TalkSwitch-Covad Interoperability

By Robert Poe

Asterisk-based IP PBXes receive praise as powerful yet affordable phone systems for small businesses. Because they use open-source software, they're usually cheaper than proprietary products. But there are some low-end proprietary alternatives, such as TalkSwitch's systems, that are competitive on both price and features. TalkSwitch, a division of Centrepoint Technology Inc., has just announced interoperability with Covad Communications Group's integrated access services, which will make its products even more competitive.

TalkSwitch systems can accept both PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and VoIP lines, also known as SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) trunks, from service providers and can deliver calls to both analog and IP extensions within a company. They're based on solid-state appliances rather than servers, and CEO Jan Scheeren claimed they are so simple to set up that 70 percent of buyers do it themselves. The systems offer the usual features such as voice mail, a dial-by-name directory and ring groups, as well as a nine-level auto attendant system. Users can also receive voice mail messages as email.

There are a number of reasons small companies might want to use analog extensions, according to Scheeren. In some cases, they may not have the LAN wiring necessary to use IP phones throughout their offices. They may want to use several basic $25 phones, or they may have fax machines requiring analog lines. A big advantage of VoIP extensions, on the other hand, is that they can work anyplace an employee can plug a compatible IP phone into the Internet. Each TalkSwitch box also provides 10 remote extensions, which allows forwarding of incoming calls to outside PSTN numbers and access to those numbers by dialing three-digit extension numbers.

The newly announced certification means that TalkSwitch products work with various Covad integrated access products, which provide phone service and Internet access as a package. The incoming VoIP phone lines have managed QoS (Quality of Service), which ensures that bandwidth carrying voice gets priority so as to maintain call quality. A minimal TalkSwitch setup that would work with a low-end Covad package might have two PSTN lines plus four additional VoIP lines, the smallest number Covad offers. The PSTN lines would handle emergency calling when Internet access is down, as well as local calling, faxes and the like.

Such a system, with four analog extensions and up to 12 VoIP extensions, would go for under $1,000, Scheeren noted. That is cheaper than many Asterisk-based systems. And technical support is free for the lifetime of the product, even if it is resold to another user. TalkSwitch also sells graphical onscreen call-handling software as a separate product for $399, rather than bundling it as part of the package as some Asterisk-based vendors do. Call reporting software starts at $499.

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