In case it is of interest to others on this list facing end-user
dissatisfaction due to the loss of shared call appearances and PA style
announcements, I have overcome these hurdles in several offices (to the
satisfaction of the users) by using custom SIP headers to trigger PA-style
announcements as well as the 'metermaid' patch to implement flashing buttons on
phones to indicate parked calls (to replace shared call appearances).
Calls ring in to a CSR, get one-button transferred to a parking extension
(which causes one of three 'parking spot' buttons on everyone's phone to begin
flashing, inviting them to pick up said call, then the person who parked it
dials a one-button PA extension and announces something like 'Matt you have a
call on 171... Matt, pick up 171'. I then hit the flashing parking spot button
on my phone (or any phone) corresponding to the announcement, and talk to the
caller. If I don't pick it up, it goes back to the front desk.
This has been implemented in my offices using AstLinux and Snom desk
hardware, but is likely possible with other phones too (I haven't tried). The
metermaid patch is now included in the development environment for AstLinux as
a build option, and the PA functionality is just done in extensions.conf. If
anyone would like to discuss any of this further or get some config examples,
just e-mail me.
-Matthew Farley
Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Phillips <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Mon, 02 Oct 2006 15:11:31
To:Discussion of AstLinux - Asterisk on Compact Flash<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [Astlinux-users] GUI for astlinux
Likewise.
The shared line appearance is a deal breaker. A lesser deal breaker is
the PA function too. Customers cannot be bothered with transferring
calls around the office. They'd rather yell over the PA and get Fred to
pick up wherever he is.
Mark
On Mon, 2006-10-02 at 08:11 -0700, canuck15 wrote:
> Your lucky then,
>
> I haven't been able to find many small business customers used to KSU's
> willing to part with the shared line appearance. When I can do that with
> astlinux then I could sell to these people and yes, they don't need a GUI.
> For now I need to sell to PBX customers where the GUI makes MUCH more sense.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gary G. Hendershot [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 12:32 PM
> To: 'Discussion of AstLinux - Asterisk on Compact Flash'
> Subject: Re: [Astlinux-users] GUI for astlinux
>
>
> The "very basic" Astlinux web interface has been adequate for my needs ...
> But I suspect it might be a bit beyond the ability of an "end-user" ... This
> interface allows someone with a solid understanding of Asterisk to do pretty
> much anything that needs to be done ...
>
> The only important thing it is lacking is the ability to upload files to the
> PBX ... It would be nice if the web interface provided an easy way to upload
> config and bin files to the TFTPBOOT folder for example ... This would make
> phone provisioning a lot easier to configure ... Right now, you have to go
> through some contortions to get these into place ...
>
> There are mixed reviews about GUI's like FreePBX ... I have tried FreePBX
> but felt limited by it ... While it certainly makes setting up a simple
> cookie cutter config quick and easy, some of the more esoteric config
> options are a real PITA to get done in FreePBX ...
>
> >From my point of view, even something as fundamental as the IVR menus
> >are
> tough to get done the way you want them with FreePBX ... If such a thing
> were to be offered in Astlinux, I would hope there would be an option to
> turn it off for those of us who don't want it ... I don't think my take on
> this is unusual ...
>
> Most of my small business clients generally did not do much in the way of
> programming on their Panasonic or Partner KSU's ... They normally called me
> in to do add/delete/move or to tweak the IVR system ... About the extent of
> what they wanted to know was how to put the phone in "DO NOT DISTURB" and
> how to get their voice mail ...
>
> Very few of this type of client would want to invest the time in learning
> how to program any phone system ... Folks like this are generally focused on
> their primary means of revenue generation and consider the phone system to
> be a necessary business expense ... As long as it "just works" and doesn't
> cost a ton of money to run, they are happy campers ...
>
> I have found the initial setup of Astlinux not to be any more complex than
> any other small business phone system ... It is certainly different, but not
> really any tougher ... And once the thing is working as advertised, it
> doesn't seem to require any more routine maintenance than any other small
> business phone system ... So I have no problem suggesting that a small
> business give it serious consideration ...
>
> Anyway, that's my 2 cents for what its worth ...
>
> G.Hendershot
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kamel A. Baba
> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 2:35 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: [Astlinux-users] GUI for astlinux
>
> Hi all,
>
> First, I am sorry if this question was asked before. I did look in the
> archives but I couldn't find what I am looking for.
>
> I am trying to test the feasiblity of commercializing the Soekris Net4801
> product running astlinux as a low-end IP PBX system suitable for small
> businesses/offices.
>
> The question I have: is there a GUI interface (like freePBX for example)
> that can be used to help end-users configure/maintain the asterisk box in an
> easy way? What are you guys using for that purpose?
>
> Thanks,
> Kamel
>
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