Cozy,
Methods on how to reduce phone bills:
1- Free calls over the internet
2- Lower rates when calling anywhere in the world.
Asterisk + SME is a great combination in a sense where you don't need to be running 02 systems. The advantages of this set up, be for home user or small business are numerous, and I recommend checking
http://www.voip-info.org for all the needed info.
In my case I use at home and at the office. At home I have my own PBX (how fancy!) and calls comming in can be answered on the regular phones or using desktops, laptops (running Xlite) or IP Phones. They can be upstairs, downstairs or anywhere my wireless setup allows me. I have my own attendant that greets my guests and directs them to the right extension. They also can be put on hold, transferred, or go into virtual meetings, all thru an automated system that includes my favorite background music.
To make local calls, we use the regular PSTN system, long distance gets routed to a VoIP provider, 1-800 calls are routed to
http://www.FreeWorldDialUp.com that gives me free calls anywhere in the world.
Incoming calls are taken as if I only had one number/line, when in fact I use Gismo
http://www.gizmoproject.com , FWD, my e164 number, my local number and my Voip provider number.
Calling home or office when I'm at a client (or anywhere in the world actually) is free with the help of VPN, I could also use FWD or anything without the need of VPN, but I like quality and I can also make calls as if I were dialing from the office or home, when I'm not physically there, paying as if it was a local call.
There's also flexibility, control, reporting and other things that make asterisk great. The price to implement a perfect system (including PSTN cards, IP phones and your time of course) can be high initially, but it's a good investment in my view.
Enough of me already!
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