| Asterisk phone systems are an excellent, fully | | | | Asterisk phone systems allow every extension to |
| integrated VOIP PBX solution for businesses of all | | | | have its own voicemail box. These voicemail |
| sizes. The set up eliminates the tremendous cost | | | | boxes are connected to the employee's email |
| of setting up a traditional PBX system. This high | | | | accounts, so no one will ever miss a message |
| cost often eliminates the possibility of using PBX | | | | again. |
| for small businesses, but with Asterisk, even the | | | | If you should ever have a problem with your |
| smallest business can have all of the benefits of | | | | Asterisk system, you can easily get help directly |
| PBX in their office without spending money they | | | | from Digium. They have friendly Asterisk |
| do not have. | | | | consulting professionals that will help you get the |
| What Is Asterisk? | | | | system up and running as quickly as possible. You |
| Asterisk is an open source software PBX that | | | | can call to ask questions about bugs that you find, |
| can be used by businesses and individuals alike. It | | | | and they are happy to help, as this type of |
| is designed to run on Linux, but it can run on | | | | feedback helps them improve the software for |
| other platforms as well, including Windows. | | | | future users. |
| Asterisk was developed by Digium, Inc., who also | | | | Asterisk supports a variety of VOIP protocols. |
| sells the hardware necessary to set up Asterisk | | | | Among the protocols it accepts are MGCP, H.323, |
| phone systems. Compared to other PBX options, | | | | and SIP. The program can connect IP phones to |
| Asterisk is incredibly affordable and has many | | | | the traditional phone line easily. This flexibility |
| features that are hard to find elsewhere. | | | | makes the system easy to integrate into |
| Benefits of Asterisk in the Office | | | | established businesses. |
| Besides the fact that it costs thousands of dollars | | | | If needed, Asterisk phone systems can interface |
| less than a traditional PBX system, Asterisk | | | | with traditional telephone lines. The product comes |
| provides its users with numerous other benefits. | | | | with several high-end features, such as voice |
| Since Asterisk phone systems are VOIP PBX | | | | recognition system integration, call data record, |
| systems, they use broadband connections to | | | | and text-to-speech system integration. All of |
| connect the telephone network to the traditional | | | | these features make it one of the best PBX |
| global telephony network. Calls can still be made | | | | products available. |
| and received in the same manner that they are | | | | Benefits of Asterisk for Customers |
| with a traditional PBX system. Additionally, | | | | Your employees are not the only ones who |
| because the connection is made through the | | | | benefit from Asterisk phone systems Toronto. |
| Internet and not the phone line, employees that | | | | Your customers will benefit as well, both directly |
| work remotely can be connected directly to the | | | | and indirectly, when you implement this system. It |
| office PBX through their Internet connections. | | | | has features that are found in the most |
| When someone calls your office and chooses | | | | expensive products on the market, such as |
| extension 10, that extension could actually be | | | | on-hold music that supports both MP3 and |
| your home-based worker, and the customer | | | | streaming media. Customers will have shorter wait |
| would be none the wiser. | | | | times because the call queues allow agents to |
| For large businesses that have locations in several | | | | monitor the queue while they take the incoming |
| geographical areas, using asterisk will allow the | | | | calls, so they can shorten the calls if needed. |
| various offices to connect over the network. This | | | | Asterisk phone systems offer the best of both |
| can eliminate much of the expense of conference | | | | worlds to their users. They provide a plethora of |
| calls a company spread over several states | | | | features to the business at a fraction of the cost |
| usually faces. Additionally, employees who must | | | | of their traditional competition. There are other |
| travel frequently can stay connected to the office | | | | VOIP PBX options out there, but Asterisk is the |
| PBX system as long as they have an Internet | | | | oldest and most well established, making it the |
| connection. | | | | preferred choice among many business owners. |