Asterisk PBX

computing: software: Asterisk PBX

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Overview

Asterisk PBX is a free, open-source software package which creates a telephone exchange (PBX) in software.

Reference

• home page
• Wikipedia
• AsteriskNOW: customized Linux distro with Asterisk ready to run

Links

• FreePBX.org: "a standardized implementation of Asterisk that includes a web-based configuration interface and other tools"
• Asterisk Developer's Kit Retail Package

hardware

• FXO for Asterisk PBX
• Sipura SPA-3000 Analog Telephone Adapter: a simple way to integrate Asterisk into any phone system page no longer available; Sipura seems to have been absorbed by Cisco
  • Configuring the Cisco SPA8800 IP Telephony Gateway in an Asterisk Environment

scripts

• callback: useful for avoiding charges for dial-out minutes on your cellphone

Notes

Interesting things one could possibly do with Asterisk (suggested by email from Hans Fugal):

• Distinctive ring
• Mother-in-law logic (aka ex-girlfriend logic)
  • e.g. different messages or behavior depending on who's calling
  • or even change the CID name for incoming calls to something more hip, for a finite set of numbers (or a match of numbers)
  • ring only one of the phones depending on who's calling
• DND
• room-to-room calls
• Set up a meetme conference that you can use at the drop of a hat, e.g. to get a bunch of people together to sing happy birthday to your cat
• TTS announcing who's calling. aka couch potato caller ID
• caller ID pops up on the screen of your laptop/desktop/whatever - aka computer geek caller ID
• system access, e.g. uptime, load, memory, run a script (might want to password-protect that)
• call in and secretly monitor your cat in the living room using the console
• call in and scare the cat with the console (aka paging or intercom)
• zapateller
• make up a wacky answering machine message with Audacity
• dial-a-song
• dial-a-madlib (markov chain)
• math game for the cat
• horoscope
• dictation machine
• control your rhoomba
• jukebox control
• place an automatic call to yourself when some event occurs (using the manager API)
  • new PLUG email
  • SCO stock drops further
  • alarm clock
• get a motion sensor and combine the intercom and call placing ideas, to scare the cat (burglars)
• time-of-day logic (fewer rings at night, or no rings)
• write a script to place a crank call
  • places call
  • with spoofed CID (Jason Hall <801-555-4956>)
  • playback(tt-monkeys)
• Use that crank call script automatically from a spam filter, but use the FBI's CID this time. Or maybe Bill Gates.
• Don't abuse caller ID too much and ruin it for the rest of us who want to use it for legitimate purposes (look like we called from a business phone even though we're at home)
• voicemail to email
• time and temperature (and other weather)
• speed dial
• gambling IVR (blackjack hand - if you win your call will be completed. if you lose you will be disconnected)
• DUNDI
• Allow extended family to place calls in your local area over VOIP
• Set up family voicemail (press 1 for Chris, 2 for the wife, 3 for the cat...)
• music on hold that reflects what you're currently listening to
• (from Wzl) Automatically send email to DNCR complaints center when blacklisted numbers call