Open Solutions :: Legacy PBX Migration Gateways

Open Solutions PBX Asterisk can be used as a fantastic bridge between an old PBX and the future. The gateway PBX can be placed in front of your existing PBX as a gateway to new services and features. Old users can be migrated off the old PBX as needs dictate and new users can be added to either.

An Asterisk based PBX can also be put behind your existing PBX as a peripheral application server. You can even do both at the same time!

An example of how this might all look is given below:

Asterisk as a Legacy PBX Migration Gateway

Using Asterisk is this manner allows you to continue to leverage your investment in your existing PBX system while offering a low-cost entry into VoIP telephony as well as the many additional features of Asterisk as listed below.

In the sample set-up shown above, some of the faetures depicted include:

  • All calls between the PSTN and your legacy PBX pass through the Asterisk PBX server. This allows the Asterisk server to:
    • least-cost route calls from your legacy PBX over alternative routes which can include VoIP providers leveraging SIP, H323, IAX or other VoIP technologies; built in GSM modules allowing you to take advantage of mobile-to-mobile rates; route individual calls between a choice of traditional providers (e.g. eircom, imag!ne, etc) based on better rates using CPS (carrier pre-select) codes; etc.
    • transparent sub-office to sub/head-office calls simply by dialling a regular extension.
    • home-workers can connect to the office PBX to dial internal extensions free of charge as well as billing their external calls to the office lines using VoIP phones in their home office;
    • selected call recording, call monitoring, call limiting (i.e. no 1550 numbers), call reporting, etc;
    • take advantage of new technologies such as ENUM (see IENUM.ie) to make standard calls route via free VoIP routes where available as well as setting up private VoIP trunks to sister companies, partners, etc'
  • Add new users directly to the Asterisk PBX using SIP/VoIP handsets rather than buying additional propreitary handsets and licenses for your exiting PBX or extend the life of your existing PBX when it reaches capacity by adding new users to the Asterisk PBX.
  • There is a second Asterisk server depicted in the image as a database/web/applcation server - this can be used for many purposes including information capture from phone calls though internal web interfaces, CTI (computer-telephony integration) applications, etc.

Asterisk Features

Asterisk provides all the features of a standard PBX as standard and then some. It's strength is that it allows for the rapid development or customisation of any features that your business may require.

Standard features include:

Traditional Interfaces
Asterisk will support one or multiple PSTN, GSM, and ISDN BRI, FRA or PRI interfaces as standard.
VoIP Interfaces
Asterisk will support all the standard open VoIP protocols such as SIP, H323, IAX and MGCP as well as proprietary protocols including Cisco's Skinny/SCCP and Nortel's UNISTIM protocols.
Unlimited and Varied Extensions
Asterisk places no arbitrary limit on the number of extensions your business can have and it will allow you to mix and match both traditional extensions used with your current PBX with both local and remote VoIP extensions (e.g. from home/remote/travelling workers).
Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
IVR is a PBX application that allows a caller to select options from a voice menu and otherwise interact with the phone system. It can be as simple as an Automated Telephone Attendant (e.g. "Press 1 for sales, 2 for support, ...") to a complicated application such as a credit card payment gateway. Asterisk places no limits on the number of IVR applications you can have on your PBX and Open Solutions can help you develop bespoke applications.
Call Recording
Our system can help you record some or all calls for regulatory/other purposes and archive them in a searchable database for later retrieval.
Computer-Telephony Integration (CTI)
CTI is technology that allows interactions on a telephone and a computer to be integrated or co-ordinated. The following functions can be implemented using CTI:
  • Calling-line information (CLI) display (caller's number, number dialled, IVR options);
  • Screen population on answer, with or without using calling line data;
  • On-screen dialling (fast dial, preview, and predictive dial);
  • On-screen phone control (answer, hang up, hold, conference, etc.);
  • Coordinated phone and data transfers between two parties;
  • Call centre phone control (logging on; after-call work notification);
  • Advanced functions such as call routing, reporting functions, automation of desktop activities, and multi-channel blending of phone, e-mail, and web requests;
  • Agent state control (for example, after-call work for a set duration, then automatic change to the ready state).
Least Cost Routing (LCR)
Open Solutions has a strong relationship with one of Ireland's lowest cost and high quality telecoms operator and we can help you least-cost route your various call traffic (local, national, international, mobile, etc) over multiple standard PSTN providers and over VoIP providers based on the rate.
Voicemail
Unlimited voicemail boxes for individuals and groups, external access to these and voicemail to e-mail functionality so you can have your messages delivered to your in-box as a sound file.
Reporting
We can create custom reports for inbound and outbound calls to help you: maximise the return from sales campaigns by targeting the most effective demography's; see how much you are spending on specific call types; monitor operator/staff performance; etc.
Conferencing
A conference room is a number that invited participants dial and access with a room number and an optional PIN. Open Solutions can provide conference room functionality with a web-based management interface. Features of Open Solutions conference room functionality include: web-based management interface to create conference rooms as needed and the ability to record the proceedings of a conference and have them e-mailed to the conference administrator and/or other specified e-mail addresses.
Mobile Office
Tired of managing five contact numbers? Just give out one and when a call comes in for this specified number, our Mobile Office application can intercept the call, ask who is calling and then ring you on multiple lines (PSTN, mobile, VoIP, etc) to ask you if you want to accept the call, divert to voicemail, divert elsewhere, etc. It will also distinguish fax calls and have the fax e-mailed to you as an attachment.