Samir, Strictly speaking a VOIP gateway it isn't a requirement. An IP gateway allows you to connect to the regular telephone network (PSTN) by sending a call over the internet to another server which makes the connection to the PSTN. This means that you're not tying up a phone line at your end. For instance, if I'm dialing a long distance call from home, I send it out my asterisk server to Unlimitel and they put the call onto the PSTN for me at a cheaper rate than if I were to use my own Bell line at home.
Asterisk can perform many roles. It can be a client much like a Vonage home adapter thingy. It can be a gateway, connecting traffic between two networks like Unlimitel connects a VOIP network to the PSTN. It can be a server, like an IVR providing voice services like account inquired, voicemail etc. One thing you should consider is that the first few seconds of a VOIP call are sometimes a bit dicey with echo, delay and jitter while the two ends get synced up with each other. VOIP may not be the most reliable solution for your specific application. A direct connection to the PSTN using a Digium card would be more reliable and simple, in my opinion. Just a tip, you've bitten off a fairly complex topic if you have no background in telephony. It's not impossible by any means but you need to consider that the method you use to make the call affects the way you'll detect the outcome (busy, answer etc) and the reliability of that detection. Good Luck, Dave BTW, I've moved this discussion back into the mailing list so that other people can benefit. On 1/12/06, Samirkumar Patel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi Dave, > Is it must for any asterisk server to have a voip gateway connected ? > Cann't asterisk work as a voip gateway and directly connect to the destination > anywhere in the world ? > > I tried the following link for the asterisk server installation and it is > telling me to buy gateway service from voiceplus. > > http://voip-info.org/wiki/view/Asterisk+Step-by-step+Installation > > Thaking you for your support. > > Cheers, > Samir. > > > Quoting Dave Donovan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > > Samir, > > > > I'm afraid you're going to have to do some research. To check the > > digium lists, I think you can go to lists.digium.com. Searching on > > voip-info.org will probably get you the list of other software that > > does call centre. > > > > You're unlikely to find someone willing to give you the whole answer > > all neatly prepared. Particularly with open-source, you have to be > > prepared to roll up your sleeves and figure it out. That's how the > > rest of us did it. > > > > Best of luck, > > Dave > > > > On 1/11/06, Samirkumar Patel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > >> Hey Dave, > >> > >> Thanks for your very fruitful information. I am sure this will solve my > >> problem. > >> It would be great if you can provide me more information about the > >> solution of > >> my problme mentioned below. > >> In your last E-mail you mentioned about the several other software > >> which works > >> like VICIDial. > >> Can you please mention names of those ? > >> What about digium list ? > >> > >> Thanks a lot for your information about the VICIDial. > >> > >> Cheers, > >> Samir. > >> > >> Quoting Dave Donovan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > >> > >> > Samir, > >> > > >> > The features you're looking at are included various call centre > >> > packages. The ability to dial a list of numbers and discern live > >> > voice from voicemail from other signals is a core component of many > >> > systems. There are open source systems, VICIDial comes to mind but I > >> > know there are several others. > >> > > >> > In short, you can certainly do what you're proposing. Detecting voice > >> > vs voicemail isn't a trivial thing though. I think that there are > >> > several algorithms included in the code and you can turn different > >> > ones on at compile time. > >> > > >> > So, you can look at existing solutions or build your own using just > >> > about any language you want. > >> > > >> > You should look at voip-info.org for all kinds of information on these > >> > things. Also, search the Digium lists. There are years of > >> > accumulated expert knowledge in these places and it's all searchable. > >> > > >> > Good Luck, > >> > Dave > >> > > >> > On 1/10/06, Samirkumar Patel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> >> > >> >> Hello folks, > >> >> > >> >> My project has been diverted to different direction, as suggested by > >> >> my prof. > >> >> > >> >> Now, the new requirement is like this: > >> >> > >> >> Our system needs to dial 4 phone numbers in parallel and record the > >> >> result of > >> >> the calls. It needs to be able to detect whether a call status is > >> >> busy, voice > >> >> mail, no answer, or live answer. This result would be stored in a > >> database > >> >> along with the timestamp of the call. > >> >> > >> >> Our system will be required to place 150 calls in succession and > >> record the > >> >> results, that are it will dial the 4 phone numbers in parallel, > >> record the > >> >> results, dial the 4 phone numbers again, record the results etc. > >> up to 150 > >> >> times. > >> >> > >> >> Is there any third party utility which can satisfy my above > >> >> requirement ? what > >> >> about "Asterisk dial plan compiler " ? > >> >> What would be the favorable environment to achieve about task ? > >> >> > >> >> Cheers, > >> >> Samir. > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> Quoting Philip Mullis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > >> >> > >> >> > what are you talking about? asterisk can support as many lines as > >> >> > your machine can handle :) > >> >> > > >> >> > > >> >> > Samirkumar Patel wrote: > >> >> > > >> >> >> > >> >> >> Hey Philip, > >> >> >> Thanks a lot for your information and I will keep you updated about > >> >> >> my progress > >> >> >> for sure. :) > >> >> >> I have gone through the [EMAIL PROTECTED] and got information that it > >> >> >> can support up > >> >> >> to 20 incoming and outgoing lines at a time. I hope by using php > >> >> and mysql i > >> >> >> can make it upto unlimited. I also want to confirm that this > >> home (small > >> >> >> office) adition has almost all the features of PBX mentioned at > >> >> >> http://www.voip-info.org/wiki-PBX+features > >> >> >> I will work with two different PCs : > >> >> >> 1) in one i will install that home office version > >> >> >> 2) in two i will install everyting manually one by one. > >> >> >> > >> >> >> let's see. > >> >> >> > >> >> >> Once again thanks a lot. > >> >> >> > >> >> >> Cheers, > >> >> >> Samir. > >> >> >> > >> >> >> Quoting Philip Mullis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > >> >> >> > >> >> >>> 1) autocalls, yes you can do this best way is to do it with a > >> >> >>> script using php/mysql > >> >> >>> 2) [EMAIL PROTECTED] can be found at > >> http://asteriskathome.sourceforge.net/ > >> >> >>> > >> >> >>> its ok to ask questions. > >> >> >>> > >> >> >>> Phil. > >> >> >>> > >> >> >>> > >> >> >>> > >> >> >>> Samirkumar Patel wrote: > >> >> >>> > >> >> >>>> > >> >> >>>> Hey Philip, > >> >> >>>> > >> >> >>>> Thanks for the reply. > >> >> >>>> > >> >> >>>> By unlimited call generation I meant the following: > >> >> >>>> 1) I want asterisk server to generate unlimitd calls or say 300 > >> >> >>>> calls to some > >> >> >>>> destination. I do not want to dial number everytime to call the > >> >> >>>> destination. > >> >> >>>> Actually, My professor wants me to do it like this. :) > >> >> >>>> > >> >> >>>> Say, I have 300 phone numbers in my Mysql database and Asterisk > >> >> >>>> will fetch those > >> >> >>>> phone numbers from the database one by one and will call them > >> >> one by one. > >> >> >>>> Meantime if say 2nd no. is busy the I will get message for that or > >> >> >>>> say 100th > >> >> >>>> no. is not available then I will get some message or say if 250th > >> >> >>>> no. dosen't > >> >> >>>> pick up the phone then I will voice mail stored and so on. > >> >> >>>> > >> >> >>>> I hope the above explanation is to the point for your better > >> >> answering. :) > >> >> >>>> > >> >> >>>> 2) And hey hey, it good news about the CD. > >> >> >>>> From where and how can get the installation CD. Is it free because > >> >> >>>> I wanna start > >> >> >>>> this as early as possible. Uptil now I am trying to understand the > >> >> >>>> features and > >> >> >>>> the related working of the asterisk and what asterisk can do in > >> >> >>>> real practical > >> >> >>>> environment. > >> >> >>>> > >> >> >>>> If you can reply me today then probably, I can start during > >> >> >>>> saturday or sunday > >> >> >>>> may be. > >> >> >>>> > >> >> >>>> I think I am kind of haressing you but I really want this and if i > >> >> >>>> can do this > >> >> >>>> then my professon will be very happy. > >> >> >>>> > >> >> >>>> Anyways, thanks a lot for your all the information. > >> >> >>>> > >> >> >>>> Cheers, > >> >> >>>> Samir. > >> >> >>>> > >> >> >>>> > >> >> >>>> > >> >> >>>> Quoting [EMAIL PROTECTED]: > >> >> >>>> > >> >> >>>>> Hey , if your serious about running asterisk do not run it > >> on windows. > >> >> >>>>> 1) unlimited call generation feature? if you can please explain > >> >> >>>>> this one in more > >> >> >>>>> detail so i can answer it better > >> >> >>>>> > >> >> >>>>> if you want to get quickly started and are not familiar with > >> >> >>>>> linux id recommend > >> >> >>>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] its a cd you through in and it boots up and > >> >> >>>>> does a > >> >> >>>>> full install > >> >> >>>>> or linux apache php and everything else , plus will give you web > >> >> >>>>> interfaces for > >> >> >>>>> configuring asterisk via the web. > >> >> >>>>> > >> >> >>>>> > >> >> >>>>> > >> >> >>>>> Quoting Samirkumar Patel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > >> >> >>>>> > >> >> >>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>> Hello Philip, > >> >> >>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>> Thanks a lot for your reply. Here with this I would like to ask > >> >> >>>>>> you few more > >> >> >>>>>> things. > >> >> >>>>>> My major concern is : > >> >> >>>>>> 1) Is there any provision inside the Asterisk to get the > >> >> unlimited call > >> >> >>>>>> generation feature ? or I would have to write a script for that ? > >> >> >>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>> 