system versions

• Free KX-TD193 module installed at factory, for Caller ID on first four lines.
• The KX-TA1232-2 was also introduced, with free Caller ID on four lines, support for the second and third lines on the display of the KX-T7735 phone, room monitoring without the "beep," and automatic Caller ID logging on both answered and un-answered calls.
• The KX-TD308 did not get free Caller ID.

• D1232 is compatible with ISDN "PRI" service. Requires new KX-TD290 circuit module. In addition to the benefits of ISDN, the KX-TD290 module also provides two Caller ID options. With Calling Line Identification Presentation (CLIP), users can assign a number with up to 16 digits to an extension or trunk line. When a call is placed, the CLIP number that was assigned to the extension or the trunk will be shown on the display of the called party’s telephone when the call is received. The second Caller ID option is Calling Line Identification Restriction. This feature allows the user to restrict the appearance of the calling number, preventing it from appearing on the display of the called party’s telephone. This option can be selected as a permanent setting or can be used on a call-by-call basis.
• 24-Digit emergency dialing feature lets the user assign an emergency or often-dialed telephone number of up to 24 digits to a two-digit combination for convenient dialing.
• The new Lunch/Break Extension capability was designed as a more flexible alternative to the Lunch/Break Mode available on previous versions. This upgraded feature provides added flexibility in handling calls and a greater level of customer service. For example, now when you’re in the Lunch/Break mode the system administrator can program the system to forward to any one of the following destinations, another extension in the system, voice mail, a Phantom Extension number, DISA or an extension group.
• Optional 100-column printout of phone call records (British version, not in US version).
• Enhanced features with voice processing systems.
• One ROM version from this period is P211Q20604A.

• D816 and 1232 can handle up to FOUR door intercom speakers, when used with the new KX-TD161 door intercom module. You can select from eight different ringing sounds for each door.
• The KX-TD1232-5 has an automatic recovery feature for twin-cabinet systems.
• Remote Call Forwarding Set allows users who are out of the office or away from their desk to remotely forward their calls to another extension or outside telephone. The system can be set to Forward All Calls, Forward Busy Calls, Forward No Answer Calls, Forward Busy or No Answer Calls, Forward to a CO or Cancel Call Forward.
• When digitally integrated with a Panasonic voice processing system, such as the new KX-TVS110, the clocks in each system will be automatically synchronized with each other, so the voice processor clock will be changed automatically any time the phone system clock is changed.
• Caller ID announcement with voicemail messages from Panasonic voice processors.
• One ROM version from this period is P211L10821A.

• KX-TD187 T1 Circuit module (for KX-TD1232). Allows connection of a 1232 system to a digital T1 trunk, providing up to 24 voice channels. It can support any of these line types: loop start, ground start, TIE, 2-Way DID, OPX. In twin cabinet systems it must be installed in the master. When a 187 is installed, you can't have a TD180, TD185, TD284, TD382, TD384 or TD386 module in either cabinet. The eight original CO line circuits in the slave cabinet can not be used. The eight CO circuits in the master, when used with the T1 module, can provide 32 CO lines, as compared to a maximum of 24 lines in a twin system without T1. The TD187 must be connected to the phone company circuits with a Channel Service Unit ("CSU"), purchased separately. AbleComm price for the KX-TD187 is $1362, with FREE "ground" shipping in the US. The CSU costs $496, also with free shipping. 
• KX-TD198 Remote Access module (for KX-TD816-4). Provides remote programming and diagnostics. It mounts on the front of the cabinet, and can be sandwiched between the cabinet and a circuit mule (KX-TD170, 171, 180 or 185). AbleComm price for the KX-TD198 is $338, with FREE "ground" shipping in the US.
• TAPI 2.1 Compliance. The new 816 and 1232 conform to Microsoft's "TAPI 2.1" standard for Computer Telephone Integration. Previous generations used the "TSAPI" standard from ATT and Novell.
• Lunch/Break Mode.  Previous generations of these systems provided ringing patterns and other features based on night or day. The dash-fours have a third type of setting for lunchtime or other breaks from the normal schedule, and can be activated either manually of automatically. More about this later.
• Multiple Message Waiting Lamps. IMPORTANT STUFF. You can now have more than one message waiting light/button on a single proprietary phone, and several phones can have light/buttons for the same mail box. Additionally, phantom extensions can have message waiting light/buttons. A maximum of 128 light/buttons can be set up in a system.
• Voice Mail Port Name Display. Your phones can display a name with up to ten characters to let you know which port a call is coming from. This could be useful if you have different ports for business and personal use, or for multiple businesses sharing a system.
• Selectable Flashing or Steady FWD/DND light. Lots of people HATE the flashing FWD/DND button on their phone, and shut it off and lose system functions. With the dash four revision, you can select steady or flashing for DND and for FWD. I'd like to have a flashing message-waiting light -- the steady light is too easy to ignore.
• All phones in a group can leave it. It's now possible for all phones in a hunting group, UCD group, ring group or phantom extension group to log out of the group.
• Restricted flexible button programming. You can now stop people from changing the functions of their flexible buttons, by Class of Service.
• Call Forwarding setup with software. Call Forwarding can now be set using PC software, instead of having to program at each individual phone.
• Variable Forward/No Answer time. Each phone can now be set to have its own time to forward un-answered calls, with one to 12 rings before forwarding.
• Beep On Hold. Previously, callers who were put on hold would hear either silence, or music or messages fed into the system. Now you can have a periodic beep. It's boring, but reassuring. What we really need are multiple inputs that can be assigned to different lines.
• TVS50 LCS Display change. The dash fours will display Caller ID info for Live Call Screening in hands-free mode and private mode, with the KX-TVS50 voice processing system.
• ROM versions from this period start with P211.

