Asterisk to the rescue
I’ve just recently brought out traditional phone line into the 21st Century buy introducing VOIP (Voice Over IP) into our home.
It was a big step because I wanted Kristy to feel comfortable using her new IP phone rather than her normal phone. Infact Grandstream make such a phone which acts exactly like a normal phone, but with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from an office phone.
Scott and Toby seem right at home with it too, maybe it’s there age but they’ve picked up on it really quickly. They even have their own extensions for their friends to call them. At the moment they use the single IP phone, but one day they will have their own phones. I use a software version of the phone (which runs on the computer we have here in the basement). You can have either a HARD ip phone (which is just like a normal phone, sitting on your countertop) or you can try a soft phone (software) which is a program running in Windows.
I’m just amazed by the quality of the audio and very impressed with the features and price. Price being free – thanks to the Open Source Asterisk application. A group of people have even released a full Operating System built around this Linux PBX (asterisk) which I’m using here. I give it 2 thumbs up, the only problem seems to be is that they don’t update the OS before they release a new version. So you have to update them yourself, or just stick with it. This OS can be found on Asterisk@home’s website
I still have a lot to learn about all the cool features of Asterisk, but so far I’m very impressed.
