Fun With Switchvox 4.0, Google and Facebook
Sunday, October 11, 2009

This is a good example of the power of the Switchboard panel functionality however, the custom panel option is where you can really dig in to the power and felxibilty of the Switchboard. A good example of this has been deployed on my home system. In the following example, switchboard uses google phonebook to do a reverse phone number lookup and genenerates results based on the inbound caller id number and also queueries my Facebook friends by searching the caller id name.

Update: I've listed the custom panel URL Strings below just in case you'd like to have these features for your system.
Google:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&pb=r&q=phonebook%3A+%CALLER_ID_NUMBER%
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=%CALLER_ID_NAME%&init=quick
Labels: switchvox
Switchvox - Why Does it Rock?
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Some time ago, before .e4 ever existed, I started tinkering with the notion that SIP was going to hit very hard in the near future and felt pretty damn confident that I was going to be a part of it. In my quest for all things standards based I came across a few telephony platforms that supported the technology. With a swipe of my credit card and the help of a few tech companies that I was doing consulting for at the time, I was able to build a solution that was standards based at the endpoint. It wasn't Asterisk...
Fast Forward two years... By this time I was working diligently to carve a niche for my the 3 month old company. I was busy calling everyone I knew to discuss the possibility of helping them cut costs... This was my pitch. Armed with a few carrier agreements and a drive to succeed, I was pounding the pavement hustling carrier circuits with hopes of getting customers whose networks I could infiltrate with the next big thing.
By now Asterisk was already a buzz word in the right circles. Geeks like me were and still are amazed that such a robust solution is so readily available. Unfortunately for me and a few early customers the bar was higher than we expected, and the feasibility of some of these solutions were often times best on paper, but we worked through them. I still have these customers today and I'm thankful that they didn't give up on us and had faith that we were bringing them the next generation of voice technology.
Fast forward four years.. 2009 - Asterisk is still our product lead, there is no Open Source telephony application that can match its durability in this ever changing market. Anyone involved in the project owes a pretty big debt to the fine folks at Digium and ESPECIALLY Mr. Mark Spencer for having granted us with such a great opportunity. Before you flame me or point out all of the other companies and people who make this all possible I'd like to remind you that the root is listed above and that all others are just attaching their cart as I have been lucky enough to do.
Installing Asterisk- This has always been a bit of a challenge for the non Linux minded. There are more than a few pitfalls that one can encounter. Having a good knowledge of VoIP networking is a good place to start, however, it is easy enough to get lost on the Linux side of things without ever even touching a dial plan. Asterisk is hard!
Recently, I was chatting with a few folks on twitter about how cool Switchvox is. There were more than a few tweeps (most notably @leifmadsen and @pmhaddad) willing to offer their opinion about how Asterisk compiled from source was a real man's telephony tool kit and that Switchvox is for mere mortals - I concur :) However, Switchvox is an extremely robust PBX platform that has many value based applications that simply cant be developed without devoting countless dollars and hours on the front end. For me Switchvox has what it takes out of the box.
Is Switchvox Easy? Good Question- Switchvox can be easy - Easier I should say... There are still folks out their that shouldn't be messing with it or trying to go it alone. As with all sucessful IP telephony deployments there are a few things that you should know before getting started EVEN IF your PBX has a nice clean GUI that makes Moves adds and changes a breeze. Understanding the network that Switchvox rides on is the key to making happy customers and will get you countless gold stars from the support folks at Digium.
Switchvox- Why does it rock?
This is the title of this post and I feel I should probably get to the point! Switchvox is an easier to use telephony application that has what it takes to uncover additional opportunities in a potential clients network. For example - We have so many customers that didn't even know that they needed call center type functionalty until we showed them that there was a need for things like call Queues, detailed call reporting and quite simply put, the ability to monitor and coach sales and customer service personell - These features alone are far more robust than what is available in other Asterisk based PBX systems right out of the box. A properly deployed Switchvox PBX can start delivering ROI minutes after it is setup and training has been given.
Features that make Switchvox a no brainer...
Switchboard- This graphical user interface enables a company with the tools they need and a price that is "Do-able" When using switchboard the end-user has an at a glance look at all areas of their business at hand and has the ability to interact with call flow, CRM software, search capacites, and more. The Switchboard is THE Command center for your phone system.
Call Recording- Did you know that you needed this? Probably not. Most Businesses are only as strong as their sales. Did I say most? Knowing what you may have said wrong to a prospective client is almost as important as knowing what you've done right. Reviewing calls with lost prospects is useful tool for making sure you don't make the same mistake twice.
