[Asterisk-Users] Is Asterisk for me?

[Steven Critchfield]

On Fri, 2003-03-14 at 14:14, Zach Mesel wrote:
> Hi there.
> 
> My wife and I run a small business out of our home.  We have 2 phone
> lines, and don't currently need any additional extensions.  What I and
> am in great need of is a voicemail system with the following
> functionality:
> 
> - When we don't pick up one of our regular phones, the system
>   should play a greeting for callers, then allow them to either:
>   - leave a message without selecting an mailbox number (or by
>     pressing #)
>   - select an extension (really just a mailbox, since I don't think
>     we'd use any extension phones), whereupon:
>     - the user may press 1 to locate the mailbox owner, whereupon 
>       the system then dials out to a cell phone using the 3-way 
>       calling feature of the telco line.
>     - the user may press 2 or stay on the line to leave a message
> 
> I have read the * doc and faqs, and I think I can accomplish all of this
> functionality using 2 Wildcard X100P cards w/ * on my P4 2.4GHz box with
> RedHat 8.0.
> 
> Of my desired functionality, is there anything that * won't be able to
> deliver?  Is there anything which will be extremely complex to setup,
> given that I am (or would like to think I am) a competent Linux SysAdmin
> and fair-to-midland programmer?

Although you could do this, you would probably be better served by
having asterisk sit between you and the phone lines. When the new 4 port
card comes out, it should fill your needs well. You can have your 2
lines coming in, and 2 extensions. This way asterisk will answer the
line regardless, then try and ring an internal line. 

Trying to get asterisk to work basically in answering machine mode is
possible, and I believe there is more than one person here doing it. 

I do not believe asterisk is currently able to initiate a 3way call to
the outside on the same telephone line. Being as it is a pbx, it is
designed to offer 3 way calling internally.  
-- 
Steven Critchfield  <critch at basesys.com>