Small Biz Technology Reviews | Asterisk Appliance for your Business

What is an Asterisk Appliance?
Asterisk Appliance (AA50) is a reliable, cost-effective and full-featured Internet Telephony Solution pretty much tailor made to the small to medium businesses. It features the first AsteriskGUI™ framework developed by Digium as an easy to use graphical user interface to manage the Asterisk system.

We’ve been covering Asterisk here as we’ve been a big fan of this open source project. It’s a great product and has the potential to lower the telecommunication cost for your business. If you are paying too much on your telecommunication needs, definitely check out VOIP and Asterisk. Do not allow yourself to be enslave by the Big Telcos.

For the tech-savvy, you can download the Asterisk software and install it on your own. But for those that are not, the Asterisk Appliance offers an all-in-one package where both the hardware and software required are included. The Asterisk Appliance is also from Digium, the creator of the open source Asterisk software.
Features:
- Complete Asterisk Server with AsteriskGUI
- Embedded Asterisk Business Edition with commercial license
- Built-in Router Ideal for Small Offices
- Up to Eight Analog Ports
- Support for a Combination of FXO and FXS Modules
- 1GB Compact Flash® Card
- Hardware-based Echo Cancellation
- 8 MB Onboard Flash
- 64 MB Onboard RAM
- 5 Ethernet Ports (4 LAN, 1 WAN)

Benefits:
- All-in-one package of Digium Hardware, Digium Asterisk Software, system documentation, and subscription services
- Increased reliability over PC-based systems; no moving parts
- Lower power requirements = reduced total cost of ownership
- Hosted service providers can have a feature rich CPE-based solution with very short ROI
- Enables the deployment of fully featured cost effective telephony solutions with simple deployment features such as auto-provisioning of Polycom IP Phones
- Subscription adds peace of mind by providing support of any incidents, ongoing warranty, and access to the right people

For the non-tech savvy, an Asterisk Appliance is the way to go.