[asterisk-users] anyone from Joplin, MO

[Jeffrey Thompson]

You might consider starting small, with a desktop computer that you can drop Asterisk onto it.  You may even consider using the Druid Open Source Edition (OSE) Project (which automates a large part of the Asterisk management and setup). 

And then implement a SIP-only phone system (no T1 or FXO cards required thereby reducing your cost). You can also obtain SIP only trunks for little cost which translates into low risk.  

Then you are able to work with a functional, low-cost system that gives you an opportuniy to work (play) with the system to see what its capabilities are without spending a lot of money.

Then purchase a few SIP phones, and you are ready to test SIP to SIP local calls as well as SIP to Phone Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) via the SIP service.  You can also play with the Voicemail system and setting up Voice menus, among a whole host of other features.

This approach is low risk and low cost.

Then as you progress, install a T1 card (or multi port T1 card) and take the next step to an all Asterisk solution or have Asterisk act as your Phone Gateway to your existing proprietary phone system that can be incrementally upgrade and replace with Open SIP Asterisk based system.

Jeffrey Thompson
mailto:jthompsonic at gmail.com

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Jeffrey Thompson <mailto:jthompsonic at gmail.com>
POBOX 536, Suwanee, GA, 30024
770-234-8509