The Benefits Of Asterisk Phone Systems
August 10, 2009
Amy Nutt asked:
Asterisk phone systems are an excellent, fully integrated VOIP PBX solution for businesses of all sizes. The set up eliminates the tremendous cost of setting up a traditional PBX system. This high cost often eliminates the possibility of using PBX for small businesses, but with Asterisk, even the smallest business can have all of the benefits of PBX in their office without spending money they do not have.
What Is Asterisk?
Asterisk is an open source software PBX that can be used by businesses and individuals alike. It is designed to run on Linux, but it can run on other platforms as well, including Windows. Asterisk was developed by Digium, Inc., who also sells the hardware necessary to set up Asterisk phone systems. Compared to other PBX options, Asterisk is incredibly affordable and has many features that are hard to find elsewhere.
Benefits of Asterisk in the Office
Besides the fact that it costs thousands of dollars less than a traditional PBX system, Asterisk provides its users with numerous other benefits. Since Asterisk phone systems are VOIP PBX systems, they use broadband connections to connect the telephone network to the traditional global telephony network. Calls can still be made and received in the same manner that they are with a traditional PBX system. Additionally, because the connection is made through the Internet and not the phone line, employees that work remotely can be connected directly to the office PBX through their Internet connections. When someone calls your office and chooses extension 10, that extension could actually be your home-based worker, and the customer would be none the wiser.
For large businesses that have locations in several geographical areas, using asterisk will allow the various offices to connect over the network. This can eliminate much of the expense of conference calls a company spread over several states usually faces. Additionally, employees who must travel frequently can stay connected to the office PBX system as long as they have an Internet connection.
Asterisk phone systems allow every extension to have its own voicemail box. These voicemail boxes are connected to the employee's email accounts, so no one will ever miss a message again.
If you should ever have a problem with your Asterisk system, you can easily get help directly from Digium. They have friendly Asterisk consulting professionals that will help you get the system up and running as quickly as possible. You can call to ask questions about bugs that you find, and they are happy to help, as this type of feedback helps them improve the software for future users.
Asterisk supports a variety of VOIP protocols. Among the protocols it accepts are MGCP, H.323, and SIP. The program can connect IP phones to the traditional phone line easily. This flexibility makes the system easy to integrate into established businesses.
If needed, Asterisk phone systems can interface with traditional telephone lines. The product comes with several high-end features, such as voice recognition system integration, call data record, and text-to-speech system integration. All of these features make it one of the best PBX products available.
Benefits of Asterisk for Customers
Your employees are not the only ones who benefit from Asterisk phone systems. Your customers will benefit as well, both directly and indirectly, when you implement this system. It has features that are found in the most expensive products on the market, such as on-hold music that supports both MP3 and streaming media. Customers will have shorter wait times because the call queues allow agents to monitor the queue while they take the incoming calls, so they can shorten the calls if needed.
Asterisk phone systems offer the best of both worlds to their users. They provide a plethora of features to the business at a fraction of the cost of their traditional competition. There are other VOIP PBX options out there, but Asterisk is the oldest and most well established, making it the preferred choice among many business owners.
You can Get Cheap VOIP DID's too!
Asterisk phone systems are an excellent, fully integrated VOIP PBX solution for businesses of all sizes. The set up eliminates the tremendous cost of setting up a traditional PBX system. This high cost often eliminates the possibility of using PBX for small businesses, but with Asterisk, even the smallest business can have all of the benefits of PBX in their office without spending money they do not have.
What Is Asterisk?
Asterisk is an open source software PBX that can be used by businesses and individuals alike. It is designed to run on Linux, but it can run on other platforms as well, including Windows. Asterisk was developed by Digium, Inc., who also sells the hardware necessary to set up Asterisk phone systems. Compared to other PBX options, Asterisk is incredibly affordable and has many features that are hard to find elsewhere.
Benefits of Asterisk in the Office
Besides the fact that it costs thousands of dollars less than a traditional PBX system, Asterisk provides its users with numerous other benefits. Since Asterisk phone systems are VOIP PBX systems, they use broadband connections to connect the telephone network to the traditional global telephony network. Calls can still be made and received in the same manner that they are with a traditional PBX system. Additionally, because the connection is made through the Internet and not the phone line, employees that work remotely can be connected directly to the office PBX through their Internet connections. When someone calls your office and chooses extension 10, that extension could actually be your home-based worker, and the customer would be none the wiser.
