If you can configure a non-standard TCP connection to the SIP server in this instance, 3CX will play nicely with iOS multi tasking.But requries support in your PBX. it’s supported by asterix, which if your home PBX is a freebie, you’re probably using.

http://www.3cx.com/forums/3cxphone-for-iphone-technical-informations-19089.html

Badly researched article, you say? Can you point to a factual inaccuracy? Does the red bar not appear? It is not placed there by the app – it’s placed there by iOS when a program runs in a proper background (ie not dormant) mode. The lack of useful context in the app switcher on iOS is not down to the application – it is down to the operating system.

If there are two classes of applications that can appear in the switcher – some of which will simply resume where they left off when you remove them, and some which will actually stop doing a task when you remove them – then why is it not reasonable of me to point out that this is a daft bit of UI design? The icons in the switcher don’t appear to change for any application – they are the standard unlaunched, un-badged icon that appears on the main screen. If there is a method by which a developer can alter the icon in the switcher/recent apps list, and it’s not being used, then I’d accept it’s the developer’s fault. But I’ve not seen any other app do that either. Have you?

As for being an ‘anti-Apple rant,’ you should see me when I do get ranting. This is a critique of what, in my view, is a pretty poor piece of implementation by Apple, a company for whom I have a lot of respect. In fact, far from being anti-Apple, for the bulk of my working life, I’ve used their systems; most of the work I do for PC magazines is done using Apple equipment.

Running 3CX wasn’t the sole reason for buying an iPod touch – it’s just one extra reason. And I think that, as someone who commentates on technology, I should be quite free to point out the shortcomings of parts of the interface in any product, whether it’s from Apple or any other manufacturer.

It works with any SIP server, including my pbx, and that of many other companies.

The SIP standard does not include configuring ones server to notify Apple each time a call comes in, nor should it have to.

But that’s the way Apple fudged background tasks with push notifications. This isn’t a 3cx problem. It’s an iOS flaw, made worse by poor ui design.

Fully running in the background is available as an option but as it drains the battery (as expected), it is not an advised mode of operation. I agree about the clunky UI but if an app is not designed as recommended by the OS vendor it is not the fault of the OS that user experience is not good. Follow the rules and you can offer a seamless experience. Viber did so did 3CX could.

Other multiple tasking apps suffer from this too, like Awareness. The red bar is intrusive and the list of recent apps fails to distinguish between those that are running, waiting for notifications or idle.

That’s not me being wrong. That’s how iOS works. When you might need it, it doesn’t show you that closing something may impact on what you’re doing.

Bria App answers calls while on background, so does Acrobits VOIP App. It’s just that 3CX does not have proper background mode. But that is the fault of the app maker.

Look at Viber. It works in the background and uses the push mechanism which results zero battery drain.

I agree with some of your comments of the multitasking handling UI being clunky, but you should be reporting correctly. You are normally excellent in that regard. This is the first time I saw you fail.