Conference calling

[Sigma721]

Hi everyone

I am currently setting up a new office and we require conference call functionality. At the moment we all just use the standard office phone and cell phones. I have been looking around, and there are tons of companies offering the service, mind sharing the companies you use?

Regards

 

[The_Ogre]

Go opensource.

Get an old PC and load freePBX together with the conference module.

Set it up and you're good to go.

 

[Clarotech]

What are you looking for? Full blown video conferencing or a simple audio only conference room you can transfer multiple parties into? Do you want to integrate it with your existing phone system or is stand-alone ok?

 

[Clarotech]

Go opensource.

Get an old PC and load freePBX together with the conference module.

Set it up and you're good to go.

In my experience conference calls tend to be something you want that just works, so an old PC that might go up in smoke at a moments notice isn't the best advice IMO.

Asterisk is great, but telephony should be deployed on server class hardware if it's critical to your business.

 

[The_Ogre]

In my experience conference calls tend to be something you want that just works, so an old PC that might go up in smoke at a moments notice isn't the best advice IMO.

Asterisk is great, but telephony should be deployed on server class hardware if it's critical to your business.

Perhaps then I should have said "spare" PC

By the way i have my setup running on a pi

 

[Clarotech]

Perhaps then I should have said "spare" PC

While it certainly works but I've seen my fair share of dead PCs standing in our production room and right next to it the customer wanting to know when they can make calls again. All depends on your risk appetite.

By the way i have my setup running on a pi

Nice, what's the max concurrent calls on that? 2-3?

Sorry OP going a bit OT.

 

[The_Ogre]

While it certainly works but I've seen my fair share of dead PCs standing in our production room and right next to it the customer wanting to know when they can make calls again. All depends on your risk appetite.


Nice, what's the max concurrent calls on that? 2-3?

Sorry OP going a bit OT.

 

[Sigma721]

Thanks for all the input, we need to be able to have up to 5 or so concurrent calls.

I will set up freePBX on a linux VPS(I don't want to rely on a single internet connection,etc). This will allow cellphones, etc to dial into the conference calls, right?

Regards

 

[The_Ogre]

Yes. It will work perfectly

 

[Clarotech]

Thanks for all the input, we need to be able to have up to 5 or so concurrent calls.

I will set up freePBX on a linux VPS(I don't want to rely on a single internet connection,etc). This will allow cellphones, etc to dial into the conference calls, right?

Regards

So just some terminology corrections: The telephony system is Asterisk. You install FreePBX on top of it to make management of it easier. You will need a SIP provider with an inbound number for people to call into.

If you're going to roll your own then make sure you've got secure SIP passwords and a firewall setup. VoIP fraud is very much a reality and you can quickly get run for $$$ if people manage to break into your box.

If you decide VPS isn't going to work for you feel free to PM me if you want to look at our hosted PBX option

Other posts worth checking
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/632485-Asterisk-with-freePBX-hosted-in-SA-for-less-than-4
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/575509-VoIP-hacking-all-around!-READ-THIS-AND-APPLY

 

[InfinityMVS]

if its just the conference call functionality you are after maybe you should look at ECN virtual boardroom - a free service offered by them, parties only pay for the calls.

http://www.ecntelecoms.com/conferencecall/

 

[BiscuitSmuggler]

Our Virtual Boardroom is easy to use. Follow the link MVS provided and follow the easy steps. it can hold more than 15 users but i dont recommend a very busy boardroom. Thanks MVS