Open Source VoIP Ready For Its Close Up
Open source Voice over IP Asterisk is a software Private Branch exchange (PBX) that also acts as an
IVR Features include support for caller ID services, three-way calling, Voicemail services with Directory, call queuing and call conferencing. It handles VoIP The 1.0.0 release doesn't introduce any new functionality to the application, according to at least one Asterisk developer, though it marks a significant milestone. "Most of Asterisk 1.0.0 changes have been bugs fixes to make Asterisk as stable as possible," Asterisk community member and developer Greg Varga told internetnews.com. "The 1.0 branch is the first true branch where
there will only be bug fixes in it, and that means that we should see a
really stable branch that everyone, especially Enterprises will be able to
use."
According to Varga, Asterisk is used in a wide variety of setups, and is attractive because of its price. "Yes Asterisk itself is free, being open source, but it uses hardware that is less expensive then buying a whole package from, say, Cisco," Varga
added. "Of course there are all the features Asterisk provides as well
and if the feature isn't there, you can implement it yourself or hire
someone to implement it for you."
Varga called the open source development model a competitive advantage for Asterisk. "This gives Asterisk a huge advantage over closed systems -- especially when it comes to hardware compatibility. If you need a fix to make some other hardware work with Asterisk, you can jump right on it," he said.
The extensibility of Asterisk is derived in part from it ability to be extended via its API's
The VoIP bandwagon continues to gain momentum this year. Most recently, Ford
Motor company revealed that it would be migrating 50,000 employees at 110 facilities to the technology. VoIP vendor Vonage has also seen its business grow along with awareness of VoIP. It recently raised another $40 million in venture capital to help expand its VoIP operations.