What is Asterisk?

Asterisk turns an ordinary computer into a communications server. Asterisk powers IP PBX systems, VoIP gateways, conference servers, IVR Systems, VoiceMail Servers and Call Centers. It is used by small businesses, large businesses, call centers, carriers and governments worldwide.

Where does it fit?

Asterisk is an enabling technology tailored for a variety of vertical markets. Asterisk solves a wide range of challenges, from common PBX and key system replacements to highly-specialized VOIP enabled applications.

Asterisk is a complete telecommunications platform and represents a highly valuable piece of software for a number of reasons:

• extreme cost reduction combined with low-cost Linux® telephony hardware, Asterisk can be used to create a PBX at a fraction of the price of traditional PBX and key systems, while providing a level of functionality exceeding that of many of the most expensive systems available.
• control of your phone system. Once a call is in a Linux® box with Asterisk, anything can be done to it. In the same way that Apache gives the user fine-grained control over virtually every aspect of its operation (and its Open Source nature gives even more flexibility), the same applies to Asterisk.
• rapid deployment and development of your PBX and IVR applications. Its powerful CLI and text configuration files allow both rapid configuration and real-time diagnostics.
• rich broad feature base provides features such as voicemail, voice menus, IVR and conferencing which are very expensive for proprietary systems, and also allows new features to be added rapidly and with minimal effort.

See figure A-1 for a typical Asterisk PBX implementation.

Figure A-1

As can be seen in Figure A-1 the asterisk can virtually be connection to any communication end-point and it also supports almost all of the famous VOIP end-point protocols like skinny which is used by Cisco IP-Phones. Following is a schemeta of a possible Asterisk based communication platform.

Figure A-1

 

Asterisk As A PBX

Asterisk can be configured as the core of an IP or hybrid PBX, switching calls, managing routes, enabling features, and connecting callers with the outside world over IP, analog (POTS), and digital (T1/E1) connections.

Asterisk provides all of the features you would expect from a PBX including many advanced features that are often associated with high end (and high cost) proprietary PBXs. Asterisk's architecture is designed for maximum flexibility and supports Voice over IP in many protocols, and can interoperate with almost all standards-based telephony equipment using relatively inexpensive hardware.

Asterisk As A Gateway

It can also be built out as the heart of a media gateway, bridging the legacy PSTN to the expanding world of IP telephony. Asterisk’s modular architecture allows it to convert between a wide range of communications protocols and media codecs. Asterisk as a feature/media server.

Need an IVR? Asterisk’s got you covered. How about a conference bridge? Yep. It’s in there. What about an automated attendant? Asterisk does that too. How about a replacement for your aging legacy voicemail system? Can do. Unified messaging? No problem. Need a telephony interface for your web site? Ok.

Asterisk In The Call Center

Asterisk has been adopted by call centers around the world based on its flexibility. Call center and contact center developers have built complete ACD systems based on Asterisk. Asterisk has also added new life to existing call center solutions by adding remote IP agent capabilities, advanced skills-based routing, predictive and bulk dialing, and more.

Asterisk In The Public Network

Internet Telephony Service Providers (ITSPs), competitive local exchange carriers (CLECS) and even first-tier incumbents have discovered the power of open source communications with Asterisk. Feature servers, hosted services clusters, voicemail systems, pre-paid calling solutions, all based on Asterisk have helped reduce costs and enabled flexibility.

Asterisk Everywhere

Asterisk has become the basis for thousands of communications solutions. If you need to communicate, Asterisk is your answer.

Call Features

Following is typical call features supported by Asterisk.

• ADSI On-Screen Menu System
• Alarm Receiver
• Append Message
• Authentication
• Automated Attendant
• Blacklists
• Blind Transfer
• Call Detail Records
• Call Forward on Busy
• Call Forward on No Answer
• Call Forward Variable
• Call Monitoring
• Call Parking
• Call Queuing
• Call Recording
• Call Retrieval
• Call Routing (DID & ANI)
• Call Snooping
• Call Transfer
• Call Waiting
• Caller ID
• Caller ID Blocking
• Caller ID on Call Waiting
• Calling Cards
• Conference Bridging
• Database Store / Retrieve
• Database Integration
• Dial by Name
• Direct Inward System Access
• Distinctive Ring
• Distributed Universal Number Discovery (DUNDi™)
• Do Not Disturb
• E911
• ENUM
• Fax Transmit and Receive (3rd Party OSS Package)
• Flexible Extension Logic
• Interactive Directory Listing
• Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
• Local and Remote Call Agents
• Macros
• Music On Hold
  • Flexible Mp3-based System
  • Random or Linear Play
  • Volume Control
• Predictive Dialer
• Privacy
• Open Settlement Protocol (OSP)
• Overhead Paging
• Protocol Conversion
• Remote Call Pickup
• Remote Office Support
• Roaming Extensions
• Route by Caller ID
• SMS Messaging
• Spell / Say
• Streaming Media Access
• Supervised Transfer
• Talk Detection
• Text-to-Speech (via Festival)
• Three-way Calling
• Time and Date
• Transcoding
• Trunking
• VoIP Gateways
• Voicemail
  • Visual Indicator for Message Waiting
  • Stutter Dialtone for Message Waiting
  • Voicemail to email
  • Voicemail Groups
  • Web Voicemail Interface
• Zapateller

 

If you need PBX system for your new office and want next generation telephony system tightely integrated with your business applications like CRM or ERP; Asterisk is the right answer; Don't waste your time and money on legacy PBX system. Experience the next generation of communication system. Contact Us for free product demonstration session.