Source: www.voip-news.com

Digium has announced the keynote speakers for AstriCon ‘08. Brian Aker from Sun Microsystems/MySQL and Stefan Öberg from Skype will keynote the conference for expert developers and Asterisk telephony platform users.

Aker is an open source hacker who is the Director of Architecture for My SQL AB. He  will give a speech called The Parallel Evolution of MySQL; One Foot in the Commercial World and the other in the Open Source Community.

Öberg is the Vice President and General Manager for Skype Telecom and Skype for Business. He will speak about VoIP for businesses.

“Digium is dedicated to making AstriCon into the largest, most exciting Asterisk community event,” said Mark Spencer, creator of Asterisk and Digium’s chief technology officer. “Every year we look forward to offering both experts and those new to Asterisk insight to the new frontiers of our application by providing expert speakers and a variety of informative tracks. Plus, I’m always looking forward to late nights at the Code Zone portion of the conference where we get some really great ideas, innovation and code from our developers and users.”

According to Digium:

AstriCon will be held from September 23-25 at the Renaissance Glendale Hotel & Spa in Glendale, Ariz. FierceVoIP and TMCnet will serve as media sponsors and Polycom and Sangoma will be the platinum sponsors for the event. There is a pre-conference tutorial day on September 23rd with various introductory as well as developer tracks. Registration is open at www.astricon.net.

Source: asteriskblog.com

In the world of business, partnerships can make or break one’s endeavors. More often than not, entities come together to complement each other’s strengths. In doing so, they are able to provide better and more services and grow their businesses.

It seems that Digium and Dicar Networks are seeing things in the same light as the news is that they are intending to come together to set up something that would offer practical telephony solutions for a reasonable price. The target of this partnership? The vast state of California. They are sure to attract a lot of customers in this area, especially with their intent of providing excellent service at reasonable costs.

TMCNet reports:

The companies said the recognize that small and medium businesses have certain specific communication needs and they are looking to address that particular requirement. They are promoting the latest generation ofSwitchvox IP PBX (News – Alert) products, supplying advanced communication systems with improved versatility and more freedom.

“We are thrilled to be chosen as Digium’s select partner,” said Armando Garcia, CEO, Dicar Networks. “Switchvox is an exceptional product, backed by a world-class organization.”

Switchvox is today compatible with high speed networks and as well as the traditional telephony infrastructure. This allows businesses the option of bidding farewell to the old PBX systems, previously being used. Additionally, the technology is increasing the potential of a small business to grow larger into a global network, without straining finances too much.

“It seems unfathomable that in order to get something better, businesses are replacing expensive systems like Avaya with a solution that costs half as much, but that’s exactly what’s happening,” said Dicar Networks CEO Armando Garcia.

The latest version of Switchvox serves as a highly advanced telephone solution that creates a link between a business phone system and the Web 2.0. The switchboard runs in the web browser itself (IE or Firefox) has been proven to save time, save money and provide enhanced customer service.

All manner of employees can use the system effectively. Whether they are receptionists and need to perform telephone tasks quickly and efficiently; supervisors would need to monitor the productivity of his subordinates; or salespeople who can integrate the system with existing software to provide a better Customer Relations Management, the system is very useful.

An additional feature that Switchvox has is that it can integrate with Google Maps, placing a map pin to identify where a call originated, thus allowing businesses to provide locally relevant information instantly. The system can also present key information about a client when the call is received, allowing the operative to be responsive much faster than usual.

I am sure that once more word gets out in the market, a lot of business entities will be lining up to avail of this service.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

I love and like Asterisk for many a reasons and if I am to list those, I will have to pay Google for consuming half the space assigned for Blogger. Linux, which I spend quite a lot of time with to create Grids and clusters. Some of these grids that we create are worlds largest. So Linux gets the first place in my projects/applications/OS list. But right next to it, I have Asterisk, that I also use in various ways.
But Bill Miller (also known as BeeLineBill) from Digium has given 10 thing to know and love about Asterisk. They are similar and different from the reasons that I love and like Asterisk. Sort of like looking through set of funny mirrors. Some aspects are enlarged and some others are amplified.
I think I distorted facts enough and without confusing you further, I will guide you to Bill’s Article. Enjoy a good and informative reading.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Digium, the business founded by Asterisk creator Mark Spencer, is getting ready to release a new version that will support much larger deployments by the end of this year.

