Snom D717 Review: Australia 2026

Who is this phone for?

The Snom D717 suits staff who work from a fixed desk and mostly answer, hold and transfer calls. Snom (an IP phone manufacturer whose desk phones are sold in Australia through IT retailers) positions it as its entry model for professional VOIP use, and the specifications match that brief: 6 SIP accounts, a small colour screen and 3 programmable keys.

It is a weaker fit for a receptionist watching many extensions, a desk with no network cable, or anyone who wants to pair a Bluetooth headset directly to the phone. Snom's datasheet lists no Bluetooth, Wi-Fi needs the optional A210 USB dongle, and more keys mean buying expansion modules.

If you are not sure where to start, you are not behind: the industry made this confusing. The phone is the last decision, not the first. Choose the service provider and phone system first, then a handset that provider supports. A PBX (private branch exchange) is the system that routes calls between your phones and the outside world; think of it like an automated switchboard that decides which phone rings, when, and for how long. If the phone system itself is still undecided, start with our guide to the best phone system for small business.

Specs at a glance

SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) is the standard that VOIP phones use to make calls over the internet. Like signing an email app into an account, each SIP account is a separate registration with the phone system. Six accounts give flexibility, but most small offices register one account per desk phone.

Build quality and design

This assessment describes the layout Snom publishes; it is not a durability verdict, because no unit was handled for this review. The datasheet lists 37 physical keys, including a standard keypad, a 5-way navigation key, dedicated mute, speakerphone and headset keys, and dedicated keys for hold, transfer, directory and do not disturb.

The 2.7-inch colour screen is modest next to executive desk phones. An ambient light sensor adjusts screen brightness to the room, and the footstand offers two angles. It comes in black or white and can be wall mounted.

Call quality on Australian NBN

No measured call-quality claim can be made from a datasheet. Snom lists full-duplex HD audio on the speakerphone, hearing aid compatibility and wideband G.722 support. A codec is the algorithm that compresses voice audio for transmission over the internet; like choosing between lossless and compressed audio, G.722 carries fuller-sounding voice where the provider supports it.

On the NBN, real call quality depends far more on your internet connection, router settings and provider than on the handset. A wired connection like the D717's is the reliable default for voice. If calls crackle or drop, the usual causes are upload congestion and router settings, which our desk phone buying guide and setup guides cover.

Plan for power outages. NBN phone services stop working when the power goes unless the NBN equipment, router, switch and phone all have backup power. Our NBN battery backup guide explains the options, and you should confirm with your provider how 000 calls work on the service.

Features

The 3 SmartLabel keys are programmable shortcuts with coloured status lights. They can show whether a colleague's extension is busy (a busy lamp field, like a reception status board) and pick up their calls, where the phone system supports those features. Three keys suit a small team; a busy front desk will run out quickly.

For more keys, Snom lists up to 3 D7 or D7C expansion modules connected by USB, sold separately. Before going that route, compare the combined cost and desk space with a phone that has more keys built in.

Power over Ethernet lets one network cable carry both data and power, like a single cable powering and connecting a security camera. The D717 supports IEEE 802.3af class 3 PoE and does not include a power adapter, so you need a PoE switch or injector, or a separately bought adapter. Our PoE switch guide explains what to buy.

Other listed features include 3-way local conferencing, intercom, multicast paging, a local directory of up to 1,000 entries, LDAP company directories, and secure calling with TLS and SRTP. Automatic provisioning and Snom's redirection service let a provider load settings onto the phone remotely, provided your provider supports the D717.

For comparison, the Yealink T33G has 4 SIP accounts, a 2.4-inch colour screen and 4 line keys with no built-in wireless, while the Yealink T34W adds Wi-Fi. The D717's extra accounts and gigabit ports are its edge; its 3 keys are the trade-off.

What works / What doesn't

Australian pricing and where to buy

As at September 2026, our nightly price tracking finds the D717 at only a small number of Australian retailers. The price shown at the top of this page comes from that tracking, so check current listings, stock and delivery before relying on it. That is a thin market, and your phone provider may be able to supply and pre-configure the phone instead.

Budget for the extras the box leaves out: a PoE switch or injector, or a power adapter. The handset purchase is separate from your phone service, so choose the provider first and confirm they support this model.

Verdict

The Snom D717 fits a small business with cabled desks where staff mostly answer and transfer calls. It is a deliberately simple wired phone with more SIP accounts than typical entry models, not a wireless phone or a reception console.

Look elsewhere if you need Bluetooth headset pairing, a phone placed without a network cable, or more than a few monitored extensions. A dongle or expansion module can cover some gaps, but the added cost may favour a phone with those features built in.

Three mistakes to avoid. First, buying the handset before choosing the provider and phone system. Second, plugging it into the green phone port on an NBN modem: that port is an ATA (analogue telephone adapter), a device that lets a traditional analogue phone work on a VOIP service, and the D717 needs an Ethernet connection to a proper VOIP service instead, as our ATA guide explains. Third, assuming PoE keeps the phone working in a blackout; it only works while the switch has power.

Before you buy: choose your provider and phone system, confirm they support the D717, check each desk has Ethernet and PoE, count the extensions a receptionist must monitor, and plan backup power. Our new IP phone setup guide covers the setup steps, or get a phone system recommendation.

Frequently asked questions