Interview with Mark Spencer of Asterisk

comforteagle writes "OSDir has published an interview with Mark Spencer of Asterisk and Gaim about why and how he got started coding up the software platform PBX system and how it has become much more than -just- another phone system. He also shares his insights for the opportunities within the telecom industry for open source."

Comments

* is the killer linux app

[grasshoppa]

I have used and deployed * in a number of setups ( from large businesses to home ), and you folks should really understand something: This is the killer linux app.

Samba is great. qmail/sendmail/ect...is wonderful as well. But, as far as getting linux in the door, this is the application that will do it. For example, my first * implementation cost about 8grand ( parts and service ).

For a similar, but far less featured pbx from avaya, I was quoted 40grand. And that was a quote. Anybody here that has worked with phone venders should be chuckling right now at that number, as it amounts to a pie in the sky dream.

So, for my small business, I saved them 30 grand right up front ( likely more ). On top of that, as their needs change, so can the phone system. Just the other day they found out I was taking my desk phone home ( to play with, but also get my phone calls ). When I told them why, they were floored that the system could do that, no matter how many times I told them it could.

Larger businesses will see far more dramatic cost savings, and get more features to boot.

Re:And PBX is...?

[dud83]

Officially it means: "Private Branch Exchange (private telephone switchboard)" In reality it is a switchboard placed inside your house or office commonly. You know, "press 1 for an outbound line" sort of thing!
It's like a router with a NAT... Only for telephones not the internet...

Systm video cast on iTunes

[pesc]

If you have iTunes, you can check out the latest systm video cast which features a demonstration by John Todd. Shows how to set up Asterisk. 47 minutes in length. Go to iTunes and search for "systm".

Re:Systm video cast on iTunes

[Brian Stretch]

Better yet, go here and get the H.264 torrent (or whichever encoding you prefer). That page also gives you a slew of very useful Asterisk links.

You don't even need Asterisk...

[qualico]

...when you have a termination provider capable of connecting with SIP phones.

Otherwise, when I go to a computer recycling depot, all I see is Asterisk boxes.

I have run 4 lines on my 450MHz box with no degradation at all.

You can buy cheap FXO cards for $10 and unlock Vonage Linksys PAP2s for $10 per FXS port.
Slap that together with a $25 PowerMAC 9600 and bam!
5 FXO + 10 FXS and witness the power of a fully operational PBX system for 175 bucks!

Asterisk@Home

[TeeJS]

For those wishing to play with Asterisk, you can't beat Asterisk@Home. Nearly instant setup & web-based GUI config makes easy to administer too. I had it up and running in uner 10 min!

Old News - Newer interview here

[Bentley]

Here's a link to a newer interview done with Mark Spencer last week, Jan. 19, 2006.

http://gabcast.com/index.php?a=episodes&query=&b=p lay&id=91&cast=585&castPage=

Re:And PBX is...?

[Corydon76]

While there certainly are the Vonages of the world, there are far more VoIP services that permit you to connect any phone you like.

the only source of information you will ever need

[nubbie]

http://voip-info.org/wiki/index.php?page=Asterisk