In Search of a Linux-based PBX 3 years later

In the November 2001 issue of Communications Solutions Magazine I wrote about my quest to find an open-source Linux-based PBX. I actually wrote the article in August 2001 (magazine lead time), so it is exactly 3 years ago that I wrote that article.\n\nI remember thinking \"Linux is taking off everywhere, why hasn't it taken off in telephony?\" I did find a few companies such as Picazo (which was bought by Dialogic and then acquired by Telecor). Where they are today is anyone's guess. I actually wanted to install a Linux-based PBX in our corporate offices, but wound up installing Artisoft's TeleVantage instead. (a good product even if it does run on Windows)\n\nI then found another company called Bayonne which is a telecommunications application server of the GNU Project and supports a few telephony boards. But I haveb't heard much from them lately.\n\nQuicknet Technologies was another company offering telephony boards for the Linux platform, but not a full-fledged PBX. They've had their own issues and problems.\n\nI discovered several more \"pretenders\" trying to capture the hearts and minds of Linux developers all wishing to leverage the strong Linux developer community to build a full-fledged IP-PBX.\n\nI even discovered and wrote about Asterisk which most people had never even heard of. Asterisk is the first open-source PBX (IP-PBX) ever developed. Who knew that out of the plethora of Linux telephony companies I found, that the true \"hidden gem\", Asterisk would be one of the few left standing. In just three short years, Asterisk has built a rabid and loyal fan base. Asterisk along with Digium's hardware are making a strong case for a feature-rich, practical, open-source IP-PBX!\n\nIn fact, I got some nasty emails from some Asterisk fans when I \"lightly\" critiqued Asterisk in Internet Telephony Magazine for not having full-SIP support. Sheesh! I'll try and post some of those emails over the next few days.\n\nCheck out my original \"In Search Of A Linux-Based PBX\" article from November 2001.\nOr this link:\nCommunications Solutions (TM) Magazine's CC:, By Tom Keating\n\n