OfficeSwitch IP PBX

OfficeSwitch IP PBX can turns an ordinary computer into a feature-rich voice communications server. OfficeSwitch makes it simple to create and deploy a wide range of telephony applications and services.

What Does OfficeSwitch Do?

OfficeSwitch is like an erector set or a box of Legos for people who want to create communications applications. That's why we refer to it as a "tool-kit" or "development platform". OfficeSwitch includes all the building blocks needed to create a PBX system, an IVR system or virtually any other kind of communications solution. The "blocks" in the kit include:

• Drivers for various VoIP protocols.
• Drivers for PSTN interface cards and devices.
• Routing and call handling for incoming calls.
• Outbound call generation and routing.
• Media management functions (record, play, generate tone, etc.).
• Call detail recording for accounting and billing.
• Transcoding (conversion from one media format to another).
• Protocol conversion (conversion from one protocol to another).
• Database integration for accessing information on relational databases.
• Web services integration for accessing data using standard internet protocols.
• LDAP integration for accessing corporate directory systems.
• Single and mult-party call bridging.
• Call recording and monitoring functions.
• Integrated "Dialplan" scripting language for call processing.
• External call management in any programming or scripting language through OfficeSwitch Gateway Interface (AGI)
• Event notification and CTI integration via the OfficeSwitch Manager Interface (AMI).
• Speech synthesis (aka "text-to-speech") in various languages and dialects using third party engines.
• Speech recognition in various languages using third party recognition engines.

This combination of components allows an integrator or developer to quickly create voice-enabled applications. The open nature of OfficeSwitch means that there is no fixed limit on what it can be made to do. OfficeSwitch integrators have built everything from very small IP PBX systems to massive carrier media servers.

OfficeSwitch as a PBX

OfficeSwitch can be configured as the core of an IP or hybrid PBX, switching calls, managing routes, enabling features, and connecting callers with the outside world over IP, analog (POTS), and digital (T1/E1) connections.

OfficeSwitch runs on a wide variety of operating systems including Linux, Mac OS X, OpenBSD, FreeBSD and Sun Solaris and provides all of the features you would expect from a PBX including many advanced features that are often associated with high end (and high cost) proprietary PBXs. OfficeSwitch's architecture is designed for maximum flexibility and supports Voice over IP in many protocols, and can interoperate with almost all standards-based telephony equipment using relatively inexpensive hardware.

OfficeSwitch as a Gateway

It can also be built out as the heart of a media gateway, bridging the legacy PSTN to the expanding world of IP telephony. OfficeSwitch’s modular architecture allows it to convert between a wide range of communications protocols and media codecs. OfficeSwitch as a feature/media server.

OfficeSwitch in the Call Center

OfficeSwitch has been adopted by call centers around the world based on its flexibility. Call center and contact center developers have built complete ACD systems based on OfficeSwitch. OfficeSwitch has also added new life to existing call center solutions by adding remote IP agent capabilities, advanced skills-based routing, predictive and bulk dialing, and more.

OfficeSwitch Features

OfficeSwitch-based telephony solutions offer a rich and flexible feature set. OfficeSwitch offers both classical PBX functionality and advanced features, and interoperates with traditional standards-based telephony systems and Voice over IP systems. OfficeSwitch offers the advanced features that are often associated with large, high end (and high cost) proprietary PBXs.

Call Features

Supported Platforms

OfficeSwitch® is primarily developed on GNU/Linux for x/86 and runs on GNU/Linux for PPC along with OpenBSD, FreeBSD, and Mac OS X. Other platforms and standards-based UNIX-like operating systems should be reasonably easy to port for anyone with the time and requisite skill to do so.

OfficeSwitch® is available in Debian Stable and is maintained by the Debian VoIP Team.

Supported Protocols

OfficeSwitch® supports a wide range of protocols for the handling and transmission of voice over traditional telephony interfaces including H.323, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP), and Skinny Client Control Protocol (SCCP).

Using the Inter-OfficeSwitch eXchange Voice over IP protocol OfficeSwitch® merges voice and data traffic seamlessly across disparate networks. The use of Packet Voice allows OfficeSwitch® to send data such as URL information and images in-line with voice traffic, allowing advanced integration of information.

OfficeSwitch® provides a central switching core, with four APIs for modular loading of telephony applications, hardware interfaces, file format handling, and codecs. It allows for transparent switching between all supported interfaces, allowing it to tie together a diverse mixture of telephony systems into a single switching network.