work:1000
TEL;TYPE=Home:1001
TEL;TYPE=Cell:1002
TEL;TYPE=Work:1003
ORG:Tech Corp;IT
END:VCARD

vCard Phonebook Management via Web UI

Access the WP8x6 web interface by entering the device’s IP address in a web browser, then navigate to Application → Contacts → Phonebook Management, as shown in the screenshot below.

• Download vCard Phonebook: Exports the current phonebook as a vCard file.

The vCard downloaded from the Web UI can be imported into other phones, enabling a seamless transfer of phonebook entries between devices.

• Upload vCard Phonebook: Imports a vCard file into the phone.

After uploading the vCard phonebook to the WP8x6 device, navigate to Settings → Contacts. The local phonebook will display the contacts imported from the file.

WP8x6 Local Phonebook

To update the information of an imported contact from the WP8x6 device, select the contact from the phonebook and press the “Edit” softkey.

In Edit Contact, the user can:

• Change the First and Last Name.
• Add numbers by pressing “+”.
• Select the Prefer Number.
• Choose the Account from the configured accounts on the phone or set it to Auto.
• Select a Ringtone.
• Add the contact to a Group.
• Alter the Job Title, Company, and Department.

Supported Devices