Call Monitor/Whisper- This rides along gracefully with the blurb above. deploying a useful training methodology is always a good thing in business. Using call monitor and whisper can help your company get the word out correctly, eliminating expensive mistakes that can lose your company business. If your employees know that you have a benevolent monitor, whisper, record policy in place they are more likely to spend phone time doing things that are more productive and efficient. This big brother approach is a good thing in a trusted work force.
IVR- Interactive Voice Menus are not a new. We've all heard them and have been annoyed by them enough times to know that they are here to stay. With Switchvox, a PBX admin can offer clients the ability to navigate to the right person(s) without ever having to interrupt people that may already have enough on their plate. A good IVR plan has the ability to increase a companies Customer service level by helping callers find the right people fast without having to talk to multiple people in the process.
Call Queues- An essential aspect of any business that has a group of people that are waiting to service, support, or sell your product. The ability to use different ring strategies is only part of the picture. With a properly executed Swithvox Queue strategy companies have the ability to deliver timely responses to the the most important part of your business, your customers, after all they are THE boss. You wouldn't make your boss wait for information would you? Queues can make it so a customer/prospect/employee can get to the correct person based on issue, need, and skill set.
Wideband VoIP- Quite possibly a luxury item in a phone system. Who knows, it could be the wave of the future - Who am I to argue with the likes of Jeff Pulver and other industry pioneers. Wideband is definitely a game changer. You'll know this the first time your ears are lucky enough to hear the difference. Switchvox Delivers Wideband VoIP.
Conference Features- Deploying a meet me conference room for your company has the ability to do two things. 1. Conference multiple users beyond what your VoIP phone is capable of, 2. deliver an end-user experience that rivals paid services by telecom behemoths. All this at no extra charge. Marry this with an unlimited channel VoIP provided can deliver instant ROI without claiming expensive carrier provided talk paths for your next big meeting. (This was actually 3 things but I'm moving on)
Video Conferencing- With Video Conferencing solutions having an 8-10 thousand dollar entry point even for the most basic of installs, Switchvox SMB 4.0 lowers yet another bar in terms of point of entry. Switchvox 3.5 users on current support received this feature for free simply by updating to the current release.
Flexible Subscriptions for support- Even the most basic of Switchvox installations will require support at some point. As an .e4 customer you have the benefit of multiple support layers in different timezones. Our customers are able to contact us with a GOLD level of support Monday Through Friday for basic fixes and major support cases. However, the ability to call or email the manufacturer is an added benefit.
Phone Provisioning done right- Now this has been a bit of a sore spot for me. I'll admit that when I found out this would be a feature of the system I had mixed emotions. The ability to provision a phone has in the past been one of the more difficult tasks an admin can be faced with when applying the old DIY mentality. If they must :) users can now spend a few extra dollars per extension and have the ability to not only provision the phone, but also receive on-phone presence for other users in the network. This happens autoMAGICally and uses information from that specific user's phonebook on Switchboard. Not a shabby feature at all.
Switchvox is an IP PBX- Lets face it... This is what the customer is buying. The ability to hold, transfer, conference, and park calls should not be overlooked. After all, these are the features a business will use most often. Couple that with the ability to network offices, add remote users, and leverage existing infrastructure and you cover the core value proposition with Switchvox.
The Apple doesn't fall far from the tree- I've been accused of preaching the gospel of Asterisk and Digium more than a few times. As you've read above, I feel as if I have more than a few good reasons to do so. But, one of the things that I like most about Switchvox is that when anyone hears about a product being Asterisk based they almost immediatly to come across Digium. Why wouldn't they? Digium is the Corporate sponsor of Asterisk and the foundation on which so many of their competitors are built. Why not buy a solution from the makers of Asterisk? It stands head and shoulders above all other pay to play Asterisk apps and quite frankly is direct from the source... Asterisk/Digium are again the root from which the entire Asterisk Ecosystem grows.
In closing I'd like to thank everyone that made Switchvox possible - In addition to the named and nameless people above, I'd like to personally thank Tristan, Josh, Larry, Jason, Stephen, Carl, Walter, Ron, Hao, Gayle, and Beeline Bill. You have been a great help to me and .e4.
Kindest Regards,
Michael White
Switchvox Ninja :)
http://www.e4strategies.com
Labels: switchvox
HOW TO: Peer Switchvox Internally to Create Addtional Functionality
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Read The Rest of the How To Post here.
Labels: switchvox
XO's SIP and IP Flex gets the green light from Digium
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Today’s announcement begins a collaboration between two leading providers of VoIP services and solutions for businesses. Today, more than 15,000 businesses and more than 500,000 customer employees benefit from VoIP services offered by XO through its portfolio of converged services, which includes XO SIP and XO IP Flex.
