VoiceCon Feature Articles

Digium Widens Reach with Sleek New Version of Switchvox IP PBX

By Tim Gray, TMCnet Web Editor

Asterisk company Digium (News - Alert) today released Switchvox SMB 3.5 and the AA60 Switchvox Appliance for small to mid-sized businesses.

Switchvox is the most widely used communications system based on Asterisk (News - Alert), the open source project headed by Digium and strengthened by the contributions of hundreds of developers around the world.

Switchvox SMB 3.5 introduces features and enhancements that larger companies require and the AA60 Switchvox Appliance was designed specifically with the needs of small business in mind, highlighting the expanding market for the Switchvox product line.

“Our customers want customized solutions—one size doesn’t fit all,” said Dave Michels, president of Buffalo Communications, a VoIP solutions provider based in Denver.

Switchvox IP PBX products deliver the advanced functions typically associated with expensive, proprietary systems, but also provide unique, innovative features that bridge the gap between the business phone system and the power of Web 2.0. Integration with leading CRM applications Salesforce.com and SugarCRM (News - Alert) as well as Google Maps is included through Switchvox SMB’s Switchboard interface, and customers can easily create custom mashups that leverage other Web applications in seconds, with no programming knowledge required.

“Switchvox’s flexibility allows us to deliver exactly what customers need—the features that end users want with a level of system control calibrated to meet the needs of each company. Switchvox SMB 3.5 automates the time-consuming tasks associated with setting up a phone system for the larger organizations we’re installing Switchvox in and frees us up to focus on delivering even more value,” said Michels.

Switchvox IP PBX (News - Alert) products deliver advanced functions typically associated with expensive, proprietary systems, but also provide unique, innovative features that bridge the gap between the business phone system and the power of Web 2.0. Integration with leading CRM applications Salesforce.com (News - Alert) and SugarCRM as well as Google Maps is included through Switchvox SMB’s Switchboard interface, and customers can easily create custom mashups that leverage other Web applications in seconds, with no programming knowledge required.

”Digium has always led the pack when it comes to providing next-generation features that elevate the PBX out of the phone closet and into an inherently connected, more powerful communications platform,” said Joshua Stephens, general manager of business products at Digium.

In this way, when individuals receive calls, they can have useful information from internal company databases or external Web applications automatically displayed: a real estate agent sees the properties his caller has expressed interest in, a hiring manager sees the blogs and Facebook page his caller has created and a doctor’s receptionist sees insurance information for his caller—all in real time. It is these types of powerful features that drive the expansion of Switchvox’s target market, both up-market to larger businesses and down into the smallest organizations, which can truly benefit from this type of efficiency boost.

“With the latest release of Switchvox SMB, we’re addressing a real need to provide solutions to larger and larger organizations as they become increasingly interested in what open technologies and voice over IP can do for them. And the release of the AA60 Switchvox Appliance shows that the technology that appeals to the big boys can be affordable for even a small home office,” said Stephens.

New features in version 3.5 of the IP PBX software make it easier for administrators or resellers to set up larger systems more quickly than ever before. Bundling Switchvox SMB 3.5 on Digium’s AA60 Switchvox Appliance makes for an even more reliable communications solution and saves valuable space in a small office environment.

Other features include: integrated phone management; multi-level administration; batch direct inward dial (DID) mapping; batch caller ID configuration; enhanced phonebook panel; and type to find extensions.

The new AA60 Switchvox Appliance replaces the tower server for both SOHO and SMB products. The AA60 offers: Small form factor; Increased reliability; Full coverage by the Digium Exceptional Satisfaction Program; VoIP ready; Support for PSTN connectivity.

The new IP PBX products will be available on March 31, 2008, from Digium through www.digium.com/switchvox and authorized partners in North America, Europe and Australia. U.S. pricing begins at $3,390 for a Switchvox SMB and AA60 bundle for 10 users, including one-year subscription and warranty.

Tim Gray is a Web Editor for TMCnet, covering news in the IP communications, call center and customer relationship management industries. To see more of his articles, please visit Tim Gray’s columnist page.

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