[Asterisk-Users] Re: passing through MWI info from SBC

[Jay Milk]

I'm using $5 surplussed AT&T Message Waiting Lights, which I modified to
show different colors.  It's a "works-for-me" solution, of course.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Myers [mailto:mikesm559 at yahoo.com] 
> Subject: [Asterisk-Users] Re: passing through MWI info from SBC
> 
> find a way to communicate the message waiting signal
> in  Asterisk.  It's a show stopper in my house.  
> 
> I am surprised that noone has run into this issue
> before.

I just *had* to respond to that, as I don't think it's quite so
surprising.  I'll probably get bashed for making sweeping
generalizations, but I doubt that telco voice-mail (and related MWI) are
very commonplace in a business environment.  So, that probably knocks
out half the asterisk installations out there.  

Of the other half, I'd propose that a majority chose asterisk partly
because of its excellent voice-mail features.  I personally find telco
(and cellular) voice-mail to be a PITA, and configured my * server to
never show a busy signal.  If all "lines" are busy, it'll go to my
*-based voicemail.  Even cellular calls are forwarded to *, rather than
T-Mobile's voicemail system.  

All that to say that in my estimation, you may be one of only a handful
of * users who actually are interested in detecting MWI on CO lines.

With DIDs costing virtually nothing (compared to land lines) these days,
consider getting an extra one for "silent" calls.  You could even set up
voicemail boxes for your relatives on your * system and allow them to
check remotely.  Or give ATAs to those of your relatives who are
broadband-savvy...