IP-PBXs built on open source software show promise

In this Clear Choice test of four open source-based IP PBX systems, we found products that are well suited for the low end — defined in this testing as supporting as many as 250 concurrent users. By providing simple installation processes, automatic endpoint configuration and straightforward Web-based management interfaces, these products could go a long way in easing IT fears about dealing with open source VoIP products.

Product SIPxchange ECS Switchvox PBXtra net.PBX Vendor Pingtel Four Loop Technologies Fonality Escaux Price as tested $7,200* for software and one-year service contract. Essential Manager's Guide: Communications Tools for the Effective Worker: Download now $4,355* for software, performance upgrade and one-year service contract. $4,744* for software, appliance and three-year service contract. $16,316* for software, appliance and one-year service contract. Pros Single CD installation; extensive support for autoprovisioning of third-party IP hard phones; group provisioning; load balances and high availability supported. Offers group provisioning and extension templates; switchboard application available for all users. Full turnkey system, hosted maintenance and management service, simple remote user support. Company provides maintenance and management as a service; offers group user configuration; high availability supported. Cons Limited remote user support. No autoprovisioning of third-party IP hard phones; no IAX phone support. Limited adds, moves and changes permitted with model; requires Internet connection for management. Requires Internet connection for installation and maintenance. Score 4.4 4.2 4.0 3.8 Link to our IP-PBX Buyer's Guide at www.nwdocfinder.com/1102 The breakdown  Pingtel  Four Loop Technologies   Fonality  Escaux  Management 20% 4 4 5 4 Features 20% 4 5 4 4 Interoperability 20% 5 4 3 4 Ease of use 20% 4 4 5 3 Architecture 20% 5 4 3 4 TOTAL SCORE 4.4 4.2 4.0 3.8 Scoring Key: 5: Exceptional; 4: Very good; 3: Average; 2: Below average; 1: Subpar or not available

Click to see: Net results

While this initial test of these products focused on smaller-scale deployment models, several of the systems tested also lend themselves to larger deployments. They incorporate more-advanced features, such as standby systems for failover and user presence capabilities. All provide full Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) support for endpoints as well as trunks. The management interfaces are simple but also provide detail for troubleshooting and bandwidth control necessary in larger environments.

The vendors that accepted our invitation were Escaux, Fonality, Four Loop Technologies and Pingtel. All four products were built on top of Asterisk, the original open source IP PBX (see the assessment of Digium’s Asterisk offering below). The four vendors in our test demonstrated tangible improvements to existing open source IP PBX base code, especially in their efforts to facilitate installation, management and maintenance with GUIs.

The systems were ordered and provisioned as a customer would procure them. We then put them through their paces looking at management, features, interoperability, ease of use and architecture. Because performance metrics such as voice quality are dependent on the endpoint chosen, it was not a key factor in this test.