Also note that references to “Asterisk@Home” are a bit outdated.  Most people are using a Trixbox installation which is basically bundled FREE software that includes all the major components including the Asterisk component. 

Read here for How to set up your own Asterisk PBX!

If you’re looking for a consultant, feel free to contact me by posting a comment on this site with your email. I just realized I don’t even have a contact form (and for fear of spammers, I’m not quite ready to just give out my email address.)

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In my last post, I decided to hire a consultant rather than try to figure it out own my own. I’m reasonably adept at navigating through html code and new software, but my spidey sense warned me that Asterisk was going to be a whole new challenge.

First off, it’s a Linux application (Linux is an operating system, like Windows XP, but much of it just looks like a throwback to DOS programming.) It’s best run on a standalone machine, so I was also facing a complete format of the hard drive on an old computer. And the kicker, I did a quick calculation of how much time I stood to lose if I ran into any hurdles. I do, after all , have a practice to run!

So I did a simple Google search and sure enough found the perfect consultant - Justin, a senior at the University of Florida here in Gainesville, who makes me feel completely computer illiterate. I’ll release his full name and contact info for the rest of you as soon as he’s completely done tweaking my system. For less than the cost of two of my AT&T/Bellsouth phone bills, he handled the entire install of the Trixbox package (which took about 24 hours!)

I had to ensure my office number was ported over to my new VOIP carrier, Teliax, as soon as possible. Teliax was FAST, handling the port in about 5 business days.

I quickly called Justin and told him I was ready to get it up and running. Since my IP phones hadn’t come in yet, we just used a softphone to test the connection. A bit of trial and error and handful of linux commands later, we got the softphone working! We did however, have a few hiccups with the softphone on my assistant’s machine, which was likely firewall or software related. I decided to wait until the IP phones came in because then there would be no limitations posed by anyone’s individual computer.

Once the IP phones arrived, both my phone and my assistant’s phone were fully activated working like a charm in about 30 minutes. The next question Justin asked me was “What features do you want?”

Like a kid in a candy store, I told him, I wanted:

1. To be able to transfer calls interoffice, or out to a cell phone;
2. Intercom/paging for interoffice phones AND the IP Phone I would bring home;
3. Music on hold;
4. A full IVR (auto attendant) system - custom designed with ability to adjust it myself;
5. Unlimited lines incoming or outgoing;
6. Click to call web browser plugin;
7. Automated appointment scheduling with email client integration (such as Outlook);
8. Whatever else I can dream up!

There are Asterisk enthusiasts all over the world coming up with new plugins all the time, and it’s all open source (free)!

Justin’s on vacation for the moment, but once he returns, he’ll be setting up a VPN through a linksys router at my office, so that I can make calls from my laptop softphone, which are hosted by my new Asterisk PBX at the office (as though I’m sitting at my desk!) All I’ll need is an internet connection (wireless) and a cup of coffee!

We’ve had the system for a couple of weeks now and I’m on pace for about a $35-$45 phone bill, with all the features of a $15,000 phone system!

A few kinks:

It wasn’t all gravy. There were definitely a few functional hurdles that Justin had to overcome during the installation (which would have had me going insane.) Additionally, once in a blue moon, I’ll have a bad connection, but that’s the case with most VOIP service anyways … just a hiccup occassionally, attributable the measly 128mb of RAM that my old machine had. A simple upgrade to 256mb or higher should take care of that.

Finally, I’m in the process of porting over my fax line so that Teliax will handle INCOMING faxes ($5.00 a month for incoming faxes through Teliax.) Sending faxes is not yet guaranteed, so I signed up with MyFax.com. A small change in protocol for a huge overhead takedown! I’ll survive!

I’ll update this again when Justin returns to put the finishing touches on the system. Then I’ll cut him loose for the rest of you who are interested in his services. (Yes, this can be done remotely without his physical presence in your office - more details later.)

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For less than the cost of two months of Bellsouth phone service, I’ll have established a fully functional PBX system using an old PC and the power of VOIP service and a IT consultant!

