[Asterisk-Users] Multi-line help

[Rich Adamson]

Sean,

> Basically I guess I am thinking of the traditional key systems approach
> which is to have the CO lines appear on the phone.  The problem it
> appears with SIP (not really *) and the particular phones, is to have
> the reporting.  I guess what I was looking for was to have the buttons
> not only represent the incoming lines, but to also show their status
> (busy, hold, etc...).  

As you've already mentioned, what you've described is a key system, and
not a pbx. (There might be an open source key system out there
somewhere.)
 
> On that note, what (typically with SIP/*) are the multiple line phone
> buttons used for?  I know you have to have at least one for access to
> the asterisk system, but what is the point of the multiple
> registrations? 

Several reasons depending upon the actual requirements...

1. Small office, Customer Service appears on line 1, President on line 2.
Answering line 2 with an appropriate messages (when he's not around)
is different then answering line 1 as a Customer Service person.

2. Shared tenant service: five different businesses in the same small
complex. The receptionist has all five lines on her phone, and answers
with an appropriate message for each business when their lines are
unanswered.

3. Home-boy (no asterisk) subscribes to two different VoIP providers
with two different rate plans. Line 1 registers with provider 1, and
line 2 with provider 2. You choose which service you want based on
your knowledge of what your trying to accomplish (not necessarily
programmable if an * system was included).

4. On the Cisco 7960, I have one of the line buttons programmed as a
speed dial to a certain extn as I'm calling it often.

5. Remote intercom: place a speaker phone by the front door and
configure it for auto answer. When the doorbell rings, push one of
your preprogrammed buttons to speak to who's at the door.

6. You could probably program * to open the garage door with one of
the buttons. ;)

As Steve pointed out earlier today, there are many ways to accompish
the same function within asterisk, therefore some of the items listed
above might be done a different way. That's fine.

Rich