By Editor
Fans of open source computing will be happy to know that the same compelling advantages of this system are to be had in open source telephony. DVCOM brings these gains to the region
With Linux and other open source software setting the standards for open-source computer technology, it was only fitting that IP telephony would follow suit.
Asterisk became the standard bearer for open source telephony through their pioneering PBX software in 1999. DVCOM, a part of Al Mashka Group, a UAE based $150 million conglomerate and a leading solutions provider of Open Source VoIP Telephony, brought to the Middle East market the Asterisk Open-Source PBX in 2007.
“We though the best way enter the IP market is through open-source telephony which was something new. Our objective was to get into IP-PBX but we did not want to be in a proprietary platform,” said Renjan George, Managing Director, DVCOM Technology.
Linux remains the de-facto leader in open-source technology and provided DVCOM with the basis for any discussion on open source technology. Indeed, Asterisk was initially developed for Linux although it’s now supported by many other operating systems such as Mac OS X and NetBSD among others.
After getting into open source PBX, DVCOM decided to let customers make the decision on which end-points they desired. This is in contrast with the proprietary IP phone vendors who after supplying a PBX system oblige customers to their end-points that are tied to these PBX systems. “This is why Asterisk is different in that you can use any sim-based end-point,” Renjan said.
In time, DVCOM launched Snom, Yealink and other product lines essentially moving into the Unified Communications (UC) arena. Yealink, a leading manufacturer of IP Phones, is one of the recent additions to the ever growing portfolio of DVCOM’s brand representations in the region.
Networking came next to enable DVCOM provide customers an integrated and complete solution. Networking solution provider Draytek offers solutions able to provide VPN connection. The move to UC was inspired by customer demand, according to Renjan. “Customers want a single integrator or vendor to satisfy all their communication needs.”
Modern communication technology enables voice, video and data running on the same line. The backbone has also become stronger with fast internet speeds, fibre now available in many offices. “This is how we decided this was the way forward. Asterisk can integrate voice, video and data into one single box. There’s nothing better than having all these services in one box and then all this being open source,” Renjan said.
There has been a shift in peoples’ expectations of their communication providers. Customers now understand that being tied to a proprietary system and paying license fees every year does not make sense, according to Renjan. “Asterisk as an open-source product gives that capability to our customers to,” added Renjan.
Open source technology by default is easier to manage lacking the ingrained complexities of proprietary equipment. DVCOM provides the initial training for Asterisk and once customers learn the configurations, they can easily implement their own PBX solution. “This is a clear advantage to a company with many employees as they can deploy an extensive telephony system without necessarily requiring hiring an integrator,” Renjan said.
Since these phones are IP-based, integration with mobile platforms is easy. Asterisk has apps available on smartphones on the SwitchVox platform. Customers can access and remote-configure to the office PBX. They can also deploy extensions to the home, configure it to the main office PBX and establish a connection to the office through VPN. “This is one of the major advantages we offer to our customers. Remote workers can connect to their offices wherever they are as long as they have a 3G/4G internet connection. They are also able to connect through voice, video or data,” explained Renjan.
For those with substantial existing analogue legacy systems in place, DVCOM will offer a hybrid solution incorporating analogue and IP. “Asterisk can integrate with your analogue system as well as through other telephony gateways. There are ATS (Applied Tape System) available where you can easily integrate between analogue and IP as they gradually phase to IP,” said Renjan. However, most companies are moving entirely from analogue to IP as the latter offers a cheaper and more straightforward system. In an analogue system, one will require a separate box if they need call recording, another one for IVR, and yet another device for voicemail.
“IP offers one solution in one box with a lot of features incorporated within as customers do not wish to invest in all these disparate equipment and then have to maintain them,” Renjan opined. Typically, a customer would save up to 60% of costs when they adopt open source technology as opposed to proprietary system and its attendant licensing fees.
Another advantage of open source is the speed in which upgrades can be done. With open source, one can update the community themselves and the company will put the upgrades in the product within a month or two. Asterisk for instance is already in the 11th edition, 14 years after launch. In proprietary brands, it takes years for new models and software to enter the market. Due to prevailing economic uncertainties, the next few years should see a lot of expansion in open source, Renjan reckons. “Asterisk having proven its worth with some major names in global business such as Yahoo, Qatar Airways, Penn State University, etc., open source IP telephony is the way forward,” he adds.
DVCOM also recently announced the opening of their offices in Bahrain. The new office will focus on catering to the ever growing demand of Open Source VoIP Telephony in Bahrain along with servicing DVCOM’s already existing portfolio of clients. DVCOM Technology, which already has offices in Dubai, Qatar, Oman, Saudi, Sudan, Bangladesh and India-Delhi/Mumbai, represents over twelve brands of Open Source VoIP based products and solutions as a Value Add Distributor. The new office will offer complete range of product and services that are offered by DVCOM across the region along with training and service support.
Opening of our new branch office in Bahrain is a part of long term growth strategy to maintain our position as a market leader in Open Source VoIP Telephony and to service our client based in the kingdom more efficiently,” adds Renjan.