An Introduction to Open Source Asterisk IP PBX

Posted by arun on May 28th, 2014

As you know well, among many open sources software, Asterisk is the one OSS, which has been internationally renowned as an open source telephony system. Open source IP PBX is fundamentally a software (though may be hardware also), combining the various communication channels like IPPBX, Email, Fax, Instant Messages and other collaboration functionalities. It is a unified communication distribution, combining audio, video and internet. It will be able to support any number of concurrent calls (Session Initiation Protocol), ensuring at the same time superior quality of voice. The cost will also be affordable. It is the most viable and affordable substitute to the voice grade analog signal transmission POTS (Plain Old Telephone System).

The IP PBX asterisk is a fine product, which can be configured to carry out the host of functions, as your business may require, in a telephony. This digital phone system is a single stop management tool for communication needs. It is versatile, extensible and customizable.  When your PC is Linux based, the entire package will be free for you. If you happen to be a residential user, the long distance calls will cost you lesser.

There are many IP PBXs with complete asterisk solutions. In fact, the developer of Asterisk has provided an online marketing mechanism, through which the vendors can market the products and components - whether software of hardware, like soft phones, IP phones, gateways, voice prompts, call center applications, complete PBX systems, etc.

Since it is open source and there are innumerable service providers, you may select a better service provider, not lamenting on having selected a wrong service provider, initially/ earlier. The Asterisk is easily and freely extensible both in respect of software and hardware. It can easily be integrated with third party applications.

Some of the main benefits of the IP PBX asterisk are that it will replace the expensive telephone system, manipulating and routing of VoIP packets, against switching analog lines, addition of web based administration interface, SQL database, playing of prerecorded messages on the receiving cell phones.

You may even go in for a virtual PBX system, with cloud telephony and without any hardware installation, but with proportionate usage charges and with its attendant benefits, to improve your business communication area effectively.