VoIP Providers List Worldwide VoIP Providers Directory

Open-source VoIP PBXes (Private Branch Exchanges) offer small to medium-sized enterprises a cost-effective entry point into deploying a VoIP PBX within their enterprise. Such PBXes could especially be an attractive option if you don’t want to outsource your VoIP PBX to a third-party provider.

Open-source PBXes such as Asterisk 1.2.7.1, Pingtel SIPxchange ECS, and Signate Telephony Server 5000 offer the full suite of PBX features rivaling their expensive commercial cousins. Each of these IP PBXes is backed up by a vendor’s support and professional services organization.

Choosing Open-Source Telephony For Your VoIP PBX

Kevin Fleming, senior software engineer and co-maintainer of Asterisk at Digium, points out the benefits of an open-source PBX solution. “Through an open-source solution, a company is able to establish a telephony platform that is cost-effective and far more flexible than a commercial solution, especially in migrating to VoIP by enabling a hybrid solution. Through open-source applications, there is faster evolution of the product and increased compatibility. The core basis of the open-source telephony platform is the built-in compatibility with other vendors’ products (as opposed to being limited by a commercial solutions provider to purchase specific products). The open-source model can also prove to be a highly cost-effective way to migrate to VoIP.”

Brian Riggs, principal analyst for enterprise communications for Sterling, Va.,-based Current Analysis, an industry analyst firm, offers a counterpoint. “I would argue that VoIP is actually more accessible to the enterprise without open-source PBXes. IP PBXes of the non-open-source variety are mature, stable, highly scaleable, tightly integrated systems that are available from a wide range of vendors. In terms of making IP telephony more accessible [and] easier to deploy, open-source PBX software muddies the water.”

However, Riggs does foresee open source’s impact on the communications market. “There is little doubt open-source PBX software will have far-reaching impact on the communications market. In the near term, however, its impact on the enterprise will be minimal. Enterprise software developers and IT staff will download the software and play around with it, but if they choose to deploy it, they must be prepared to be their own systems integrator, interoperability tester, and product developer. It will take a well-trained, dedicated IT staff for such an endeavor.”

Understanding The Risks Of Open-Source Telephony

Open-source PBX solutions do have their risks, and Fleming advises, "The risk involved would be to make sure there is a person who can understand the technology. Solutions like Asterisk Business Edition come packaged with support, so if a company has a basic understanding of the technology, this access to support can mitigate much of the risk.” An open-source telephony package supported by a company could bring the best of both worlds to an SME seeking the flexibility of an open-source IP PBX but with the security of vendor support.

Moving To Open-Source Telephony

Fleming advises the following for SMEs seeking an open-source telephony solution: “Entry into open-source telephony is basically done by purchasing a package from a company that includes it. It is important to choose a packaged solution that is backed by a company that will give you the support and direction that you need. Using an open-source product that is supported by a company like Digium will ensure the best quality and reliability. In addition, open-source technology can be found in products like Asterisk Business Edition, which include professional regression testing and certification of compatibility with third-party products, increasing the level of support the customer can expect from their provider.”

Implementing an open-source PBX such as Asterisk requires that your SME have the right mix of vendor support and internal resources to make a successful go of the project.

by Will Kelly