[Asterisk-Users] Receptionist Phones

[Olivier Krief]

2006/3/29, John Novack <jnovack at stromberg-carlson.org>:
>
> The reality is, of course, that telephone systems have provided this
> function for many years. A DSS/BLF is available on MANY so called legacy
> systems, so until this function is readily available , customers that
> require a receptionist will continue to go elsewhere.
> Perhaps it is time to rethink the way data is exchanged between the CPU
> and the DSS/BLF?
> As someone said a very long time ago:
> Results, not excuses.
>
>
>
With user count growing, I think receptionist could evolve from hardware to
hardware-software combination the same as receptionist job changes from
assisting call transfers (check if someone is available before transfer) to
blind call transfering (forward anyway and take the call back if nobody
answers).

If my understanding is correct, in the later case, a receptionist doesn't
really need BLF : he or she simply forward the call.
He or she mainly needs a directory application helping him or her to find
the right person within the organisation. And I don't think anyone could
have the patience to harphone BLF labels every 2 weeks to keep up large site
permanent user moves, adds and changes.

So the perfect receptionist application hardware-software combination should
include a mix between directory application and softphone, and provide
comfortable hardware to support these.

My opinion is I don't think market trends are at works now to make this
perfect combination happen anytime soon :
- from my point of view, it could take years to gather inputs from
receptionist around the world to provide them an effective software-hardware
combination.
- no one around the world really targets receptionist tools market (is it a
market ?) : some companies sell headphones or hardphones but receptionnist
account for such a tiny part of sales that these companies cannot really
hear receptionists demands and design specific products.
- even if someone ever decide to focus on this, it would be difficult for
someone to convince companies to improve receptionist tools once
receptionist are trained and used.

Maybe, a standard PC+headphone + a couple of software would be the best way
to go ?
Even on that, obstacles remain such as :
- how do you monitor legacy PBX users along Asterisk users ?
- how do you monitor a distant Asterisk server whitout any Data link between
both locations ?

Regards
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