DataPro acquires BizCall
The company focuses on utilising the power of open-source telephony software for the provision of voice and data services into specific niches in the rapidly deregulating SA telecommunications industry. Using, a Linux-based open-source telephony protocol, BizCall is addressing two specific voice and data needs – call centres and the PBX market.
BizCall was set up by Michael Toop and Steve Briggs, and has been designing, building and implementing Open Source solutions since June 2005.
BizCall will remain intact and will continue to trade under the BizCall brand.
Sandy Wentzel, DataPro’s financial director, said BizCall is a “comfortable strategic fit” for the group. “The company specialises in VOIP telephony solutions, focusing mainly on the emerging corporate market and is a perfect additional service we will be able to offer our customer base. This move compliments our existing range of converged telecommunication services," she said.
The major business benefit of BizCall’s offering is that their PABX and Call Centre solutions do not require any licensing and therefore no once-off or annual licensing applies. “This is fundamentally due to the fact that our software is developed on an open source basis, allowing us to draw from a global development pool and, enabling us to pass on cost benefits to the market,” said Michael Toop from BizCall.
Call centers will also benefit from BizCall’s products as the software has the ability to connect any telephone, telephone line, specialised telephony circuit, or VoIP interface to any other interface or service. Essentially this means that calcites can replace their expensive legacy systems at the fraction of their original cost.
Asterisk can emulate the functionality of a traditional PBX system on a more cost-effective platform. It provides accessibility to a wide range of cost-reducing technologies (VoIP, DSL, international LCR etc) which translates into lower operating costs for businesses of all sizes.