Aastra 6755i
If you are booting strapping your startup business and you need pbx functionality I highly recommend you check out some of the many open source options available.
We knew that we were going to need a small call center for customers who will need help researching and booking their vacation. So, we investigated many different options ranging from a Mitel system from our local provider, Lime, to a used Avaya system from Ebay. Then we learnt about Open Source PBXs and the power of Asterisk and Freepbx.
Asterisk + FreePBX = Bootstrapper’s dream
Asterisk is touted as the most popular open source telephony software engine and FreePBX is an easy to use GUI (graphical user interface) that controls and manages Asterisk. We were not only intrigued by the cost (FREE) but at the complete flexibility in how customizable these platforms are, as evidenced by how easy they integrate with Skype. So, we can pick up our phone and make long distance calls seamlessly through Skype as well as make Skype to Skype calls. Did I mention we can also integrate our SkypeIn number into Asterisk?
Cost breakdown
Asterisk + FreePBX = Free
Server = We had a PC laying around
PRI card = $700
3 Aastra handsets = $170 each, total $510
1 hour of support from freepbx.org = $150
Total cost = $1,360
We could have saved an additional $600 by using soft-phones but handsets offer more reliable audio as they do not depend on computer resources and with a soft-phone, if your computer is down you won’t be able to make calls.
How we decided
The Mitel solution from our local provider was not feasible coming in at over $6,000.
The used Avaya system from Ebay cost almost the same as the Asterisk solution, but in the end, Asterisk’s easy setup, flexibility and features such as the integration with Skype won us over and was a perfect match for our needs.