Digium Launches Switchvox SMB 4.0

Digium offers midmarket companies a low-cost, open-source alternative to IP PBX with the latest version of its Switchvox SMB software.

Digium, the creator of open-source telephony software Asterisk, announced the release of the latest version of Switchvox SMB, an IP PBX designed for small- to mid-sized businesses.

Version 4.0 adds numerous UC (unified communication) capabilities, including support for fax, chat and video calling. The company designed Switchvox SMB for businesses that want a full-featured voice over IP phone system for hundreds of employees per server at a lower cost than that of traditional PBXs. With Switchvox SMB, Digium offers midmarket companies the power and functionality of Asterisk (the most downloaded open-source telephony software in the world) combined with extensive and user-friendly administrative features.

"With Switchvox SMB 4.0, Digium brings all of these elements together and significantly integrates the business phone system with Web applications in a way that we believe is unique today," said Digium CEO Danny Windham. Version 4.0 allows SMBs to integrate closely with several communications methods and the Web. Digium has also integrated Switchvox with Google maps and Web-based CRM software such as Salesforce and SugarCRM.

"Switchvox has always leveraged Web technologies more than other IP PBXs," said Josh Stephens, general manager of Digium's San Diego operations and a co-creator of Switchvox. "We've also provided easy-to-use APIs that enable businesses to quickly tie together their back-office software that they rely on day to day with their Switchvox IP PBX. Now, support for instant messaging, fax and video calling, plus additional IVR functionality and a range of new benefits for administrators and users alike make Switchvox SMB 4.0 a truly Web-aware UC solution."

Other features include Web-aware IVR (interactive voice response) tools for building custom applications; Switchvox Extend, an XML-based API which lets administrators create new extensions and access call logs, reports and extension lists; and Switchvox Notifier, a Windows desktop client provides interaction with MS Office applications.

The latest version of Switchvox SMB is available free of charge to customers with a current Switchvox SMB software subscription. For new customers, pricing remains unchanged and begins at $3,390 for a 10-user system, including hardware, software, a one-year subscription and warranty. The entire line of Switchvox SMB appliances, the largest of which scales to serve 400 users, will be available from Digium and partners worldwide beginning on March 3.

"The release of Switchvox SMB 4.0 marks an important milestone for Digium and for the telephony industry," said Windham. "This is the first time that advanced unified communications features have been made available to SMBs that might not have big-company budgets, but are as reliant as anyone on their phones, e-mail, fax, chat and video and on the Web to improve employee communications and efficiency."