Adding custom background images
Cisco IP Phones support either colored or monochrom background images in various resolutions (depending on model). The background can either be set up in sccp.conf server side or the user can be enabled to select a background image from a defined list of backgrounds. The image has to be a graphic file with .PNG extension. Other requirements apply, depending on phone model (see below).
Background images can be set up server side in sccp.conf for most modern Cisco IP Phones by using a parameter in the device section. This image is pushed to the phone upon every restart.
[SEPXXXXXXXXX]
...
backgroundImage=http://PATH-TO-BACKGROUND-IMAGE/filename.png
Phone personalization needs to be set to allow the server to push background or ringtones to the phone in the SEPXXXXXXXXXX.cnf.xml of each phone:
...
<phonePersonalization>1</phonePersonalization>
When a user is allowed to pick his own background image in the user settings (true in device section of the SEPXXXX.xml config file), the phone searches for the List.xml (case-sensitive) file in the following directories. Depending on the phone model, the required file properties are as follows:
| Phone Model | Image Size | Thumbnail Size | Directory |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7906 / 7911 | 95x34 | 23x8 | /Desktops/95x34x1 |
| 7941 / 7961 | 320x196 | 80x49 | /Desktops/320x196x4 |
| 7942 / 7962 | 320x196 | 80x49 | /Desktops/320x196x4 |
| 7945 / 7965 | 320x212 | 80x53 | /Desktops/320x212x16 |
| 7970 / 7971 | 320x212 | 80x53 | /Desktops/320x212x12 |
| 7975 | 320x216 | 80x53 | /Desktops/320x216x16 |
| 7985 | 800x600 | not supported | /Desktops/800x600x16 |
| 8941 / 8945 | 640x480 | 123x111 | /Desktops/640x480x24 |
The Image file is used for the background of the phone display. An additional thumbnail is used as a preview image on the phone settings menu (on 7985 only the filename). The List.xml has to be in the above model-depending directory. The file has a Cisco IPPhoneImage syntax, example:
<CiscoIPPhoneImageList>
<ImageItem Image="TFTP:Desktops/640x480x24/sccp-tn.png"
URL="TFTP:Desktops/640x480x24/sccp.png"/>
<ImageItem Image="TFTP:Desktops/640x480x24/sccp_2-tn.png"
URL="TFTP:Desktops/640x480x24/sccp_2.png"/>
</CiscoIPPhoneImageList>
While the resolution is fix, the phones are able to reduce the color depth if the original image uses too many colors.