• New KX-T7436 phone with big display shows 8 screens of features -- a bit more than 7235. You can use the Jog-Dial to scroll from the bottom of one screen to the top of the next.
• The Jog-Dial controls volume, ringing and the display.
• It's very convenient for quick scanning through personal and system speed-dialing directories, feature access list, programming steps.
• While scanning, when you come to the entry you want, just tap a button to activate the feature or make the call.
• Volume control function maintains settings for ringer, speaker, handset, and even headset.
• Select from 8 ringing sounds for intercom calls. We don't know if the door intercom sound can be changed.
• Phone-users can disable paging announcements at their phones.
• Off-Hook monitor feature allows people near a phone to listen to a conversation through its speaker, while one person uses handset -- like old ComKey 416 phones.
• System speed-dialing directory can hold 500 names and numbers, compared to 100 in earlier systems.
• Number of account codes increases from 20 to 128
• Caller ID name-number table increases from 250 to 500 entries.
• Number of voice mail ports increases from 8 to 12 maximum
• New features for hotels and motels include display of room status on DSS/BLF console at front desk and operation of standard 90v message-weighting lights..
• Whisper Off-Hook Call-Announce provides quiet announcement through handset to someone on a phone call. Other party does not hear announcement. There is no handsfree response to whisper announcements.
• New phones are about half-inch wider than older phones.
• New phones have handset mute -- long overdue.
• System programming now covers installation of additional types of expansion modules.

Support for new circuit modules:

• KX-TD171 station expansion module provides Caller ID on single-line phones or standard Caller ID displays. KX-TD170 will remain available.
• KX-TD185 4-Circuit DID module provides Direct Inward Dialing with phone company DID service.
• KX-TD194 16-station Message-Waiting module works with industry-standard 90-volt message-waiting lights. You can use one with a KX-TD816-3, two on a KX-TD1232-3, or four on a KX-TD1232-3 dual-cabinet system.
• KX-TD197 modem module provides remote diagnostics and programming, for KX-TD1232-3
• ISDN (several models) 
• One ROM version from this period is P231M81002A.

• Increased processing speed, circuit board modifications in preparation for dash three. No new features
• ROM versions from this period start with P231A

• DPITS on 816. The KX-TD816 got "DPITS" (Digital Proprietary Integrated Telephone System) integration, like the KX-TD1232, for improved operation with the KX-TVS series voice processing systems. DPITS provides faster set-up, and more features, including Live Call Screening, Remote Live Call Screening, Two-way Recording, Two-way Call Transfer, and Paging Notification.
• Enhanced Caller ID. The KX-TD816 and 1232 can simultaneously display a caller's phone number and name (if provided by the phone company) on digital display phones. Up to 15 answered calls can be logged by the user at each phone, with un-answered calls logged automatically at one phone. Logged calls can be called back while viewing the INFO screen. Caller ID information remains on the screen for the entire call.
• Ring Groups. After a call is answered, it can be transferred to the appropriate group or department, where multiple phones will ring. Up to eight ring groups can be created, with an unlimited number of extensions in each group. People can temporarily log into and out of a ring group, as staffing requirements and individual priorities change during the workday.
• Uniform Call Distribution. "UCD" evenly distributes incoming calls to specific people ("agents") who are logged into a group, for shared functions, such as sales, tech support, etc. Four different outgoing messages can be recorded and played in a cycle, and a separate extension can be assigned for overflow calls.
• Phantom Extensions. Any outside call or internal transfer can be sent to a "Phantom Extension," which will ring every phone with that extension button. This allows sales staff, technical support staff, etc. to identify calls intended for their group's response. Up to 128 phantom extensions can be assigned. 
• TSAPI (Telephony Services Application Programming Interface). Marries the KSU to a PC, for CTI ("Computer Telephony Integration"). With TSAPI, users are not confined to the proprietary software that came with their systems, but can choose their own software and custom tailor their systems to their particular needs.
• Quick Dialing. Press a button on the touch-tone pad, to dial a pre-set number.
• Automatic hold. Pressing a second line button automatically puts the present call on hold.
• French or English display
• Phone identification display. Pressing the * key toggles between two display modes. One shows day/date/time; the other shows extension number and name of user or department.
• External modem for remote programming. It's no longer necessary to use a special Panasonic internal modem module, and external modems can be used with both the 816 and 1232.
• Live Call Screening. You can listen while people leave messages in your voice mailbox, through the speaker, or handset, even on a cordless phone.
• CO Line name assignment. The display screen can show a company name, department name, or other designation that corresponds to each line, as a call comes in.
• Additional programmable button functions. Phone buttons can be programmed for Live Call Screening and Cancel, Log-in/Log-out, Voice Mail direct access, Phantom Extension, Two-way record, Two-way transfer.
• ROM versions from this period start with P101E.

• Upgrade chips were put in sockets for easy replacement, instead of being soldered onto the circuit board (most, but not all in this version).
• The KX-TD1232 got "DPITS" (Digital Proprietary Integrated Telephone System) integration for improved operation with the KX-TVS series voice processing systems. DPITS provides faster set-up, and more features, including Live Call Screening, Remote Live Call Screening, Two-way Recording, Two-way Call Transfer, and Paging Notification.
• No "dash" or circled version number.
• ".5" is our designation, not Panasonic's. Panasonic usually calls it "first DPITS."
• One ROM version from this period is P101A60209K.

• original
• No "dash" or circled version number.
• "0" is our designation, not Panasonic's. Panasonic usually calls it "pre-DPITS."
• Two ROM versions from this period are P101A50508B and  P011Y441226A

• Prototypes & testing samples