Also New Jersey-based service provider, VoicePulse plans a hosted PBX service based on Asterisk according to Network World’s Tim Greene.

The same article also mentions that Digium promises to broaden its influence this year as 3Com makes Asterisk available on a blade for its multifunction branch-office routers. This is in addition to the relabeled commercial Asterisk appliance made by Digium for 3Com small-business customers.

Article also brings out the smaller scale Asterisk based business like Escaux and Fonality, to name a few, sell full-blown custom Asterisk PBXs. Critical Links’ Edgebox surrounds Asterisk with a router, Wi-Fi access point, NAC and other security to fashion a branch-office-in-a-box device.

The article is a must read if you have anything to with VoIP and Asterisk.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

As I reported earlier and completely support the whole idea of protecting Digium’s rights, some people have seen it from a different point of view.
I have seen Mark coming to Linux World with a handful of people and doing all the hard work of popularizing Asterisk. That was when Digium was a small company. I am sure some of these same folks who are profiting from those hard work may have laughed at Asterisk at that time!. Anyway that hard work certainly has proved to be fruitful.
Whatever the case, it seems that a lot of people do not like the adwords restriction as the decision has affected their marketing plans. Since Digium learned that apparently they underestimated the number of organizations that were utilizing Digium trademarked terms in their Google AdWords marketing campaigns and how swift the Google’s AdSense crew were. This together with inadequate planing and time period to effectively make changes, it is also understood that the hardships were larger than the benefits. So the resulting change will reinstate trademark rights for the vast majority of those using the terms. For the confusion and frustration created by this event, and Digium apologized to those who are affected.
You can find the complete inside the Asterisk article here.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Digium, the creator of Asterisk, the open source IP PBX, in response to an increase in the misuse of D igium trademarks and trademarked terms, Digium has taken a few steps recently to control the use of Digium’s trademarks.
One reason you trademark your product is to protect your brand. And in these days of Internet marketing, where adwords for coughs and phlegms are copyrighted and adwords are bought, it is important that you take every step to protect your wares and products.
Digium’s one of the first steps are to take the measures to work within Google’s defined programs to control the purchase of Digium trademarked terms as Google Adwords. But if you are a Digium reseller, you will still be able to buy adwords as Digium proactively provided Google with a list of companies that have signed agreements with Digium permitting the use of Digium trademarks. If you are a reseller and yet Google called you to rescind the use of adwords, you can get in touch with Digium to resolve the issue.
So How do I get on that list? it is pretty easy! Just join the Asterisk Ecosystem and become a reseller or technology partner. To do so please visit http://www.digium.com/en/ecosystem/ and click through to your selected type of partnership.
The complete Digium trademark policy is here.
You can read more about it at the Digium Blog.

Source: andyabramson.blogs.com

Digium is company that may have made the biggest mistake they ever could have and clearly need some crisis management help.

Their reputation is now at risk and at a time when belief in Asterisk at an all time high, and with all kinds of developers and VoIP suppliers proudly using Asterisk pulling this "protectionist" stunt involving Google is very harmful, despite the rationale of seeking to protect the trademark.

FlatPlanet’s Moshe Maeir brought this to my attention a few days ago, but being down with the flu and an all day meeting yesterday, I felt I needed to get more insight. After reading Moshe’s blog and Facebook page its obvious the already fickle developer community isn’t loving Digium the way they used to.

If Digium doesn’t take steps to shore up their now soured relationships they won’t ever reach their big dream days.

