Can headquarters be reached via VoIP?

Does anyone know if we can send calls to headquarters phone extensions, or perhaps the MTC referral center hotlines via VoIP? Not a big deal, but if it isn't difficult it would be kinda cool for a little project we're tinkering with here.

-Jeff

I don't know if Headquarters or the MTC have a publically accessible VoIP proxy. I do know that BYU does have a sip proxy (I set it up) and has peered with sipphone.com so that from a sipphone.com account you can call BYU numbers for free. A lot of the MTC is on BYU's phone system, but the referral lines are not.

Regardless of whether the Church or the MTC have proxies, you can always make a VoIP call to a normal PSTN number - it just won't be free. There are a lot of VoIP providers that terminate all over the world and offer very reasonable rates (most less the 2 cents a minute). So if you were to subscribe to one of these providers could call most anywhere - including the church and the MTC - from a VoIP device or software.

Just curious - what is the project that you are working on?

lincles wrote:Just curious - what is the project that you are working on?

We have one phone line in our building which is shared by the BP & clerks offices, the FHC, the hall phone, and any other purposes. We don't receive that many calls as to warrent additional phone lines. But the answering machine locked away in the bishop's office just isn't cutting it. Those messages typically don't get checked until Sunday, often long after we would have wanted to follow up. We don't want to move the machine as sometimes people leave confidential messages for the BP on there.

We used to have full time missionaries, so we had the additional phone number belonging to their apartment which was handy to give out to investigators that might want to setup an appointment. Now that the ward mission leader and a couple of us members are doing all of the missionary work here ourselves, we lack the convinence of having a dedicated phone number for the local mission effort. I don't want to wait until Sunday to find out that someone called last Tuesday and invited us to stop by earlier in the week. Likewise we don't really find it that adequate to give out our home phone numbers, as we get messages from family members on the order of this. "Oh yeah, someone called and wanted to learn more about the church..." "Who? Did you get their number?" "No, they said you had already stopped by once, I figured you knew them or something..." (Oh great... how many people did we stop by to see?)

We had an extra computer, so we're tinkering with the idea of setting up Asterisk to replace the branch answering machine. We thought we could have it prompt to leave messages in various mail boxes and then e-mail them as attachments to the appropriate leader (the BP, FHC director, mission leader, etc.)

Since we already had this in mind, I just happened to think that perhaps we could use it to contact headquarters extensions so our building line is still free to receive calls when someone is talking to a help desk or some office or what not. Or, we could give a sub-menu for those new to the church, such as "If you would like to contact Brother ___ or Brother ___ or arrange a local visit, press 1. If you have general questions about our beliefs and would like to speak to church representatives right now, press 2". (We could have this transfer to one of the MTC referral hotlines perhaps).

I don't know, it's just a thought. Actually in theory we could schedule it to behave differently depending upon our respective work schedules.. and actually deliver calls from investigators to our homes (to whichever branch missionary happens to be home at that time) via VoIP... Hmm... I'll have to think more about that, while trying to not think too much about it.)

-Jeff

lincles wrote:Regardless of whether the Church or the MTC have proxies, you can always make a VoIP call to a normal PSTN number - it just won't be free.

True, and I'm sure the rates are quite reasonable. I just don't like the idea of generating yet another bill that we would have to receive, pay, and keep tabs on. If it were somehow combined with one of our existing phone bills that probably wouldn't be so bad.

I suppose I could just use one of the free proxies that allows calls to US toll-free numbers. But, I just thought if the church had a VoIP proxy of their own that would make more sense as the call could be carried end-to-end over IP and not incur the church any toll charges.

-Jeff

Well, along with lincles comment, some of these voip providers don't require monthly fees or even a real number, they're just an outbound, pay-as-you-go sort of deal. You could look at setting things up so that ALL outbound calls are VoIP and the inbound line is always answered by asterisk, and optionally transferred to another extension if necessary. That way you keep your one number free the majority of the time.

The people who work at the FamilySearch/FH suport call cente in Orem take calls over landlines, then when they need to communicate with others at CHQ they also use Skype to communicate via PC with some of them.

That was mentioned on Renee Zamora's family history blog, she paid a visit to them, that was soon after the call went out for the many FH Church Service missionaries they now have. Probably July or August of last year was when she posted the story about her visit there..

jeffphil wrote:We had an extra computer, so we're tinkering with the idea of setting up Asterisk to replace the branch answering machine. We thought we could have it prompt to leave messages in various mail boxes and then e-mail them as attachments to the appropriate leader (the BP, FHC director, mission leader, etc.)

Sounds like a fun project. I have been doing a lot with asterisk lately and the more I use it, the more i am impressed with what it can do. I'm not sure how much looking you've done, but just in case you haven't run across these yet, here are two things that made "tinkering" with asterisk much easier:

Trixbox - this a complete install package - it is an install disk that will set up your linux os (Cent OS - based on red hat) asterisk, all your zaptel drivers and devices (these are hardware cards to interface with traditional phone systems) and ton of support packages for configuring and maintaining asterisk.

voip-info.org - this is a very very useful wiki for anything voip - but especially asterisk.

