Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

After acquiring SwitchVox, Digium has released a free version of the SwitchVox. This was announced at the Fall VON, but the press release was buried under all those notes I took at Fall VON. Better later than never and here is the Press Release.
Also you can download the release directly from SwitchVox site. It is great way to test or have a trial run of the software which comes in a easily installable package. But for production, it is suggested that the the commercial version, SOHO or SMB, is used. The package includes, Fedora Core 6 Linux, the open source Asterisk PBX software, plus all the software necessary to make Switchvox such a revolutionary communications solution.

BOSTON (Fall VON and Digium|Asterisk World) — October 31, 2007 — One month after its acquisition of Switchvox, a leading provider of IP PBX phone systems for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), Digium®, Inc., the Asterisk® Company, announced the immediate availability of Switchvox Free Edition. The new product includes the telephony features of the widely used Switchvox SOHO edition and can be downloaded and installed in minutes on existing hardware. The release underscores Digium’s commitment to delivering full-featured telephony systems at low price points to allow organizations around the world to benefit from the Asterisk open source movement and flexibility of voice over IP (VoIP).

Switchvox products are based on Asterisk®, the open source telephony software created and owned by Digium. Switchvox Free Edition includes tools such as an interactive voice response (IVR) editor that allows system administrators to create auto attendants and menus. It also includes features such as voicemail to email, find me/follow me, unlimited calling queues (automatic call distribution, or ACD) and advanced reports on system use.

Switchvox Free Edition supports Digium’s line of analog cards. Users can install Switchvox Free Edition on existing hardware or use Switchvox-certified hardware. For details on hardware support, see www.switchvox.com/certified_hardware.

“Asterisk is the most widely deployed open source telephony platform, and by introducing Switchvox Free Edition, Digium has the opportunity to introduce the technology to a broader and more mainstream customer base,” said Tristan Degenhardt, Switchvox product line director at Digium. “We anticipate thousands of downloads in the coming weeks by companies interested in a better way to communicate with their customers. The smallest businesses will find Switchvox Free Edition to be an excellent way to get started with a full-featured phone system and be positioned to easily transition to more advanced Switchvox systems as their needs change and grow.”

Switchvox Free Edition is on display this week at Fall VON 2007 and Digium|Asterisk World at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The product may be downloaded from www.switchvox.com

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Another open source Asterisk based has come to bloom at 1bizcom. The open source software based 1bizCom is next generation web-based, multi-tenant, distributed, mulit-lingual, inbound, outbound Video enabled VoIP & VVoIP call/ contact center solution for Asterisk with Built-in phone, IVR, CRM, Predictive dialer, ACD, Chat, Mail, Fax, Video and other features.
The system runs on Windows IIs web server and the MySQL data base could reside on a Linux server if preferred. The system is in beta and the current version seems to be 0.8.0.0b1 and the application package is known as 1bC.
According to the 1bizcom site;

1BizCom has all the salient features which goes beyond with new creations like efficient call handling, Automatic Call Routing (ACD), Voice Logging/Recording, Authentication, Conferencing, Data base screen pops, Answering machine detection with detailed statistics and reporting for reduced response time, improved customer experience and quality management of the operations. 1BizCom is a highly scalable Call Center Solution supporting three-dimensional scalability, which will enable client to scale up and optimize the operations as per changing requirements with vendor independence. 1Bizcom helps users to take care of the entire value chain and continuously work on processes & help to generate value at peak places.
Exclusive Features

Automatic Call Distribution (ACD)
Call handling features
Call connection notification on the screen
Call transfer, Call Conferencing, 3rd party verifications
Voice Logging, Monitoring
Call Detail Record (CDR) and Reporting
Web based solution
Maintaining call history

I have not tested the application, due to the fact that builds were pulled off by the developer. The developer left the following message on the Sourceforge Forum;
"Thanks for outstanding support that has been landed to 1bizcom since its lauch few days back…Unfortunately, due to some critical issues, I have to pull the builds…But, please note that we are highly motivated by the initial community support landed and we are firm to provide you a very strong collaborative open source platform.
Please, give us some time and we will get you an improved version of the software very soon. "

But if you are handy with subversion, it is possible to grab the application and the code. See the links bellow. But I will watch out as the developer might have had a good reason to pull out the build.

I have gone through the demo provided on the side and I feel that his Asterisk add on has clear long path ahead.

Links;
1bizcom site
Sourceforge project
1bizcom SVN at Sourceforge