Description
The Snom M253 is a DECT single-cell bundle: the M250 base station plus one M53 handset, ready to register on a SIP phone system. Snom built it for smaller sites and branches such as medical practices, hospitality venues, and retail stores that need cordless coverage without a multi-cell build-out. The base holds up to 20 SIP accounts and up to 10 M5x-series handsets, and it can run on PoE (IEEE 802.3af, Class 2).
The Telecom Spot Take
This is the starter kit for a clinic, shop floor, or small branch that wants staff off the desk without needing a multi-cell DECT system. One M53 ships in the box; add more M53, M55, M56, or M58 sets as the site grows, up to ten handsets on this base. It is not the right buy for a large campus that needs roaming across many cells.
Key Features
- Complete starter bundle: You get the M250 single-cell base and one M53 handset, so a first cordless extension is in the carton instead of two separate line items.
- Room to grow on one cell: Register up to 10 Snom M5x handsets and 20 SIP identities, with up to 8 calls at once—enough for a small site without a second base.
- PoE or optional power adapter: The M250 takes IEEE 802.3af Class 2 PoE on the NET port, or the optional 10 W power supply if the switch is not PoE.
- M53 built for all-day desk and floor work: 2.4" 240×320 color display, speakerphone, mute, hearing-aid compatibility, and two AAA Ni-MH 850 mAh cells rated up to 12 hours narrowband talk, 9 hours wideband talk, and 120 hours standby.
- Antibacterial housing on the handset: Snom specifies an anti-bacterial housing on the M53, which matters in clinics and shared service desks where many people pick up the same phone.
- Shared directory and LDAP: The base holds up to 1,000 shared contacts and can pull an LDAP or XML directory, so every handset sees the same list.
- Provisioning that IT can actually run: SRAPS, HTTP/HTTPS/TFTP loading, DHCP options 66/159/160, TR-069, and TR-369 (USP), plus firmware over the air (SUOTA) to the handsets.
- Encrypted SIP path: TLS 1.2 and SRTP are published on the base, along with HTTPS and IEEE 802.1X.
- Handset-to-handset intercom and local conference: Intercom between registered M5x/M58 sets, plus 3-way local and N-way network conferencing when the SIP platform allows it.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Snom M253 |
| Type | DECT single-cell bundle (M250 base + M53 handset) |
| Part number (PN) | 00004741 |
| Color / region (as published) | Black |
| Frequency band (as published) | Europe 1,880–1,900 MHz |
| Placement | Indoor, desktop |
| DECT base | Snom M250 |
| Base dimensions (H × W × D, approx.) | 189 mm × 123 mm × 70 mm |
| Base weight (approx.) | 280 g |
| Base indicators | 3 LEDs (power green; VoIP and LINK multicolour green/red/orange) |
| Base keys | Link (DECT pairing), Reset |
| Base power | PoE IEEE 802.3af Class 2, or 100–240 V AC adapter 5 V DC / 2 A, 10 W |
| Network ports | 2 × RJ45 10/100 (NET, PC) |
| USB | USB 2.0 Type-A (not in use) |
| SIP identities / accounts | 20 |
| Simultaneous calls | Up to 8 |
| Handsets per base | Up to 10 (M53, M55, M56, M58) |
| Coverage (manufacturer) | Up to 50 m indoor, up to 300 m outdoor |
| Audio codecs | G.711 (A-law, μ-law), G.722, G.726, G.729AB, iLBC, OPUS |
| Security | TLS 1.2, SRTP, HTTPS, IEEE 802.1X |
| Other networking | VLAN (IEEE 802.1Q), OpenVPN, DHCP, LLDP-MED, HTTP, FTP, TFTP, SNTP, NAT, STUN, ToS, DiffServ |
| Management | Web UI, SRAPS, TR-069, TR-369 (USP), PnP, DHCP options 66/159/160 |
| Directory | LDAP, XML, CSV/XML import-export, central directory up to 1,000 shared entries |
| Call history | 100 missed, received, and dialed |
| Base languages | German, English, British English, Spanish, Mexican Spanish, French, Canadian French, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Turkish, Greek, Russian |
| DECT handset | Snom M53 |
| Handset dimensions (H × W × D, approx.) | 163 mm × 48 mm × 21 mm (on cradle: 170 mm × 80 mm × 75 mm) |
| Handset weight (approx.) | 120 g |
| Handset display | 2.4" (51 mm) TFT, 240 × 320, true-colour, backlit blue/white |
| Handset keys | 24 hard keys including ITU keypad, 2 soft keys, 5-way nav, speakerphone, mute |
| Handset audio | Earpiece, microphone, external speaker; hearing aid compatible (HAC) |
| Handset battery | 2 × AAA Ni-MH, 1.2 V, 850 mAh; up to 12 h NB talk, 9 h WB talk, 120 h standby |
| Handset languages | English, French, Canadian French, Spanish, Mexican Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, Greek, Polish, Swedish, Estonian, Danish, Russian, Portuguese, Czech |
| Charging cradle dimensions (approx.) | 33 mm × 80 mm × 75 mm |
| Cradle power adapter | 100–240 V AC / 50–60 Hz, 150 mA | 6 V DC / 450 mA, 2.7 W |
| Operating temperature | 0 °C to +35 °C |
| Humidity | < 95% non-condensing |
| Compatible add-on handsets (sold separately) | M53 (PN 00004740), M55 (PN 00004629), M56 (PN 00004656) |
| Compatible DECT desk phone (sold separately) | M58 (PN 00004631) |
| Optional PoE injector | A5E (PN 00004679) |
| Optional spare 10 W PSU | PN 00004570 |
| Package contents | M250 DECT single-cell base station (does not include power adapter); M53 DECT handset; charging cradle + power adapter (for cradle); 2 × AAA Ni-MH 850 mAh batteries; footstand; 2 screws; Ethernet cable; safety instructions |
Comparison at a Glance
- Snom M253 (PN 00004741): M250 base plus the M53 everyday handset. Best when the site is an office, clinic, or service counter and you want a color-screen handset with replaceable AAA cells.
- Snom M256 (PN 00004791): Same M250 base, but bundled with the ruggedized M56 (IP67, alarm features). Choose this when staff work in tougher physical conditions.
- Snom M250 base alone (PN 00004742) plus extra M5x/M58 sets: Same single-cell limits (10 handsets, 20 accounts). Buy the bundle if you need the first handset and cradle in one kit; buy the base alone if you already have M5x handsets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cordless phones can the Snom M253 support?
The M250 base in this bundle registers up to 10 handsets from the Snom M5x family—M53, M55, M56—plus the M58 DECT desk phone. One M53 is in the box. Plan extra handsets as separate purchases. The base allows up to 8 simultaneous calls and 20 SIP accounts.
Does the M253 base use Power over Ethernet?
Yes. Snom specifies IEEE 802.3af Class 2 PoE on the NET RJ45. A 10 W AC adapter is optional for the M250. The M53 charging cradle uses its own 2.7 W adapter and does not take PoE.