UPDATE-DIGIUM has backed off and has issued a statement.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

IDG’s InfoWorld Recognize Digium’s Asterisk 1.4 as a 2008 Technology of the Year.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. –(Business Wire)– Digium(R), Inc., the Asterisk(R) Company, today announced that IDG’s InfoWorld has recognized Asterisk 1.4 as a 2008 Technology of the Year. Selected by InfoWorld Test Center editors and reviewers, the annual awards, presented this year on January 8, identify the best and most innovative products on the IT landscape. Asterisk is the most widely used open source telephony software with more than one million downloads in 2007 and more than 100 million users worldwide.
InfoWorld reports, "a complete IP PBX released as open source under the GNU Public License, Asterisk is built to run on commodity hardware, providing considerable cost savings when compared with commercial alternatives, and it leverages the open source community for additional testing, bug fixes, and feature development." For a full list of award recipients, see www.infoworld.com.

"InfoWorld tests upwards of 200 IT products every year, and we see many, many good ones," said Doug Dineley, InfoWorld’s Test Center executive editor. "Our Technology of the Year award winners represent not only the cream of the crop, but the best products in the most important product categories. From the top AJAX development tools and SOA middleware to the best blade servers and VoIP systems, these are the products at the leading edge of IT."
Mark Spencer, creator of Asterisk and Digium’s chief technology officer, commented: "The InfoWorld Technology of the Year 2008 award is an enormous acknowledgement of the work and success of the worldwide Asterisk community. Asterisk wouldn’t be in a position to rival some of the biggest vendors of proprietary voice technology today if it weren’t for the inherent strength of open source and dedication of the community of developers."

About Digium

Digium(R), Inc., the Asterisk(R) Company, created, owns and is the innovative force behind Asterisk, the most widely used open source telephony software. Since its founding in 1999, Digium has grown to become the open source alternative to the traditional communication providers, with offerings that cost as much as 80 percent less than proprietary voice communication platforms. Digium makes Asterisk available to the open source community under the GNU General Public License (GPL) and uses business-class Asterisk to power a broad family of products for small, medium and large businesses. The company’s product line also includes a wide range of hardware to enable resellers and customers to design their own voice over IP (VoIP) systems. This year alone, more than six billion minutes of calls will be made using Asterisk. More information is available at www.digium.com.

The Digium logo, Digium, Asterisk, Asterisk Business Edition, AsteriskNOW, Asterisk Appliance and the Asterisk logo are trademarks of Digium, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Digium®|Asterisk® Marketplace. I liked it the moment I read about it. As you know I have mentioned that I might go main stream and become an agent/reseller for Digium before. I still need to iron out some issues related to my employment and the contract I have with an institution. But those are just clearing up red tapes. I will. I think the whole Astersk Ecosystem is a place to grow.
Back to the subject of Asterisk Market place. It is a brand new area on the Digium® website that provides access to enormous Asterisk® community, with a simple, low cost method. The Marketplace lists products and services from Digium partners and provides listings for companies with products and services related to Asterisk. If you know, most people needing Asterisk services or support will come to Digium site and will end up reading the lists. If the need of the customer matches your list of services or products, viola! a new customer with Pre Sales already done for you.
If you need more convincing, I will lead you to better descriptive and well written article about Asterisk Market Place. But one look at the Market Place itself and the people advertising should give you a clue.
The Asterisk Market Place, pricing and further information on it is available from the Asterisk Ecosystem. But I originally found about it on this Digium Blog post, 2008 – The Year of the Asterisk Ecosystem?, by Jim Webster.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Congratulations, Digium and the People involved with Asterisk. The team had announced the one millionth download of asterisk software. I am sure I contributed to this number by a few downloads for myself, campus and some of the clients. Those clients are happy campers at Digium as well. I do not have capacity to support every client of mine that I introduce to Asterisk. So I usually get them to sign up for support at Digium.
But the numbers are rising so, I think I need to make a resolution in January. Perhaps sign up to be a reseller or consultant. Because I see the business aspect of the hobby that I am involved with. These numbers and performance by Digium only strengthen possibility of adding Asterisk and of course Digium to my portfolio of consulting that I do outside my regular work.
I was in Japan for a very short break before X-Mas and There I found that Asterisk Appliance has a very good chance of becoming "the" Open Source Telephony resource. It is due to their nature. Japanese tend to like well packaged stuff, whether it is food, gadgets or computers. I will be personally carrying one of the Asterisk Appliances when I am going back to Japan in February to install in my friends office.
Thank you again Digium! Giving me the chance point at you when business people are skeptical about open source business’
Digium News Release;
Digium’s One Millionth Asterisk Download in 2007 Caps Record Year for Company
Open Source Telephony Leader Enters Next Phase of Business Growth with New Leadership Team, Products, Partnerships and Acquisitions.

