The FreePBX EcoSystem has developed over the past decade to become a widely deployed Open Source PBX platform in use across the world today. Sangoma now offers and supports the FreePBX appliance, a purpose-built, performant PBX solution designed and tested for optimal performance, and the only officially supported hardware solution for FreePBX. The appliance comes preloaded with the FreePBX Distro and includes a one-year warranty.
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Sangoma Communications Platform
Score 8.9 out of 10
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Sangoma's Communications Platform, including the former Switchvox and Business Voice+ from Star2Star, is a UCaaS system, allowing users to simplify communications down to one solution delivered on-premise, on cloud, or via hybrid deployment.
FreepBX is a great product if you are able and willing to manage your own PBX system. It requires some know-how to set up but once running, it works very well. There is a large community that helps answer questions, but it isn't "plug and play" so you will need to be able to research and troubleshoot your own issues (or pay for support).
We can even use the switchboard option if we are completely online and not using the phone. We can transfer calls by using the online switchboard as well as see who is on the phone or not at that time.
I've installed quite a few of these systems for a number of customers, and I've found a number of times having access to the second Ethernet port on some of the larger systems, and the ability to do some sort of static routing, and firewall functionality. I would love to have the ability to connect one port to the carrier's cpe router, and the other port to the customer's network.
I've worked with Voip products for a number of years, and various asterisk iterations. I'd like to see more access to the asterisk cli for troubleshooting, and/or potentially some sort of shell access.
I'd like to see the Digum Switchvox phones have vpn functionality. It would be great to deploy a field office with a pre-provisioned phone that automatically connects back to the corporate network via a secure vpn tunnel from most internet connections. Currently we either use a softphone, manually program a Cisco phone that does have the capability, or deploy an semi expensive router that support a secure tunnel. It would be much easier to sell a customer on a remote office and a fancy Digium phone, if they didn't need the extra hardware.
FreePBX is as functional and easier to set up and manage, at least compared to the version of UCM we were on. The menus are more intuitive and you do not need to have Cisco command-line memorized to make things work. Plus, there is no cost overhead with an open-source software.
I've installed, and maintained a number of different phone systems over the last few years, including nationwide level Voip service providers relying entirely on custom built Asterisk systems, to SOHO systems connected to cloud level services. So far Digium Switchvox has been one of my favorites when it comes to ease of use, customer service, and over all reliability. While there are a few things I'd like to see done a little differently, updates are released frequently with fixes, and new features.
Our in house system has allowed us to grow as our needs have grown. It takes no time to turn up a new phone and get a fresh employee taking calls, and saves us a call to an outside consultant every time we want to make a change to the phone system.
Previously a receptionist's time would be utilized for directing incoming calls to their destinations, demanding the need for multiple staff member to handle call volumes. With Digium Switchvox we were able to implement a few Interactive Voice Response menus so callers could reach their intended destination without the need for human intervention, allowing us to better utilize the time of our employees.
Thanks to installing our own system, and enjoying it so much, we were able to take that knowledge and return it back to the company selling, installing, and maintaining Digium Switchvox systems.
