[Asterisk-biz] asterisk as outbound dialer only

[Steve Kann]

Jeff Johnson wrote:

> I am pursuing using Asterisk as a tool to queue up phone calls to 
> businesses to verify if a number is working, disconnected, a fax, etc. 
> This would be done strictly as an automated, unmanned operation with 
> results stored in a database. The application would search our 
> database for phone numbers to verify, place the call, and would 
> determine whether the number is working and flag the database 
> accordingly. Ideally, it would tell the difference between an 
> answering machine and a human. If an answering machine is reached, it 
> may just hang up and log the status as a working number that had an 
> answering machine. Can Asterisk do this?
>
> If a human answers we may either play a polite 'sorry wrong number' 
> message or ask that they verify certain information (i.e., press 1 to 
> confirm that your business name is 'ABC Company').
>
> So, my questions are:
> - Is Asterisk a recommended application for:
>   - scheduling automated phone calls to thousands/millions (?) of numbers
>   - determining and flagging the status of a given phone number (i.e., 
> whether it is active, disconnected, a fax, etc.)
> - Can it tell the difference between a live human answering and an 
> answering machine/voicemail
> - What is the range of bandwidth that it will take up? (Assume a 
> 10-second call once connected).
> - Is there a limit to the number of simultaneous calls that can take 
> place? We would be doing the verification from a co-location that has 
> virtually unlimited up/download.
>
> We will keep a log of businesses that want to opt out (i.e., press 2 
> to remove your phone number from further verification efforts) to 
> avoid any legal troubles.
>
> Any input you have on any of these topics would be well received.
>
> Also, if anyone has a track record as a proven consultant and wishes 
> to bid on programming for this project, we can put together details 
> and discuss.
>
> We don't need most of the bells and whistles that asterisk comes with 
> (i.e., call forwarding, dial by name, incoming calls), so many of the 
> features would be unused.


Umm, can I opt-out now?

My telephone numbers are +1 NXX XXX XXXX (where N includes 2-9, and X 
includes 0-9).

-SteveK