[Asterisk-Users] app_transfer

[Mark Spencer]

I've added an important new application: app_transfer.  This application
is designed to allow Asterisk to request the transfer of an incoming call
to a different extension.  Consider the following diagram:

Caller -> [ PBX1 ] -> SIP or IAX2 -> [PBX2] -> Transfer App

A caller calls an extension on PBX1 which forwards to PBX2.  PBX2 executes
app_transfer, which requests that hte Caller be transferred to a different
extension on PBX1, as though PBX2 had been a phone and issued a blind
transfer request.  This application has two very practical applications
which made it imperative to implement immediately.  Consider:

PSTN -> [ * PSTN server ] -> IAX2 -> [ * Voicemail Server ]

Imagine a caller calling from the PSTN goes through an Asterisk server
which is acting as a gateway/switch, and is then transferred to another
Asterisk server running a voicemail application.  Should the user press
"0" for operator, app_transfer can allow the voicemail server to simply
request that the caller be redirected to "0" back on the gateway, rather
than having to build its own set of rules for operators.

exten => 0,1,Transfer(0)

PSTN -> [ SIP Soft Switch ] -> SIP -> [ * Auto-attendant ]

Imagine a caller calling in from the PSTN goes to some random Soft Switch,
which then forwards the call to Asterisk to present an auto attendant.
The user then navigates a menu and, upon reaching the right category,
Asterisk simply transfers them to the proper extension on the *soft
switch*, thus eliminating the need for making a special call:

exten => s,1,Background(menuintro) ; 1 for sales, 2 for support
exten => 1,1,Transfer(4000)	; Greg gets sales
exten => 2,1,Transfer(4001)	; Martin gets support

Anyway these features are very new and only tested under IAX2 so I'd be
interested in getting feedback from other people on the list.

Mark