[Asterisk-Users] SIP "agent" phone w/ headset

[Michiel van Baak]

On 16:01, Tue 16 Aug 05, Colin Stefani wrote:
> I have a call center where we're looking at converting it from a
> traditional PBX w/ digital phone "agent" sets (keyless phones) that have
> headsets to a SIP based environment.
> 
> I am having trouble finding anything on the market that resembles this
> in the VoIP world.
> 
> For reference, we're currently using Inter-Tel Agent Sets, which are
> basically a digital phone with out any keypad, buttons or handset, just
> a line input and a headset jack. I need the equivalent.
> 
> I know the first thing you think is why don't you use the agent's PC as
> the VoIP client and do a softphone, however I need to protect the caller
> from getting cut off should the PC crash/die/etc. While paranoid it's
> something where a regular endpoint like an ATA or SIP phone would be the
> best option.

SIP phones and ATA's can die too.
* can die too
heck even your power can go down (hurricane, terrorist
attack, etc, etc)

A properly configured pc with a softfone can be as stable as
a normal phone, it all depends what the users are doing with
it (I have had bad experience with pc's where users can
install their own stuff etc).
I have a workstation with an uptime of over 500 days. This
email was written on it.

The problem will be the 'without keyped, buttons or
handset'. I'm not aware of a SIP device that has only a line
button and a headset and nothing else.
Judging on the setup you outlined, the agents are not able
to transfer the call to admin/other_user/parking_slot. They
are only able to receive calls, and that's all.

If so, you can create them as 'user' only in sip.conf
That way they are only able to receive calls, but not make
calls. The interface to * is something you choose.
Of course phones/ATA's are less error-sensitive as pc's,
cause you can configure them. Just make sure noone can guess
the username/password for the ATA/phone config interface.

Hope this helps,
-- 
Michiel van Baak
http://michiel.vanbaak.info
michiel at vanbaak.info
GnuPG key: http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x7E0B9A2D

"Why is it drug addicts and computer afficionados are both called users?"