Also the company that makes asterisk (digium) sells the zaptel devices i mentioned earlier - they are good quality, but somewhat expesive for "tinkering". there are some "clone" cards out there that are not quite as good of quality, but start around $30 for a single FXO (what you would plug your incoming phone line into). I got mine at x100p.com but there are others.


Just some thoughts about your project:

The MTC referal numbers are 1-800 numbers - i believe that most VoIP providers offer free 1800 termination so you could take an incoming call and give them the option to transfer the MTC. Along that same thought, if your current phone provider has 1800 calling card number you could use that to call headquarters while the keeping the phonel line open.

Asterisk can do a lot for you but with only a single phone line in, you will run into a lot of restrictions - for example, if you want to transfer a call to a ward missionary, you would need a second way out of the system as the phone line is already in use. I'm sure you understand this since you were asking for a VoIP connection in the first place. Some kind of voip provider is really the best solution for this.

Good luck - i would be happy to help if i can with any questions as you set up asterisk

-Lincoln

lincles wrote:I got mine at x100p.com but there are others.

I just recently ordered an X100P device off e-bay and am waiting for it to arrive.

Asterisk can do a lot for you but with only a single phone line in, you will run into a lot of restrictions - for example, if you want to transfer a call to a ward missionary, you would need a second way out of the system as the phone line is already in use.

True, but I do have an extra ATA device somewhere around here. We could transfer the calls to the mission leader at his office where there is a broadband connection during his normal hours of being there, and take a message the rest of the time. That wouldn't require any 3rd party VoIP services or additional lines.

I'm sure you understand this since you were asking for a VoIP connection in the first place. Some kind of voip provider is really the best solution for this.

You're probably right. It would be more convinient to be able to receive calls on our regular phone without any extra gadgets at home. Or better yet, on our cell phone. If we were to get FTMs back for a while having a VoIP service provider would let me transfer the calls that are received at the branch building over to their number, whatever it is, for the duration of their stay here. And, they could continue giving out our building number instead of their own so that when they leave again we won't be left with a bunch of investigators having been given a disconnected number (which has happened twice now).

-Jeff

If we have Asterisk transfer certain inbound calls received at the church building over to the missionaries or us or what not via VoIP (which is actually a really neat idea) then on infrequent occasions someone might pick up the phone to make an outbound call only to unexpectedly break into a conversation already received on the POTS line. This happens now between the office phone and the foyer phone, but it's usually not a big deal as you can hear/recognize who's talking and just say "Oh sorry, didn't realize you were on the phone" and hang up. If they breaking into a conversation between two parties not in their immediate presence that would be a lot more confusing to people and we'd probably get told to pull the plug on this contraption.

Before we got DSL we had a line exclusionary device to make the foyer phone go dead when we picked up the office phone. That was instigated by previous leadership, and when we discovered we'd have to replace the gadget with a new one because the old one interferred with the DSL signal, the current leadership didn't seem the point. Either way it is a mild hassle, as even with the exclusion switch when the foyer phone was unknowingly in use picking up the office phone nabbed the call and yanked it away from the person speaking.

I could put an ATA between the phones and the POTS line, so that we could route outbound local calls via POTS but long distance via a VoIP service, which would be a cost savings. That would take care of the problem as when someone picks up the church phone to place an outbound call if someone else is already in an inbound call that was redirected by asterisk, they could get a seperate dial tone and still call out via VoIP transparently.

However my concern is what happens when:

* The power goes out
* The asterisk box crashes
* The ATA goes haywire
* Someone dials 911

What's the best solution to fall back to the normal POTS line and ensure that if the technology goes haywire the line can be freed up for a 911 call even if it were up until that point 'off hook' on the Asterisk box?

-Jeff

You could simply have the person record a voicemail to the appropriate party. Then when they hang up, you could call the party on the PSTN and replay the message or a message for them to call back and retrieve the message.

Asterisk would then only function like a smart answering machine, would only need a single ATA device, no VOIP at all. This would also not break your foyer phone, since you would only be placing voice calls.

jeffphil wrote: What's the best solution to fall back to the normal POTS line and ensure that if the technology goes haywire the line can be freed up for a 911 call even if it were up until that point 'off hook' on the Asterisk box?

There are ATA's that have both and FXO and a FXS port on them - you can then configure them so that certain numbers (like 911) just get bridged between the two and not handled by the Asterisk server. Here is what the setup would look like: Your incoming PSTN line would be connected to the FXO port on the ATA, the analog phone is plugged into the FXS port of the ATA and the ATA is plugged into the network. You can use the FXO instead of the X100p card, or just have it there in case of a 911 call (i think the X100p works better as an FXO). I'm not sure how configurable these ATAs are the concept of the Bridged call has alot of possibilities. I also don't know what happens in a power faliure but a cheap UPS should power the thing for many hours.