1) Can I get almost all those features available with linux in > >> >> >>>>>> windows based > >> >> >>>>>> asterisk ? > >> >> >>>>>> 2) If yes then Can I integrate following things with windows > >> >> >>>>>> based installation > >> >> >>>>>> also: > >> >> >>>>>> a) Asterisk Desktop manager. > >> >> >>>>>> b) All the software compatible with the redhat version, can I > >> >> >>>>>> get it intalled on the windows version also ? > >> >> >>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>> I am not very much familiar with linux. > >> >> >>>>>> Following is my main goal if it is not available inside the > >> >> >>>>>> avilable version > >> >> >>>>>> both windows based and also linux based: > >> >> >>>>>> 1) Getting AUTOMATED CALL GENERATED near about 300 within > >> >> certain time. > >> >> >>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>> Please reply me at your own leisure. > >> >> >>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>> Thanking you, > >> >> >>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>> Cheers > >> >> >>>>>> Samir. > >> >> >>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>> Quoting [EMAIL PROTECTED]: > >> >> >>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>> Samir, you can do anything your imagination can think of in > >> >> >>>>>>> asterisk as you can > >> >> >>>>>>> run scripts via agi or system of any programming language > >> >> you like, i > >> >> >>>>>>> personally use php with a mysql backend. > >> >> >>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>> With a little PHP knowledge or C,perl you can get started > >> >> >>>>>>> writing your very own > >> >> >>>>>>> scripts that will do practically anything you want. > >> >> >>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>> There is quite an abundance of knowledge on the voip wiki and > >> >> >>>>>>> you can also > >> >> >>>>>>> google asterisk agi scripts or asterisk php scripts to yeild > >> >> >>>>>>> some results and > >> >> >>>>>>> examples to get yourself started. > >> >> >>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>> Regards, > >> >> >>>>>>> Philip Mullis > >> >> >>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>> Quoting Samirkumar Patel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > >> >> >>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>>> Hello, > >> >> >>>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>>> I am Samir Patel pursuing Master of Engineering at Dalhousie > >> >> >>>>>>>> University in > >> >> >>>>>>>> Internetworking department. Recently, I have started my > >> >> >>>>>>>> project to set up the > >> >> >>>>>>>> voip network. > >> >> >>>>>>>> For the above mentioned project I want some guidance from > >> >> >>>>>>>> Asterisk forum. I > >> >> >>>>>>>> would really appreciate for the upcoming guidance. > >> >> >>>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>>> 1) I studied about the automated call generation in Asterisk. > >> >> >>>>>>>> Is there anything feature available through which > >> >> >>>>>>>> ADMINISTRATOR can enter new > >> >> >>>>>>>> number everytime? > >> >> >>>>>>>> 2) Can I integrate script with the automated call generation > >> >> >>>>>>>> feature of Asterisk > >> >> >>>>>>>> ? > >> >> >>>>>>>> 3) I saw call files available on the website with the > >> >> >>>>>>>> extension of ?.call?. > >> >> >>>>>>>> Can I write script with one text box and start button > >> through which > >> >> >>>>>>>> Administrator can enter number and generate a call everytime? > >> >> >>>>>>>> 4) If yes, then which are the languages, database feasible to > >> >> >>>>>>>> write a script ? I > >> >> >>>>>>>> am thinking about LAMP. Linux, Apache, Mysql, PHP. > >> >> >>>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>>> I am at the primary stage in the Asterisk implementation. > >> >> >>>>>>>> Whoever can answer of > >> >> >>>>>>>> my above questions will be greeted with the loads of thanks. I > >> >> >>>>>>>> am sorry to say > >> >> >>>>>>>> but I would like to get the answers as early as possible to > >> >> >>>>>>>> work on my next > >> >> >>>>>>>> stage. > >> >> >>>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>>> Thanking you, > >> >> >>>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>>> Cheers, > >> >> >>>>>>>> Samir. > >> >> >>>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>>> > >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- > >> >> >>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> >> >>>>>>>> For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> >> >>>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>> > >> >> >>>>>> > >> >> >>>>> > >> >> >>>>> > >> >> >>>>> > >> >> >>>>> > >> >> >>>> > >> >> >>>> > >> >> >>>> > >> >> >>> > >> >> >>> > >> >> >> > >> >> >> > >> >> >> > >> >> > > >> >> > > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- > >> >> To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> >> For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> >> > >> >> > >> > > >> > > >> > -- > >> > David Donovan > >> > Consultant > >> > Fulcrum Solutions > >> > > >> > >> > >> > > > > > > -- > > David Donovan > > Consultant > > Fulcrum Solutions > > > > > -- David Donovan Consultant Fulcrum Solutions