Source: www.voip-news.com

I love when interviewers and articles go behind the scenes and give us a real sneak peek at what happens beyond closed doors.  Years later, I still vividly remember a television interview one of the news programs did with Amazon’s founder, Jeff Bezos, as he proudly showed off the desks they use throughout their office space … a door balanced on top of something to make a flat surface, a tradition they continue to this day. 

Alabama’s The Huntvilles Times recently got such a peek behind the closed doors of Digium, from its in-office hammocks on down.  Laid-back, thirty-old founder is cultivating a new, hip environment for his staff to feel comfortable in, as evidenced by a recent tidbit he shared with the reporter, “… I think it’s about being relaxed about things that aren’t really directly performance-related, like how people dress. So you’ll notice on the engineering floor, most people will come to work in shorts and a T-shirt, weather permitting. … A few weeks ago, I did this e-mail that said Friday is going to be Casual Day, without any explanation. We had people come in pajamas and people come dressed up like Harry Potter, whatever. It was pretty funny.”

That’s exactly the type of company I like working for.  You can read the whole piece right here – enjoy.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Snom, the company based in Germany and the provider of one of my earliest VoIP gateway experiences(I think six years ago!), has always been working with Digium, the developer of Asterisk. They have recently renewed their business bonds so that they can continue to provide interoperability to their respective customers.
The Phones from Snom which adhere to IETF’s latest recommendations for standards-based authentication and content security (SIP(s)/sRTP). The range of phones offered will fit in nicely in an enterprise’ executive table as well as on a kitchen table.

Following is the press release from Snom.

snom technology AG, developer and manufacturer of Voice-over-IP (VoIP) telephones, and Digium® Inc., the Asterisk® company, today announced their renewed partnership agreement to offer integrated, SIP-based telephony solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. snom has signed on as a Digium/Asterisk Premier Interoperability Partner, which will give broad support for Asterisk Business Edition telephony features on snom phones. SMB customers will receive a tightly integrated, standards-based solution with simplified provisioning, and the delivery of new capabilities and features.

“By partnering with innovative companies like snom we can offer the business community more options and features when building high-end telephony systems based on Asterisk,” said Bill Miller, VP of Marketing and Product Management. “The interoperability between Asterisk Business Edition and snom IP phones ensures flexibility and broad support for Asterisk. We look forward to furthering our reach in the marketplace through this partnership.”

snom’s highly configurable and interoperable IP desktop phones and the new snom m3 IP DECT phone will be combined with Digium’s Asterisk Business Edition, the professional-grade version of Asterisk. Through a combination of the snom and Digium offerings, SMB customers will have access to advanced telephony solutions which are more affordable compared to proprietary systems. Additionally, these new offerings will give customers the control, rapid feature development and deployment, and rich feature base that the Asterisk community and its partners provide.

“Digium’s Asterisk Business Edition offers a high-end solution for SMBs,” said Michael Knieling, CFO and executive vice president of marketing and sales for snom. “Combined with snom’s family of phones, companies can now have a VoIP phone system that offers all of the high-end features of an enterprise solution.”

All snom VoIP telephones, including the 300, 320, 360 and 370, are highly configurable and easy to manage through the keypad-cursor, dedicated function keys and menus, or Web browser, and offer user-friendly features like full-programmable keys and downloadable ringtones. snom phones offer a complete implementation of the IETF’s latest recommendations for standards-based authentication and content security (SIP(s)/sRTP). Their new IP DECT, the snom m3, is the company’s cordless offering, the snom m3 provides an optimal VoIP communication system for the enterprise, SMB or home office.