[Asterisk-Users] Asterisk feature list: spreadsheet

[John Todd]

http://www.loligo.com/asterisk/misc/Presentations/Asterisk-features-20040106.xls

I had been asked a while ago to put together a short Excel 
spreadsheet listing many of the "common" features of Asterisk as 
compared to a typical PBX.  Many PBX vendors supply an exhaustive 
list of their features, and I figured I'd take as many of the unique 
features as others had offered, and put them together in a big list, 
and then also include some of the features that are unique to 
Asterisk.

I think this list will be of some use to persons evaluating Asterisk 
against their existing PBX platform, or other vendors of new VoIP 
systems.  Note that I took some liberties with the "standard feature" 
syntax: often, things that seemed _very_ easy for me to do with 
Asterisk's scripting features I listed as "S"tandard, even though it 
would require a few minutes of work.  Other features which seemed to 
be a little more complex, or which would require some web 
programming, I listed with estimates of how much time it would take 
to build them.  I assumed use of Cisco 7960 phones, so some of the 
features which are really deskset options I listed as "S"tandard if I 
were to use 7960 devices.  Caveat emptor for other desksets.

This is not truly a "comparison", since there are no other columns in 
the spreadsheet.  However, it's good fodder for you to whack your 
VoIP or PBX vendor on the nose with, since they typically will not be 
able to match the feature list.

Olle: feel free to add to the Wiki, since you asked for this type of list.
Anyone else: feel free to send me updates in cut/pasteable Excel form 
if you have things you'd like to add to the list.

JT