I tried two PSTN-to-VoIP/VoIP-to-PSTN gateways--one from BroadVoice's managed service and the other a Sipura Technology SPA-3000. These gateways let me complete calls between our VoIP-based devices and people on the PSTN, and visa versa. I used SIP phones from Polycom and Zyxel, and a CounterPath Solutions' eyeBeam softphone, to test CGPro's VoIP features. The BroadVoice setup was simple to implement--I just input new CGPro router entries and my BroadVoice account information on CGPro's External PSTN Gateway setup page.
The Web setup for the SPA-3000 was as complex as any I've experienced. Those who regularly deal with PSTN phone-switching equipment might have a clue, but to me the Sipura interface was like looking at Martian spaceship assembly instructions in their native language. The PSTN world is new to the folks at CommuniGate Systems as well, so don't expect much documented help for tying IP PBX solutions together in the early releases of version 5. Small or midsize businesses interested in being early adopters of CGPro's VoIP-to-PSTN gateway should investigate the Mediatrix Telecom 1204, which CommuniGate Systems is implementing in-house.
CGPro ships with voicemail, conference, self-service and call-attendant applications--a good starting point. CommuniGate Systems uses GC/PL, a Perl-like language new to version 5 that exposes these applications for modification. I changed the call-attendant application to remove the prompt to select a language and had the call menu use the numeric keypad to select one of the technology editors in the Syracuse lab. Best of all, I made these changes in less than 30 minutes.
Those with the time and personnel to carry them through the initial set up should consider this release a viable option for unified messaging and IP PBX setups.
Ron Anderson is Network Computing's lab director. Write to him at [email protected].
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