Asterisk IP PBX benefits
Many of the benefits of the Asterisk IP PBX server come from the very fact that it is an open source product. Many people, especially business people, may find it hard to understand the concepts behind open source, or free software, and why, or how, anyone would use this as a business model for their product. The business models behind open source are many and varied, and not something I wish to deal with in this post. I will only deal with the open source concept as it pertains to Asterisk.
Asterisk's open code base and use of generic hardware means no proprietary lock-in
With your traditional PBX vendors, the proprietary nature of their solutions means, that you have little choice when deciding to upgrade your system or implement any new features, other than having to approach them again. Usually their entry level PBX is cheap and available on a monthly rental. This appeals to many small companies as it means there is no need for a upfront capital outlay. Sadly this is usually a strategy to get your company so locked-in to the system, that as you grow you have no choice but to approach the same vendor, and it is at this point that you discover just how expensive proprietary solutions can be, every piece of hardware or software feature enhancement you require can cost a small fortune.
Besides the fact that Asterisk system are also available on contract with no up front payment, Asterisk has been designed to work with generic computer hardware meaning that you are free to buy your hardware from the cheapest supplier. You can even reuse old hardware! In addition, the specialised hardware you may need to buy to integrate into your local land line or cell phone system, is based on open specifications, which means that there is more than one supplier for compatible hardware. All this means that costs are driven down and you have more flexibility in your telephony system.
Asterisk is freely and easily extensible
Another benefit of using Asterisk, is that is extremely easy to extend. It is extensible in both a hardware and a software sense. From a hardware point of view, it is easy to extend an existing Asterisk solution, without having to throw away hardware you have already invested in. Just as you can extend a PC with peripheral devices, or reuse components in a new PC, so too with your Asterisk PBX. You no longer have to toss out the old PBX hardware simply to get new features.
From a software point of view Asterisk is easy to integrate into 3rd party applications. Part of the open source philosophy, is the desire to freely integrate with other applications , and to allow other applications to integrate with Asterisk. There is a well defined software api, which allows your local IT department to really exploit the possibilities of computer and telephony integration (CTI). Due to its open source nature, Asterisk has nothing to gain by forcing you to buy a specific call management or reporting software.
Asterisk is extremely cost effective
Of course this is the main benefit of Asterisk that first brings Asterisk to the attention of corporates and companies wishing to cut costs and improve service. The reason that Asterisk is so cost effective, is that it is disrupting a proprietary market where every vendor has its own manufacturing facilities and service provider eco-system for its specific hardware.
There are no economies of scale in production or in the development of an eco-system around supporting their products. Because of its open nature, Asterisk encourages competition amongst suppliers, lowering the cost of telephony to businesses, and at the same time increasing the level of innovation for the use of telephony solutions in business.