New Digium IP Phones Now Available
New Digium IP Phones Now Available by Paul Robinson
In its recent press release Digium announced the general availability of its first phones designed specifically for Switchvox, its Asterisk open source-based UC business phone system designed for the SMB space. Switchvox systems include: IP-PBX, UM, IM/presence, audio conferencing, fax server, P2P video capability, mobility, call queues, recording and monitoring, as well as reporting and call logging software functions in a single rack mount or desktop appliance. The Switchvox solution is geared for smaller deployments (no more than 400 subscribers), though it can be configured for larger installations using several servers to increase the effective subscriber base. One such installation serves 2,500 users. The SMB sweet spot is, however, less than 100.
The new Digium IP phones are competitively priced with MSRPs as follows: D40 ($129)- An entry-level HD IP phone with 2-line keys, D50 ($179) - A mid-level HD IP phone with 4-line keys and D70 ($279) - An executive-level HD IP phone with 6-line keys. All three models are purpose-built for easy deployment and leverage the power of Asterisk and control the users’ end-to-end experience. Better yet, none of these phones require the added $30 cost a feature pack of prior models. Today, the phones are available in North America and other markets using U.S. English. The phones are expected to be available shortly in Australia and South Africa.
For the first time Digium is able to control how its phones are discovered on a network. Complete state information on a call in now available and addressable by the phone’s features permitting users to create apps based on that data. In fact, many of the capabilities designed into Switchvox use its APIs to create and develop apps, many of which now run directly on the phones and are visible there through the extension of Switchvox Switchboard Panels. Switchboard Panels include presence management, chat, interactive voicemail, visual call parking, one-touch call recording, searchable contact directory, CRM, call queuing, etc.
The new phones, themselves, incorporate an application engine and JavaScript API that lets subscribers and developers create applications that interface directly with core phone features. This is in addition to the Switchvox Extend toolset available on Switchvox Developer Central that lets developers integrate Switchvox with their business applications using an XML API, IVR management tools and event notifications.
In conjunction with the availability of its new phones, Digium is moving the new 5.5 release of Switchvox and the 1.8 release of the Asterisk open source platform. These updates support the enhanced capabilities provided by the Digium phones. In addition, Switchvox R5.5 includes customizable directories and call rules that respond to status. It’s available as a free upgrade for all Switchvox customers with active subscriptions.
What This Means to You
For Customers: Digium's Switchvox is a competitively priced UC platform for SMBs. A Switchvox 355 appliance for 400 users with all software and hardware redundancy lists for $5,995. Subscription plans for software updates to receive new features and technical support start at an MSRP of $55 per user per year with annual renewals at about $10/user. System base pricing includes APIs and plug-ins which integrate Switchvox with business applications and web services. This provides users with access to communications capabilities from within Microsoft Outlook and Office applications, from web pages and from CRM software. All of these options can save time and improve productivity. Most notably, Switchvox UC is positioned to connect people and information in a contextual way. Contextual communications capability is at the heart of unified communications.
Bottom line: SMB customers with 400 or fewer subscribers should certainly consider the Digium Switchvox solution if their looking for a cost-effective UC solution that's easy to install and use, and supports the ability to add custom extensions and integrations with the open-source Asterisk. But there some cautions here. Switchvox supports standard video codecs, but there is nothing inherent in the Switchvox system today to launch a video call. Video endpoints are required. In addition, Switchvox lacks interoperability certification with some of the market-leading collaboration vendors' solutions. For example, there has been no formal integration testing with Microsoft Lync or Cisco UCC products.
For Partners: Switchvox offers VARs/resellers a strong value proposition to take to their SMB customers – one that highlights helping customers cut infrastructure costs, communication-enable business processes, and support geographically dispersed and mobile employees leading to enhanced business agility. Moreover, prior to the availability of the Digium phones, partners were selling Polycom, Aastra, and Snom phones at an unacceptably low margin and were generally telling customers to acquire their own endpoints. Today, partners can compete on phones, make acceptable margin, and retain account control.
Digium also supports its channel in other ways. Sales are run through the channel and the expense to access both Asterisk and Switchvox certification coursework is 100% reimbursable by Digium, once the Digium partner requirements have been met.
Digium’s ISV and SI partners can develop CEBP integrations by downloading software development kits or accessing Switchvox Developer Central, an online community for developers who are integrating voice and web applications using the Switchvox UC solution. Switchvox Developer Central is a website for developers to connect with one another to share ideas and solve problems. It includes a wiki containing all documentation for the Switchvox Extend API, a forum for ongoing discussion, a blog for the Digium engineering team to post news to the community, and tools to simplify development and testing. In addition, Asterisk Integration partners receive visibility from potential buyers on AsteriskExchange, Digium’s online Asterisk marketplace.
AsteriskExchange listings include hardware and software products and components, including: IP phones, soft phones, edge devices, gateways, call center applications, voice prompts, text to speech and speech recognition software, complete PBX systems, gateway hardware and other items. All pricing, support, license and other product information are all set by the seller. Digium offers exclusive product testing and certification for products that interoperate with Asterisk. AsteriskExchange advertising and co-marketing plans are also available.