For large businesses that have locations in several geographical areas, using asterisk will allow the various offices to connect over the network. This can eliminate much of the expense of conference calls a company spread over several states usually faces. Additionally, employees who must travel frequently can stay connected to the office PBX system as long as they have an Internet connection.
Asterisk phone systems allow every extension to have its own voicemail box. These voicemail boxes are connected to the employee's email accounts, so no one will ever miss a message again.
If you should ever have a problem with your Asterisk system, you can easily get help directly from Digium. They have friendly Asterisk consulting professionals that will help you get the system up and running as quickly as possible. You can call to ask questions about bugs that you find, and they are happy to help, as this type of feedback helps them improve the software for future users.
Asterisk supports a variety of VOIP protocols. Among the protocols it accepts are MGCP, H.323, and SIP. The program can connect IP phones to the traditional phone line easily. This flexibility makes the system easy to integrate into established businesses.
If needed, Asterisk phone systems can interface with traditional telephone lines. The product comes with several high-end features, such as voice recognition system integration, call data record, and text-to-speech system integration. All of these features make it one of the best PBX products available.
Benefits of Asterisk for Customers
Your employees are not the only ones who benefit from Asterisk phone systems. Your customers will benefit as well, both directly and indirectly, when you implement this system. It has features that are found in the most expensive products on the market, such as on-hold music that supports both MP3 and streaming media. Customers will have shorter wait times because the call queues allow agents to monitor the queue while they take the incoming calls, so they can shorten the calls if needed.
Asterisk phone systems offer the best of both worlds to their users. They provide a plethora of features to the business at a fraction of the cost of their traditional competition. There are other VOIP PBX options out there, but Asterisk is the oldest and most well established, making it the preferred choice among many business owners.
You can Get Cheap VOIP DID's too!
The Advantages of the Asterisk Phone System For Businesses
August 3, 2009
A Nutt asked:
The day has come in which Asterisk-driven systems have become available for the technological savvy business. Being that the telephone and the internet have become very important for any business, it was just a matter of time before the two found themselves joined together in a lifelong union. It started with landline telephone systems many years ago and now other options have come about. One of those options is VOIP, which stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. This allows people to speak over the internet just like they are on the telephone. As a matter of fact, many individuals and businesses are switching to VOIP because of its low cost and the high degree of convenience.
Factoring in PBX
Factor in PBX with your VOIP and you have something quite incredible. PBX stands for private branch exchange. This is more or less a phone system owned by the business and not any carrier in particular. If this were factored into a regular landline, this would be quite expensive. However, combine it with VOIP and you have VOIP PBX. VOIP PBX is the new way in which businesses are communicating with the world and it is much more affordable than trying to combine PBX with a landline. This is what birthed Asterisk phone systems.
Asterisk phone systems take away that reliability that businesses had on phone companies to ensure consistency in communication. If something happened with the phone lines, the business would be at the mercy of the phone company to ensure it would be fixed. Sometimes phone line repairs can take days or even weeks if new parts have to be ordered. VOIP PBX is privately owned by your business, so you're at no one's mercy. You have total control.
Installing Asterisk phone systems
When it comes to installing Asterisk phone systems, Asterisk consulting is something that is needed. These consultants are individuals who help deploy and customize this VOIP PBX system for your business. Without them, the process can be quite difficult. Fortunately, they do offer on-site service that makes the process much easier for your business. Asterisk consulting firms make it a priority to ensure that you're up and running and that the chances of you having downtime are very slim. The idea of Asterisk phone systems is to have no downtime and to allow your company to have complete control over your phone system. This has become quite the affordable alternative for many businesses, which is why so many are switching.
Another reason why so many are switching is because internet systems have become more reliable than a lot of landline phone services. If landline service is interrupted, your business is still able to communicate because you're not operating on landlines. As phone lines age and malfunction, VOIP PBX is new and is something that is built to last. These are things to consider when looking for a viable communication option for your business.
