asterisk users - Feb 2006 - Is Asterisk a PBX?

> Hi everybody,
> 
> This question is confusing me for some time. From selling point of
view
> to a customer, calling asterisk a PBX doesn't look right. According to
> the definitions of PBX or PABX, Asterisk is not just PBX but much more
> than that. My question is, how should I introduce Asterisk to a
> customer? I don't want to call it a PBX.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Zach A.
Good question.  What does Cisco call their VoIP server product line?
Maybe you could use a synonym of that.  It's hard to pin down what
Asterisk "is" because it does so much.  Can't call it "just a
PBX" and
it's certainly more than a "VoIP server."  You can't even call
it a
"voice communications server" because it does more than that!  Is it a
"Communications Server," or maybe a "telecom/datacom
server?"  I can see
it now, yet more acronyms!  How about this: Asterisk is an AVCS/DCS
(kinda like CSU/DSU): Audio/Video Communications Server/Data
Communications Server?  

We could have lots of fun with this one... :)

-MC

Yes, it is a PBX. It is also a softswitch. It is also a VoIP or PSTN proxy.
It is also a messaging application platform. A fax server. An SMS relay
point. etc. It is all of this, and more. Taken as a whole, Asterisk is
greater than the sum of it's parts. 

This also makes it impossible to pigeonhole Asterisk into a specific
category, since it does so many different things. How you present it to
people, IMO, depends on what they want to hear. Typical PHB's do not
understand the difference between "PBX" or "Messaging
platform", so it's up
to you to present it in a manner in which they can digest. This is going to
vary depending upon the needs of the prospective adopter. You will only
confuse the hell out of them by saying "Yes, but it does THIS thing and
THAT
thing as well". If the prospective adopter asks: "Will it REPLACE my
PBX?"
say "Yes" - no more. If they ask: "Can I fax with it?" say
Yes - no more.

Your answer will be "YES" for 90% of the questions you will get, and
then
let them formulate their own conclusions. 

Of course, for guys who already know the score and aren't PHB's, you can
blurt out everything that Asterisk does and once they finish crapping their
pants, they will ask you to implement it. 


-----Original Message-----
From: Zach A [mailto:zeeshan@acabling.com]
Sent: Friday, February 24, 2006 1:02 PM
To: 'Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion'
Subject: [Asterisk-Users] Is Asterisk a PBX?


Hi everybody,

This question is confusing me for some time. From selling point of view
to a customer, calling asterisk a PBX doesn't look right. According to
the definitions of PBX or PABX, Asterisk is not just PBX but much more
than that. My question is, how should I introduce Asterisk to a
customer? I don't want to call it a PBX.

Thanks

Zach A.

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I was thinking smaller... just Communications Suite

Michael Collins wrote:
>>Hi everybody,
>>
>>This question is confusing me for some time. From selling point of
> 
> view
> 
>>to a customer, calling asterisk a PBX doesn't look right. According
to
>>the definitions of PBX or PABX, Asterisk is not just PBX but much more
>>than that. My question is, how should I introduce Asterisk to a
>>customer? I don't want to call it a PBX.
>>
>>Thanks
>>
>>Zach A.
> 
> 
> Good question.  What does Cisco call their VoIP server product line?
> Maybe you could use a synonym of that.  It's hard to pin down what
> Asterisk "is" because it does so much.  Can't call it
"just a PBX" and
> it's certainly more than a "VoIP server."  You can't even
call it a
> "voice communications server" because it does more than that!  Is
it a
> "Communications Server," or maybe a "telecom/datacom
server?"  I can see
> it now, yet more acronyms!  How about this: Asterisk is an AVCS/DCS
> (kinda like CSU/DSU): Audio/Video Communications Server/Data
> Communications Server?  
> 
> We could have lots of fun with this one... :)
> 
> -MC
> _______________________________________________
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> 
> Asterisk-Users mailing list
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>