The consultant will take an old PC of mine (which could be purchased on ebay for less than $100) and turn it into a monster phone system which will be as feature rich as a $5,000 traditional PBX system and leverage the low cost of VOIP service.

Although I am using a consultant, I intend to supervise much of the install so that I can learn as much about it as possible, paying particular attention to the web access page which will allow me to make changes, add extensions, change my hold music, etc.

Some of the things I’ll be able to do once the system is in place:

1. Expected: Take a call, transfer it to another phone in my office.

2. Expected: Put someone on hold with custom music and announcements.

3. Expected: Integrate with MS Outlook so I can “click to call.”

4. Expected: Have each call metered for time.

5. Highly Anticipated: Make/Receive calls from my laptop using a softphone as though I’m sitting at my desk.

6. Highly Anticipated: Press an “Out of Office” button, and have calls forwarded to my cell phone (if I feel like working!)

7. Highly Anticipated: Having an unlimited number of simulataneous outgoing or incoming calls without paying for multiple phone numbers.

8. Possibility: Integrate metered calls into time and billing

9. Possibility: Have clients set appointments by using phone prompts (press “1″ to set an appointment, enter the date you wish to meet) and integrate with MS Outlook or other calendaring program.

10. Sure thing: No more phone bills in excess of $60.00 (The VOIP service plan I’m on is called “pay as you go” offered by Teliax. It’s 2 cents a minute incoming/outgoing domestic local/long distance and 2.9 cents incoming toll free calls. They also have a $45 package that has unlimited local, long distance and incoming toll free (up to 2500 minutes including 1000 inbound toll free minutes). For my office, that’s an average of 125 minutes each business day per month, way more than I need.

Once successful, I will release his name and contact info to anyone who wants him to come and turn your business phone headaches into a thing of the past. (I may charge a fee for releasing this godsend of a computer genius!)

Wish me luck and stay tuned!

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Well, it’s time I turned up the heat on this whole “leveraging technology” concept. Let’s see how much juice I can squeeze out of a dime.

I’m about to enter the hairy little world of Asterisk, a Linux based PBX system which is open source, feature rich and well, FREE. Actually, I’m taking the “easier” route by creating a Trixbox server (or perhaps a 3cx Server).

[Background: I'm a computer nerd. Have been since my uncle brought home an TRS-80 (Thank you, Texas Instruments, for the TRS-80 AND your graphing calculators). I've got no professional training except for a C++ class which I had to take twice, only to sneak by with a C-.]

Basically, Trixbox packages the Asterisk architecture along with a few other items in a “turnkey” downloadable format, which you then burn to a cd and install on an old but functional computer. That computer acts as your PBX system which handles incoming calls through a VOIP carrier.

Bored yet? Lost?

Well, I’ll be blogging about my attempt to set this up. If I can do it, I’ll rave about my success. If I can’t, I’ll probably go crazy trying or hire some 20 year old to do it for me.

What I have so far:

• VOIP “Pay as you go” Service through Teliax.
• An old computer (The Trixbox site recommends at least a 500MHZ PIII with 256megs of RAM - Pretty much top of the line hardware back in 1998)

What I plan to buy:

• A few SIP/IP phones
• Tylenol

What I plan to achieve:

• Setup a fully featured PBX phone system which boasts the following:
  • Call transfer, music on hold, remote softphone call in/out, auto attendant, etc…
• Personal Joy in knowing that my fully featured PBX system costs less than one month of service with my conventional business phone bill.

FAQ’s:

Q: Are you still practicing law?

A: Yes, but I’ll make time for this project.

Q: Why don’t you just hire the 20 year old now to do this for you?

A: Because I have a burning desire to know EVERYTHING.

Q: Is this a rational delegation of your valuable time?

A: Absolutely not. But then again, going to the gym and then Taco Bell has been always been easy to rationalize.

Join me won’t you?

ps. If I figure this out, I’ll gladly accept invitations to come set up this system at your office! (at my usual hourly rate)

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