The convenience
The convenience of Asterisk phone systems is quite evident. What's even better is that you don't have to worry about the installation and the customization of your VOIP PBX on your own. Asterisk consulting firms can take care of that for you, answer your questions, and have you up and running in no time. It is not something to be afraid of. Simply ask any business that has already implemented the system and see what they have to say about what it has done for them. They're going to tell you that it has made a difference in their communication, which has made a difference in their productivity. It has also made a difference in their bank account.
You can Get Cheap VOIP DID's too!
The day has come in which Asterisk-driven systems have become available for the technological savvy business. Being that the telephone and the internet have become very important for any business, it was just a matter of time before the two found themselves joined together in a lifelong union. It started with landline telephone systems many years ago and now other options have come about. One of those options is VOIP, which stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. This allows people to speak over the internet just like they are on the telephone. As a matter of fact, many individuals and businesses are switching to VOIP because of its low cost and the high degree of convenience.
Factoring in PBX
Factor in PBX with your VOIP and you have something quite incredible. PBX stands for private branch exchange. This is more or less a phone system owned by the business and not any carrier in particular. If this were factored into a regular landline, this would be quite expensive. However, combine it with VOIP and you have VOIP PBX. VOIP PBX is the new way in which businesses are communicating with the world and it is much more affordable than trying to combine PBX with a landline. This is what birthed Asterisk phone systems.
Asterisk phone systems take away that reliability that businesses had on phone companies to ensure consistency in communication. If something happened with the phone lines, the business would be at the mercy of the phone company to ensure it would be fixed. Sometimes phone line repairs can take days or even weeks if new parts have to be ordered. VOIP PBX is privately owned by your business, so you're at no one's mercy. You have total control.
Installing Asterisk phone systems
When it comes to installing Asterisk phone systems, Asterisk consulting is something that is needed. These consultants are individuals who help deploy and customize this VOIP PBX system for your business. Without them, the process can be quite difficult. Fortunately, they do offer on-site service that makes the process much easier for your business. Asterisk consulting firms make it a priority to ensure that you're up and running and that the chances of you having downtime are very slim. The idea of Asterisk phone systems is to have no downtime and to allow your company to have complete control over your phone system. This has become quite the affordable alternative for many businesses, which is why so many are switching.
Another reason why so many are switching is because internet systems have become more reliable than a lot of landline phone services. If landline service is interrupted, your business is still able to communicate because you're not operating on landlines. As phone lines age and malfunction, VOIP PBX is new and is something that is built to last. These are things to consider when looking for a viable communication option for your business.
The convenience
The convenience of Asterisk phone systems is quite evident. What's even better is that you don't have to worry about the installation and the customization of your VOIP PBX on your own. Asterisk consulting firms can take care of that for you, answer your questions, and have you up and running in no time. It is not something to be afraid of. Simply ask any business that has already implemented the system and see what they have to say about what it has done for them. They're going to tell you that it has made a difference in their communication, which has made a difference in their productivity. It has also made a difference in their bank account.
You can Get Cheap VOIP DID's too!
Setting up the Asterisk Phone System at Home
May 11, 2009
Amy Nutt asked:
The Asterisk phone systems are Linux-based VOIP PBX systems. PBX stands for Private Branch Exchange, and this refers to a division of the phone line within a building, be it a business or home. PBX systems are commonly used in businesses. Several phone lines come into the building and then are distributed to several individual extensions spread throughout the company. A few lines out of the building connecting to the phone lines are also part of the system, allowing outgoing calls. You typically have to dial a number, such as 9, to get one of these outside lines. Some people find that setting up a PBX at home is convenient, but not work the thousands of dollars necessary. With Asterisk, this type of system can be set up for relatively little cost.
The Hardware
There are some pieces of hardware that you will need to set up an Asterisk phone system in your home. One is a Linux server with an extra PCI slot. While the program can run on Windows based servers, it does not run well. Linux is a must if you want everything to run efficiently, as the Asterisk system was designed to be run on Linux. Most people find that a dedicated server works best for this application, espcially if they are going to use a Windows based system. The system will need 40 GB of available disk space.
Besides a server, you will also need a Digium Wildcard TDM400P. This is the card that allows you to connect your phones and your phone line to the Asterisk server and the VOIP PBX system. The card has four ports, so you will need to decide how many lines you need. The ports can be configured to be incoming or outgoing, depending on your needs. Incoming ports take the phone line coming from outside of your home and connect it to the system, allowing you to receive calls. Outgoing ports allow you to connect your regular phone to the system, so you can receive calls. If you need more than four ports, you will need to buy an extra card.
