[Asterisk-Users] Re: asterix and phone system

[Jason Kawakami]

----- Original Message ----- 
> I am currently looking at putting together an Asterisk PBX system for my
home
> office.  One of the things I need is an expandable 2-line corded/cordless
> phone system.

ok.  so you really need a cheap system with 'key telephone' features.
remember that * is a PBX system and the real power is in the applications
that it gives you access to.
>
> If I wasn't using Asterisk, I'd be getting one of these AT&T systems with
2
> extra handsets.
>
>
http://telephones.att.com/attui/shop/product_detail.cfm?itemID=ad53fe08-495e-41b6-b390-3aaa1c84cc40

only very loosely could this be called a system.  more like 'smart' analog
phones.  Not trying to be a smartass here but you really won't tap the power
of * with the features that you require at the moment.

>
> So, the question is, what phone system can folks recommend that have the
> features of the AT&T system above, but also allow me to integrate directly
> with asterisk. Ideally the system should be easy to obtain through regular
> reseller channels (Ingram Micro etc) and be under cdn$1k, preferably a lot
> less than $1k.

Like I said before, think of * as the phone system, what you are looking for
are handsets that work with *.  if you have access to a channel like Ingram,
look into purchasing Cisco phones and using them with the SIP image (eBay is
also a fantastic source for cheaper, gray market access to Cisco phones).
Check out the WiSip from pulver (www.pulverinnovations.com) for cordless
UA's.  You can use a VoIP provider like Vonage, Broadvoice, et al or stick
with your PSTN connectivity with some Digium cards (www.digium.com) or do
some combination of both.  There is also a section on the wiki
(www.voip-info.org/wiki-asterisk) that outlines phones for use with *.

>
> Note, I also want to be thinking down the road about being able to
integrate
> all this with a setup like the Starnix guys put together as reported in
the
> Cringley column
>
> http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20040930.html

great article.  there was another one a few months ago highlighting the wrtg
units (http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20040527.html) that is along
the same lines.  Real new world order stuff.

If you really want to use * next to a system like the ATT phones that you
have shown above then you may really miss the incredible power of *.  Dig a
little more into the wiki and other sources so you can really experience the
'new world order'

Jason Kawakami
www.optellabs.com