Digium’s Asterisk is the world’s most widely used open source telephony software, and Switchvox is the most widely used customer premise-based IP PBX based on Asterisk. “Businesses are looking for both high-performance and cost-effective VoIP solutions that are easy to deploy and manage,” said Nicola Jackson, director of voice and converged services for XO Communications.
“Together, Digium’s feature-rich Switchvox platform and XO SIP offer an affordable, high-quality VoIP solution that businesses can deploy rapidly. Completing interoperability with Digium Switchvox platform enables us to offer businesses more options when selecting their SIP trunking services provider.”
The certification confirms that Switchvox and XO SIP work seamlessly together, providing businesses with confidence when using their feature-rich, easy-to-use, inexpensive Switchvox phone system with XO SIP.
“Companies that want to integrate voice and data with Switchvox are now assured of full interoperability when they select XO for their IP network,” said Leslie Conway, vice president of global marketing for Digium. “SMBs and solution providers want certified solutions that have been thoroughly tested. Formal XO certification now provides them with a high level of confidence in choosing Digium and XO as a combined solution for their network needs.”
Labels: switchvox
Digium’s biggest achievement of 08
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Although it has never been a hard sell we are pleased to see that it is gaining speed elsewhere and happy to be a part of it.
TMC Interview with Bill Miller:
http://asterisk.tmcnet.com/topics/asterisk/articles/37804-digium-uc-web-20-creating-open-source-opportunities.htm
Related Link:
.e4's role in the big achievement...
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS122755+24-Jun-2008+BW20080624
Adding a Linksys SPA9xx to Switchvox - WEB GUI Method
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Digium Sells 4 Million Ports - .e4 is happy to be there for it!
Friday, June 27, 2008
No doubt, a sign of the changing times in the telecom world is seen in the recent announcement by Digium of the delivery of their four-millionth port. Ashley Furniture, a major home furniture brand, purchased the 4 millionth port for their Switchvox AA300, SMB system from Digium reseller and online retailer and consultant .e4 Technologies. -
http://www.e4strategies.com/
Digium’s announcement is not only a feather in the cap of .e4 Technologies, but evidence of their ability to bring demanding businesses comprehensive, cost-effective telephony solutions. Michael White, principal of Traverse City, Michigan-based .e4 Technologies, said in response to Digium’s announcement, “We’re proud of our work for Ashley Furniture because it met their specific business needs. The breadth and quality of the Digium product line help us deliver this kind of top-quality yet cost-effective solution to customers every day.”
Asterisk, the Digium company, is the world's leading open source PBX, telephony engine, and telephony applications toolkit. As it becomes ever more apparent that communication platforms like Asterisk are not only viable, but uniquely capable of handling a wide range of telecom needs with sensitivity towards the bottom line, .e4 Technologies is determined to remain the premier resource for sales, consultation, and implementation of comprehensive telephony solutions.
Switchvox AA300
Labels: digium, switchvox, switchvox AA300
More on the Switchvox AA300
Monday, June 9, 2008
Today marks the newest addition to the Switchvox appliance family. Since acquiring Switchvox – the predominant IP PBX founded on Asterisk – Digium, Inc. has wasted no time merging the products of both companies. The result: increased, better options for customers who are looking to get rid of dated, expensive phone systems while enjoying the functionality of a PBX designed with the demands of large businesses in mind. By employing Switchvox software on Digium appliances, customers can expect to benefit from the easy-to-use, plentiful features of Switchvox and the dependable, convenient quality of Digium appliances. With the AA300 enhancing the already-well-established Digium appliance family, customers representing a wide range of business network demands should have no trouble finding the IP PBX best suited to their needs.
The AA300 supports up to 150 users, 45 concurrent calls, 10 concurrent call recordings, and 15 concurrent conference users. It comes in a short depth 3U rackmount form, but it can easily mounted on the wall and its relatively compact size means it can even sit inconspicuously on most desks. The AA300 can be used with Silver, Gold, or Platinum SMB subscriptions and it comes with a standard 1 year warranty, which can be upgraded to a 3 year warranty. The AA300 SMB starts at $4,240.
Labels: digium, switchvox, switchvox AA300
Introducing the Switchvox AA300

Switchvox AA300:
- Same user capacity as the AA350NR
- The Switchvox AA300 will ship with rack ears. An
optional rail kit and wall mount bracket can be purchased - The AA300 & Switchvox SMB bundle price will remain
the same, but the extended warranty and cold spare costs are lower. - Short Depth 3U Rackmount
- 1-150 Users
- 45 Concurrent Calls
- 10 Concurrent Call Recordings
- 15 Concurrent Conference Users
- Spare Available
- Silver, Gold, or Platinum SMB Subscriptions
- 1 Year Warranty Standard
- 3 Year Warranty Available
- 80GB Storage
Certifications:
AA300 is certified for Safety and Emissions in the United
States, Australia, Canada, and the European Union
Switchvox Network Diagram
Friday, June 6, 2008

Switchvox Product Overview - Video Demo
Setting up the Snom M3 with Asterisk- How To
Saturday, March 15, 2008

Labels: asterisknow, snom m3, switchvox
