Help with VOIP

[LiteIce]

Hi guys, I have a client that runs a call centre. He has approximately 30 agents and is considering using a voip solution. How can he go abouts doing this? He has multiple ISDN lines.

What equipment should he use (he would like to use softphones) and what service should he consider? He will be doing outgoing calls only.

How do things integrate with each other?

Any help would be greatly appreciated as i'm fairly new to this!

 

[warwickw]

Take a look at either Elastix or Trixbox both are excellant Asterisk VOIP server implementations.

Then for Soft clients take a look at Zoiper an excellant Softphone supports both SIP and IAX, IAX is the native VOIP protocol of Asterisk, works behind NAT networks where SIP has issues with NAT.

For integrating with Telkom on his ISDN lines you will need to get an ISDN interface card, they are available from various suppliers Miro or Evenflow are the first 2 that pop in my head. You will need to know what ISDN lines he has. Alternatively instead of integrating with Telkom for calls you could create an IAX trunk to a VOIP providor for outbound calls.

I would suggest you get Trixbox or Elastix up and running on a machine yourself and play with it using just a Softphone that way you can get familiar with the product.

 

[LiteIce]

Thanks warwick for the advice! So basically the setup should be something like this:


Zoiper -> Elastix (installed on a box with ISDN Interface Card) -> ISDN

Am I correct in assuming this?

Also, what sort of ISDN card would you recommend as well as ISDN lines?

Thanks again!

 

[AASIP]

Feedback

Hi - I sent you a PM.

 

[gmza]

I'd definitely choose Trixbox over Elastix, but both share a lot in common.

In terms of ISDN hardware, it depends on the density you need and whether you're talking ISDN BRI or PRI. For 4-port ISDN BRI (8 channels), I'd go for the Digium B410P. For ISDN PRI (30 channels) I'd also for the Digium cards (with hardware echo cancellation). Sangoma have a card that is scalable (via daughterboards) up to 24 BRI ports.

Switch Telecom (www.switchtel.co.za / 087 550 0000) will assist with the setup of a Trixbox and advice and supply of above hardware and provision of VoIP service as well as providing further advice based on experience with other call centre clients (both larger and smaller than 30 seats).

 

[LiteIce]

Thanks guys!