I have been playing with one of these ATAs (Grandstream handytone 488) but have not done enough testing to answer all your concerns - but maybe something to look into

-Lincoln

It would be crude, but you can probably wire up a relay such that when there's power, the relay routes the phone line though the computer. When when the power fails, then it connects a designated phone direct to the POTS line.

Just make sure you use a relay rated for continuous duty.

http://www.twacomm.com/catalog/model_LSR-1.htm

This is an example of the above mentioned relay in a pre-packaged form.

You need to be careful about connecting home-grown electronics to the phone company. They get really upset if your stuff messes up their systems.

I think you would hook up the PSTN phones as the "emergency" device. Then if power failed, it would automatically disconnect the Asterisk server.

I still think you would be better served by a call relay.

The Earl wrote:http://www.twacomm.com/catalog/model_LSR-1.htm

From the description on the website you referenced, it sounds to me like the LSR-1 would force a particular phone to always be treated as an emergency when it is used. This makes sense for the elevator phones as it described. But, a foyer phone??? I think the goal would be that when there is no emergency and everything is working fine, you would want the foyer phone to go through the asterisk box so that it can route calls via VoIP if the POTS line is busy, or just to save on LD costs, etc. The issue is when the asterisk server is down, or the power is out, that you want it to be treated as an emergency and fall back to the POTS line. Not just because you picked up a particular phone in the building.

I realize that the Church in general avoids the "latest and greatest" technologies but if VOIP were to be implimented, it would open up new avenues of communication. I don´t mind using Skype to call SLC, cost wise (with Skype) SLC and my regional offices in Frankfurt Germany are the same, except SLC speaks English better.

It would be great to be able use more members to help support FamilySearch in their own countries. This would be feasable with VOIP.

Alan
Pamplona, Spain

whitcomb wrote:SLC speaks English better.

That might be debatable.

Anyway VOIP is what most countries are already putting in so sooner or later I think just the standard infostructure will convert the church over to VOIP. Just have to wait a few more years.

jeffphil wrote: However my concern is what happens when:

* The power goes out
* The asterisk box crashes
* The ATA goes haywire
* Someone dials 911

What's the best solution to fall back to the normal POTS line and ensure that if the technology goes haywire the line can be freed up for a 911 call even if it were up until that point 'off hook' on the Asterisk box?

-Jeff

1. Install an UPS.
2. Its Linux, it shouldn't crash. (I know it can, but I've run Linux without rebooting for months at a time.)
3. Unplug the ATA and plug it back in they usually reset nicely -- but a quality unit shouldn't go haywire.
4. Get a VOIP service that offers E911 and/or route 911 calls out a POTS line. (Some ATAs can also failover to POTS and route 911)

Plus you can add all kinds of applications to Asterisk, meeting reminders/cancellation call out, voicemail, "follow me" to route a call to the right person at multiple phone numbers, etc. (e.g. provide a single number for members to call, if they have a crisis and select the "I want to talk to my priesthood leader", check their caller ID and send them to the HP Group Leader or Elder's Quorum President based on which they should be calling, rather than having them pester the Bishop!)

VOIP numbers and minutes can be a lot cheaper than "flat rate" telco lines. If the church was to negotiate and aggregate minutes across multiple units, they would be almost free.

BTW, get newer DIGIUM or Sangora cards and not eBay X100P generics for production systems.


-- John

I use Parliant's PhoneValet Message Center as an answering service when my computer is on ($170 USD) for Mac-based computing systems.

I also use Skype for audio/video communications worldwide. I also paid the $30 USD annual fee for contacting landlines for both the US and Canada. I use a stereo headset with my computer (iMac G5).

I also use Vonage all the time and set up an 800 number with their service ($49 USD or so each month for all services). They also have the 911 service for local use. My only issue with them is that I do not have a "local" number, so folks have to call "long distance" to get me or they call the 800 number (which may or may not work for those in Canada who may call). The Vonage unit uses a regular phone connection.

As soon as an iPhone fully does Internet Telephony, I might get one. Apple invented the Internet Telephony genre and then gave others the technology - until they came back into it with the iPhone.

Again, a simple solution would be Call Forwarding to a cell phone for those church-building calls that "only get answered on Sundays". Otherwise, get Remote Access set up for the church answering system so calls can be addressed as they come in during the week.

As I see the church accepting mostly Microsoft technologies, I suspect it will also grab any Microsoft-based VoIP solutions

[font=&quot]Ok friends, I understand the cost is lower, but how about reliability and quality? Also, our internet is through the phone company so how does that affect the price? We use Skype for international calls but I don't know about domestic calls. How is VOIP phone or Skype compared to regular ATT phone? Please let me know your helpful ideas and suggestions. Have a good day.[/font]

The church provides public access phone numbers to the church. If you wish specific individuals or departments, you must go through those lines unless someone at the church gave you a specific number to call.
Patriotboy