Software
Once you have the hardware, you are ready to set up your operating system and install the Asterisk phone system software. The best way to do this and avoid the need for Asterisk consulting as you install the product is to download the ISO of Asterisk@Home. This will begin to install automatically and will reformat your disk if needed, so installing it on a machine that does not have important information on it first is a good idea. There are other ways to set up the system, but they are quite confusing.
Setting up the System
After you have installed the software, you can use the new Web server to view the Asterisk Management Portal. This portal has an interface where you can set up your system. The interface is fairly straightforward and has documentation to help with any questions that you might have.
Once you have the basic setup entered, you will need to add your extensions. This is simple to do on the "Ring Group" screen. Simply add the number of extensions you intend for your home to have. This is also the page where you will configure your voicemail box. To record your voicemail messages, call the chosen extension from a phone inside your system and record the message.
The final step to completely configuring your system is configuring the rules for incoming calls. You can choose whether you want to have the calls go to the phones or an operator, where the caller can choose an extension. Once you have made these choices, you are ready to start using your new VOIP PBX system!
Once installed, Asterisk phone systems work much like a regular PBX system. You simply pick up the phone, dial the extension for an outside line, and make your call! Soon you will forget that you are using a high-tech VOIP PBX system at all as your new phone setup becomes part of your daily life.
Protect your VOIP network
The Asterisk phone systems are Linux-based VOIP PBX systems. PBX stands for Private Branch Exchange, and this refers to a division of the phone line within a building, be it a business or home. PBX systems are commonly used in businesses. Several phone lines come into the building and then are distributed to several individual extensions spread throughout the company. A few lines out of the building connecting to the phone lines are also part of the system, allowing outgoing calls. You typically have to dial a number, such as 9, to get one of these outside lines. Some people find that setting up a PBX at home is convenient, but not work the thousands of dollars necessary. With Asterisk, this type of system can be set up for relatively little cost.
The Hardware
There are some pieces of hardware that you will need to set up an Asterisk phone system in your home. One is a Linux server with an extra PCI slot. While the program can run on Windows based servers, it does not run well. Linux is a must if you want everything to run efficiently, as the Asterisk system was designed to be run on Linux. Most people find that a dedicated server works best for this application, espcially if they are going to use a Windows based system. The system will need 40 GB of available disk space.
Besides a server, you will also need a Digium Wildcard TDM400P. This is the card that allows you to connect your phones and your phone line to the Asterisk server and the VOIP PBX system. The card has four ports, so you will need to decide how many lines you need. The ports can be configured to be incoming or outgoing, depending on your needs. Incoming ports take the phone line coming from outside of your home and connect it to the system, allowing you to receive calls. Outgoing ports allow you to connect your regular phone to the system, so you can receive calls. If you need more than four ports, you will need to buy an extra card.
Software
Once you have the hardware, you are ready to set up your operating system and install the Asterisk phone system software. The best way to do this and avoid the need for Asterisk consulting as you install the product is to download the ISO of Asterisk@Home. This will begin to install automatically and will reformat your disk if needed, so installing it on a machine that does not have important information on it first is a good idea. There are other ways to set up the system, but they are quite confusing.
Setting up the System
After you have installed the software, you can use the new Web server to view the Asterisk Management Portal. This portal has an interface where you can set up your system. The interface is fairly straightforward and has documentation to help with any questions that you might have.
Once you have the basic setup entered, you will need to add your extensions. This is simple to do on the "Ring Group" screen. Simply add the number of extensions you intend for your home to have. This is also the page where you will configure your voicemail box. To record your voicemail messages, call the chosen extension from a phone inside your system and record the message.
The final step to completely configuring your system is configuring the rules for incoming calls. You can choose whether you want to have the calls go to the phones or an operator, where the caller can choose an extension. Once you have made these choices, you are ready to start using your new VOIP PBX system!
Once installed, Asterisk phone systems work much like a regular PBX system. You simply pick up the phone, dial the extension for an outside line, and make your call! Soon you will forget that you are using a high-tech VOIP PBX system at all as your new phone setup becomes part of your daily life.
Protect your VOIP network
