Handling incoming telephone calls, technical help needed

Steve-H · 03-10-2007, 12:53 PM

Anybody here had any experience of handling multiple incoming telephone lines for a small business? We have 3 separate incoming lines, each line has a wireless 4 handset BT phone attached to it so we can have a hand set for each line on each desk in the office. As we have 3 incoming lines this means we have 12 handsets (3 per desk) in the office. I want to install another line but don’t want to keep multiplying the number of handsets.

Surely there is an economical bit if kit you can buy that all lines plug into? This bit of kit can then route the calls to one wireless handset per desk (ringing all available handsets). It would also be nice to have hold music as well. The problem I have is knowing which bit of kit can do this and whether this is a DIY install. Research on search engines has not offered a solution so far.

I am aware you can buy new 0845/4 numbers which offer an online call management facility but they do not allow me to transfer in existing 0800 and 0845 numbers. I am also very happy with the deal with have with our NGN’s so do not want to move to another supplier.

Anyone know more about this subject than me and can point me in the right direction?

Thanks.

**monaghan** · 03-10-2007, 02:22 PM

You might want to check out http://www.asterisk.org this is an open source PBX system, you should be able to do all you want (and more) with it.

Steve-H · 04-10-2007, 09:38 AM

Thanks for this info monaghan. Looks a little bit complicated for a non IT person. I''ll study the site and see if this is the solution I'm after. Anybody know of any solutions that are more plug and play?

**monaghan** · 04-10-2007, 09:47 AM

If you search, I think you can get custom Linux distributions where you can more or less boot up and build your PABX in simple plug & play way.

Lobster · 21-10-2007, 12:12 PM

Hi Steve,
Asterix systems are fine if you have a degree in telecoms and a month to set the system up. You also need to be aware of quality issues if you want to move into VOIP as some of the cheaper providers systems have issues over the clarity of the line. We have a system that works on VOIP, has all the functionality of a normal PBX, can handle multiple incoming lines and also has the added benefit of allowing you to plug your extension into any broadband line (without the need to have a PC) and will act just as it would if you were in your own office.
I'm a new member so i can't post a link to our site here but if you give me a call or email me then i'll be glad to tell you more.
Russell

03-10-2007, 12:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Steve-H Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 135	Handling incoming telephone calls, technical help needed Anybody here had any experience of handling multiple incoming telephone lines for a small business? We have 3 separate incoming lines, each line has a wireless 4 handset BT phone attached to it so we can have a hand set for each line on each desk in the office. As we have 3 incoming lines this means we have 12 handsets (3 per desk) in the office. I want to install another line but don’t want to keep multiplying the number of handsets. Surely there is an economical bit if kit you can buy that all lines plug into? This bit of kit can then route the calls to one wireless handset per desk (ringing all available handsets). It would also be nice to have hold music as well. The problem I have is knowing which bit of kit can do this and whether this is a DIY install. Research on search engines has not offered a solution so far. I am aware you can buy new 0845/4 numbers which offer an online call management facility but they do not allow me to transfer in existing 0800 and 0845 numbers. I am also very happy with the deal with have with our NGN’s so do not want to move to another supplier. Anyone know more about this subject than me and can point me in the right direction? Thanks. __________________ Steve Company Formation UK Company Registration ~ Company Registration Online 24-7 ~

03-10-2007, 02:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
monaghan Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 505	Re: Handling incoming telephone calls, technical help needed You might want to check out http://www.asterisk.org this is an open source PBX system, you should be able to do all you want (and more) with it. __________________ Alex Monaghan - Monaghan Consultants Ltd IT & Database consultancy Become Legal - Some thoughts about legal software TVR Cars for sale Dancing on Ice - Samantha Mumba

04-10-2007, 09:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
Steve-H Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 135	Re: Handling incoming telephone calls, technical help needed Thanks for this info monaghan. Looks a little bit complicated for a non IT person. I''ll study the site and see if this is the solution I'm after. Anybody know of any solutions that are more plug and play? __________________ Steve Company Formation UK Company Registration ~ Company Registration Online 24-7 ~

04-10-2007, 09:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
monaghan Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 505	Re: Handling incoming telephone calls, technical help needed If you search, I think you can get custom Linux distributions where you can more or less boot up and build your PABX in simple plug & play way. __________________ Alex Monaghan - Monaghan Consultants Ltd IT & Database consultancy Become Legal - Some thoughts about legal software TVR Cars for sale Dancing on Ice - Samantha Mumba

21-10-2007, 12:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lobster Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cardiff Posts: 4	Re: Handling incoming telephone calls, technical help needed Hi Steve, Asterix systems are fine if you have a degree in telecoms and a month to set the system up. You also need to be aware of quality issues if you want to move into VOIP as some of the cheaper providers systems have issues over the clarity of the line. We have a system that works on VOIP, has all the functionality of a normal PBX, can handle multiple incoming lines and also has the added benefit of allowing you to plug your extension into any broadband line (without the need to have a PC) and will act just as it would if you were in your own office. I'm a new member so i can't post a link to our site here but if you give me a call or email me then i'll be glad to tell you more. Russell

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