[Asterisk-Users] [Q] DIDs

[Chris Shaw]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Roderick A. Anderson" <raa at mailporter.net>
To: <asterisk-users at lists.digium.com>
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2004 3:18 PM
Subject: [Asterisk-Users] [Q] DIDs


> Well I suspect this list will pick up quite a bit since the article in
> Linux Magazine.  So I'll try to get my questions in early.
>
> I looked at Asterisk about a year ago but the TPTB wanted a prebuilt
> solution (at that time) and I couldn't find anyone local enough to
> satisfiy them.  We still don't have a new phone system because no one
> offered a good solution at a reasonable price.  I brought my Linux
> Magazine in to the office yesterday and mentioned the article.  Guess
> what?  Yup, now it sounds like a good deal even if we do it ourselves.
>
> Three questions came up and I didn't find them in the FAQs though a
> couple of the linked to sites got close but still no cigar.
>
> 1. Does the software/(or cards?) support DIDs; as in the called number
> is reported verses the line/extension the called number is
> pointed-to/cones-in-on? (Be gentle I'm not all the phone savvy.)
>
> 2. And has anyone used NORSTAR phones with Asterisk?  As in plugged them
> in and they work similar to the way they work with a NORTEL system?  On
> a multi-line phone the LCD shows the extension that the call is for.
>
> 3. Company segregation.  Currently we're running two companies off one
> NORTEL system with each providing different levels of service to their
> customers.  Well every so often the less-er company will have a customer
> that gets punch happy and gets an extension that is not listed for that
> company and get someone from the other company.  Not too good.
>
> All pointers, answers (or good jokes) appreciated,
>
>
> TIA,
> Rod

Answers to your questions:

1) Yes, what you're describing is called DNIS (Dialed Number Identification
Service) it shows the phone number that a person DIALED to reach you... (Not
THEIR phone number like caller id). This information can be used in an *
dialplan to route calls based on the called number... This is not the only
way to route calls however... You need a digital line like a PRI or a T1 to
receive this information I believe, I don't think it comes through on
regular POTS lines... I could be wrong...

2) Most likely No, these are special digital phones and speak the
proprietary Nortel language... They would require Nortel hardware to make
them work... I may be wrong, I'm not familiar with NorStar phones, however
from what you describe no, they will probably never work with an All-*
system... However there are ways to integrate * into your Nortel system and
make it like a tandem or hand-off system.

If you reeeeealy want analog phones, checkout www.sayson.com. Their ADSI
screenphones work very well with * and look a lot more like a PBX phone...
They're very flexible and programmable. Although if it were me and I was
going to get all new phones, I would go with IP phones and forget analog
alltogether...

3) Yes! Asterisk can do this easily! (read: contexts) Your phone system can
probably do it too, by using different extension series for the 2
companies.. I've done it here with an old Merlin Legend, I simply set
company 1 as 100-series extensions and company 2 as 200-series extensions.
That way in the IVR menu for company 1, the dial string is restricted to 1XX
and in company 2 the dial string is restricted to 2XX. Using "Selector Code
Transfer" in Avaya-Speak... I don't know what the equivalent Nortel function
would be...

A lot of useful information can be found on these sites:
www.voip-info.org
www.asteriskdocs.org

 -Chris