by Uttam Pegu on January 1, 2010
IP PBX is a telephone exchange which uses IP data network for telephone calls. All voice conversations are sent over IP networks as data packets. This kind of Telephone exchange offers many advanced features as well as offer completely worry free upgrade options.
Though legacy PBX are widely used in India and they likely to remain in Indian market for some time to come, but one should seriously consider having IP PBX in their office where they need to have a computer LAN installed.
Here are five reasons why one should consider :-
1. Easy install and Configuration
Since IP PBX runs as a software on PC or server class machine, it is much easier to install, configure just like any computer network. It comes with easy to use GUI(Graphics User Interface), menu driven configuration which are easy to understand and follow. Legacy PBX are programmed through various commands using a COM port. This is not always easy or user friendly .
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by Uttam Pegu on December 26, 2009
by Uttam Pegu on December 23, 2009
Auto attendant ( Automated Attendant) feature, also known as digital receptionist is smart feature in a digital PABX systems. This works like IVR system where it plays a recorded message for dialing extension number when some one calls any line connected to the trunk ports of PABX system. This feature helps call transferring to known extension without help of any human operator or receptionist.
Auto attendant feature may work in many ways. Here are the few call flow it may follow :-
1. When a call lands on the trunk lines, it will greet the caller as per time of the day. For example, if it is before non, it can greet the caller with a pleasant “Good Morning” and ask for either dialing the extension number or speak the name of person.
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by Uttam Pegu on December 21, 2009
There are many PBX models, many PBX companies who are always trying to sell their PBX machines to you. So, it might be difficult for you to choose the right PBX manufacturer for buying your right PBX system.
Most of the modern PBX manufacturer offer same kind of PBX machines with similar or almost similar features. So, as per few of parameters like number of lines, number of trunk lines, you may be able to fnalise kind of PBX machines, but you still need to decide which PBX company! While, it may be easy for corporates or people who have been associated with Telecom field, but it may not be that easy for a new customer or user of PBX.
So, deciding on a PBX company may not be easy for a new buyer. Here is one thumb rule, one should follow :-
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by Uttam Pegu on December 19, 2009
Recently, I had concluded a project of implementing a very intelligent and highly customised call center. Customosiation of the call center application mostly centered around CTI component. During that period, I came to think, believe that, choosing Asterisk PBX over legacy PABX systems is the smart choice for anyone who wants his call center to be intelligent, highly customizable with integration of many business processes as well as features.
Asterisk PBX for Call Center
I would try to list few “killer features” which Asterisk PBX offers and which are hard to implement with a legacy PABX:-
1. Killer CTI Integration
Well, Asterisk itself is a CTI application with PBX functionality! So, what does a call center do majorly ? Handles incoming calls, greets the caller, produce information on request, and transfers the call to a human agent when the caller asks for it!
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by Uttam Pegu on December 18, 2009
BSNL ( Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited), an Indian Government Enterprise, is world’s seventh largest telecommunications company, as per their website. While hosted PBX have been making huge business elsewhere in the world through many VoIP communications, advanced PBX features, BSNL provides free EPABX service to large enterprises, companies in India.
BSNL provides two kinds of PBX services to its customers in India. I think, one is truly hosted PBX service while the other is unique PBX service which woks on revenue sharing.
1. EPABX like facilities to group of existing or new BSNL customers
2. On premise legacy EPABX facilities
1. EPABX like facilities to group of existing or new BSNL customers is known as CENTREX. Here, many BSNL numbers form a group and between them, they can communicate freely with 2 or 3 digit dialing as in legacy PABX system.
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by Uttam Pegu on December 14, 2009
What is call hunting ?
Call hunting is a feature when enabled, incoming call could be programmed so that it would ring more than one number sequentially as per priority without the caller knowing about it! It is called call hunting, as the PBX systems hunt for the person to whom an extension number is assigned, by calling up different numbers stored in a group.
Hunting number should not be confused with Call hunting feature of an EPABX system. Hunting number is totally different and t can be termed as one number many lines!
Now a days, almost any modern high end PABX comes with this useful “Call Hunting” feature. Now a days, this call hunting feature has been extended in many ways mainly because of introduction of “Hosted PBX” systems which are very intelligent.
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by Uttam Pegu on December 13, 2009
So, how does one compare Asterisk and legacy PBX systems ?
Asterisk is open source, software based PBX system which have all the functionality, features that any high end legacy PABX systems offer, at fraction of the cost of those legacy PBX ( Private Branch Exchange) systems. That is a powerful statement, one might have read in many forums discussing about PABX systems, VoIP on internet. And that should have wiped out all legacy PBX by now. But it has not happened so far and I am not sure if it is ever going to happen.
Here are few points, why Asterisk may not be alternative to legacy PBX machines:-
1. Asterisk is free
Yes, Asterisk is free and now a days supported by large developer community as well as many CTI hardware manufacturers. Digium is the original Asterisk company. But, to a user, does it matter whether the technology is open source or free! It is already a private exchange, supposed to be used inside a a premise and the users avail telephony services free of cost. So, the most important factor for a private telephony system may not be the cost, but support and maintenance. Being [click to continue…]
