Free PBX Software
While a lot of free software is rubblish, that is not the case with free PBX software. There are at least three very good open source PBX options to choose from that are more than capable of fulfilling the needs of most small businesses.
Asterisk: without doubt Asterisk is the most popular of all the options. A copy of this PBX software can be directly down loaded from the web, or sourced through any one of several thousand integrators and developers around the world who have built a business on the back of this open source solution.
"Skype for Asterisk" is a recently announced add-on permitting integration of the PBX software with
Skype so that users can make and receive calls through an Asterisk phone system.
In keeping with its open source credentials, Asterisk runs on the Linux OS and support is available from a very active on-line community.
The core Asterisk software has been adopted by numerous VoIP PBX manufacturers. Most have added proprietary add-ons and variations to the core software.
The original developer also sells the Asterisk open source PBX as the Switchvox turnkey phone system under the Digium brand.
FreeSwitch another open source PBX option. On a feature for feature basis, FreeSwitch probably has the edge over Asterisk. It is a solid solution and it is also available on a range of operating systems: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, BSP and Solaris.
Despite its features FreeSwitch is unlikely to become as popular as Asterisk, which was developed and taken to market by a charismatic entrepreneur who spotted an opportunity at exactly the right moment.
CallWeaver yet another community driven, vendor independent, cross platform, open source PBX software project. It was formerly known as OpenPBX.org. It is derived from Asterisk.
For a small business operator with access to some dedicated and enthusiastic technical resources, a free PBX software option is worth consideration. They are all excellent VoIP PBX solutions, but in the absence of good technical connections costs can begin to spiral and it maybe more appropriate to consider the security of a small business phone service.
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