VoIP Asterisk Resources

All the leading Asterisk resources for hardware, software, news and advice.

Asterisk is the leading software engine for creating a business IP PBX, VoIP gateway, or other communications system. Asterisk is free and open source, with many official and unofficial Asterisk resources available on the Internet.

VoIP Asterisk Resources Listing

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MobiVox

MOBIVOX brings new, cool and useful voice related applications to
the cell phone. As a mobile ASP (Application Service Provider), it
bridges the gap between mobile phones, VoIP and Voice over Instant
Messaging (VoIM) and effectively connects the mobile, PC, or home phone
to any network. MOBIVOX brings the best of VoIP to mobile handset users
around the world, allowing everyone to enjoy real savings through
leveraging efficiencies possible with VoIP technology. Since a mobile
experience is more than just a function of a handset, MOBIVOX hosted
services will also transform, upgrade and re-invent the experience
regardless of handset model. MOBIVOX hosted mobile applications are
designed to address important limitations of consumer mobile services
thereby enhancing people's mobile lifestyle.
This product uses the Skypeâ„¢ API but is not endorsed, certified or otherwise approved in any way by Skypeâ„¢.

My Global Talk

MyGlobalTalk places Internet telephony in the hands of every cell phone user independent of wireless carrier technology, handset manufacturer, or the type of wireless carrier voice/data plan involved. In addition, MyGlobalTalk is fully functional without local access to the Internet or proximity to an Internet hotspot. Users also need not wait for the availability of a dual-mode WiFi phone because MyGlobalTalk provides the benefits of a dual-mode phone at a fraction of the cost using the customers existing mobile handset.

Nimbuzz

Chat on your mobile with Nimbuzz, MSN / Live Messenger and GTalk buddies. For Free.

Rebtel

Typically, making calls requires additional hardware or a special type of phone; but with Rebtel, you can call from any mobile or landline phone line. Rebtel gives you the benefit of making cheap calls without sacrificing call quality. Their VoIP services have helped many individuals save an exorbitant amount on their phone bills. Try Rebtel today for easy calling access! Signing up is simple, and their apps work across iPhone, Android, and Windows devices. And best of all, your first call is free; that way you can try the service without having to blindly pay for it.

Revos

Get ReVoS Mobile and avoid your current high-cost cell phone charges.
Our plans utilize local calling numbers that you can speed-dial, to
place calls quickly and trouble-free. ReVoS Mobile enables you to make
international calls from your cellular phone, while using your local
calling minutes.

Symmy

Symmy is a global communication service via GPRS/3G on your mobile phone
It is completely free application which can be used any time any where all over the world on your mobile phone.

Talkonaut

Talkonaut is a Google Talk[tm] like application for your mobile phone. It can be used with any Jabber account, including Google Talk. And that is all for FREE.

Talkster

Talkster is the only service that lets you talk to your Instant Messenger buddies on MSN, Google Talk and Gizmo Project – without the need for any software on your phone or PC, special devices, networks or data plans from your carrier.

Tokiva

Tokiva Mobile is a powerful J2ME application that you install on your
phone that simplifies making long distance calls. It allows you to keep
an address book, call history, and purchase additional credits directly
through your phone without using expensive data or have to wait for
pages to reload.Once you register with them you will receive free
50 Tokiva credits, which typically covers 15 minutes calling time. If
you want more talk time just invite more friends to join. For each
people signup under your name you will get 15 free Tokiva credits.

Truphone

Truphone - internet calls from your mobile phone. With your Nokia E60 or E61 Wi-Fi enabled mobile phone, you can have easy, cheap and sometimes free calls to any phone in the world

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Asterisk is Linux-based software for creating an easily manageable and feature-rich business communication system. Asterisk includes all the drivers, protocol converters, scripts, codecs, and more needed to perform functions that range from routing and call handling to call recording and generating call detail records.

Asterisk VoIP software is open source and free, with many configuration options, features, and modules. An Asterisk VoIP solution is preferred by businesses — small and large — who want a robust and customizable IP PBX system to handle their business telephony traffic.

Who Uses Asterisk VoIP?

Asterisk is a framework for building a communications network, which can include conference servers as well as the basic PBX system Asterisk was originally designed to support. Asterisk uses the most common protocol — session initiated protocol (SIP) — and is built on one of the most stable and advanced operating systems (Linux). This makes Asterisk a reliable and extendable VoIP solution for businesses of all types.

Some of the business and organizations using Asterisk include:

  • Small and medium businesses
  • Carriers (CLECs, ILECs, and wholesalers)
  • ITSPs, ISPs, and VoIP providers
  • Government agencies
  • Large corporations
  • Call centers
  • Call shops
How Can Asterisk Be Used?

