IP Centrex and Asterisk Software for Open Source Communication

Traditional hardware based analogue telephony is fast giving way to communication over Internet protocol and other such technologies. A couple of highly specialized business solution IP Centrex and Asterisk software renders the task of faster, secured, and cost economic wireless communication.

IP Centrex can be defined as a set of highly specialized business solutions that are primarily used for voice services but can also be used for such other services. It is used in such cases where the call control as well as the service of logic functions in the communication system is owned as well as operated by the service provider. Hence, the Centrex is always located in the premises of the service provider and in the process the client is spared of the problems of procurement of major equipments and their maintenance. In essence, Centrex is basically an outsourcing solution.

What is Asterisk Software

Asterisk software has the capability of-

· Converting an ordinary computer into veritable communication server;

· It powers most of the communication systems such as IP PBX system, VoIP gateways, and other medium like the conference server and many more;

· It is used by all types of business enterprises; small, medium, and large;

· The software is widely used by call centres as well as by government organizations; and

· A free and open source software; it is sponsored by Digium.

Open Source Communication

Thus both IP Centrex as well as the asterisk software is vital components for creating and effectively running an open source communication system. Usually the call control and the service logic would refer collectively to functions that are needed to process telephone calls and other such features.

Call Control and Service Logic

Some of the examples are call control and service logic functions are as follows.

· Restoration of dial tone as soon as one of the communicating parties has gone offline;

· Interpretation of digits dialled to decide whether the call would be on or terminated;

· Determination of availability of the called party or whether he or she is busy or has the call forwarding;

· After detection of the status, application of appropriate treatment like ringing phone, using the busy signal or call waiting intimation etc; and

· Recording of the call details for billing purposes.

While in traditional Centrex services; either analog or ISDN the call control and service logic both reside in class 5 softswitch that is located in central offices. In case of IP Centrex the voice data is digitized as well as packetized for transmission across the network IP.