Asterisk is powerful, flexible, and stable. Asterisk was named for the * character in Linux, which is a wildcard character. Like its namesake, Asterisk is capable of performing many different functions — singularly or combined. Some of the functionalities of Asterisk VoIP software are:

  • VoIP gateway
  • IP PBX
  • Skype gateway
  • Call center automatic call distributor (ACD)
  • Conference bridge
  • IVR server
  • Voicemail system
  • Fax server
  • Speech server
  • Call recorder
  • Unified messaging

Asterisk resources such as whitepapers, videos, and forums can be found at asterisk.org, where the software can also be downloaded. As an open source platform, additional resources for Asterisk VoIP software — such as tutorials for integration with OpenSIPS or software for reporting — can be found all over the Internet. Looking for Asterisk software, hardware, tips, tutorials, or forums? We can help — check our Asterisk resources directory.

Installing an Asterisk VoIP PBX System

Building an Asterisk VoIP PBX is relatively simple from an installation standpoint, as long as you are familiar with Linux and comfortable using the command line interface (CLI). Binary installations using Yum on CentOS or RedHat makes Asterisk easier to maintain, according to the software's developers. There are many Asterisk resources offering installation instructions, including the Asterisk website as well as numerous unofficial how-tos.

Once the Asterisk software is set up, additional software — a graphical user interface (GUI), or front-end — is needed to interface with the Asterisk VoIP system to manage and configure standard features such as music-on-hold and voicemail. There are a number of Asterisk GUIs available, such as Mini Asterisk or GEOTEK Phonebook. You can find Asterisk GUIs in our Asterisk resources directory below, and a complete list of Asterisk GUIs at VoIP-Info.org.

However, that might not be the most stress-free process for many. Thankfully, there are also many software packages out there called distros that roll up the open source Asterisk VoIP PBX software and the GUI with additional components and an easy-install executable. AsteriskNOW is the distro offered by Asterisk, which does the heavy lifting by installing Linux, Asterisk, and the GUI as an ISO image, simply and easily. Some of the more popular distros for Asterisk VoIP service include:

  • AsteriskNOW
  • Elastix
  • PBX in a Flash
  • Trixbox
  • FreePBX
  • Switchvox

You'll find Asterisk resources like distros for setup, configuring, and customizing the PBX software in our Asterisk resources directory.

Using an Asterisk Appliance

One of the easier ways to install the Asterisk VoIP system is to use an Asterisk appliance. Asterisk appliances are small standalone servers and complete PBX solutions for small and medium businesses (SMBs).

Asterisk appliances come fully loaded with custom compiled Linux configurations, FXO and FXS ports, and a front-end (or GUI) to manage and configure Asterisk's features. Some well-known Asterisk appliances are:

  • Asterisk Appliance
  • Rhino Ceros Appliance
  • WARP Appliance
  • PhoneBochs MiniVoIP Appliance

Some developers of Asterisk distros also produce Asterisk appliances, so you can find a simple, comprehensive solution to Linux and Asterisk installation issues, the need for a dedicated machine, and the need for a GUI to manage the Asterisk software all in one compact package. Digium's Switchvox and AsteriskNOW as well as Trixbox are just a few of the distros that also come preloaded on Asterisk appliances.

You'll find more Asterisk appliances, GUIs, and other software in our VoIP Asterisk resources directory.

Choosing an Asterisk Appliance

When considering an Asterisk appliance, it's best to weigh a few factors carefully before making a final choice. Even though Asterisk is open source, a Digium Asterisk appliance — Switchvox — offers certain advantages in that it's fully supported and will upgrade at pace with Asterisk. Relying on community maintenance for independent Asterisk appliances can be a more complicated and even risky process.

Things to consider when evaluating an independent Asterisk appliance:

  • Upgrades
  • Extendability and portability
  • Installation
  • Compatibility with other programs/interfaces
  • Adequate support
  • Statistical aggregation ('phoning home' with usage data)

You can find these and more Asterisk appliances in our VoIP Asterisk resources directory, as well as links to tips, reference material, and hardware options.

Asterisk Resources: Getting Help

The official Asterisk site offers a forum, instructional videos, documentation and more. However, there are also plenty of other Asterisk resources available as well, including forums and installation help at AsteriskGuru and courses and certifications at Digium.

There are also sites featuring extensive documentation, such as the online O'Reilly guide to Asterisk, and sites with how-to vodcasts. Local Asterisk user groups are another online Asterisk resource, as are sites with news about Asterisk developments, updates, and releases. You can find links to these online Asterisk resources and more in our directory.

Asterisk Software

Because Asterisk is open source software, many companies and independent developers offer modules and add-ons for additional PBX features and functions — especially for industry-specific functions relating to call centers or VoIP providers. For instance, software for call center stats, call recording, autodialers, or conference management, as well as channel drivers, scripts, and other tools are all available through third-party agents.

Information about these and other Asterisk resources can be found in our directory.

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