Few questions on Switchvox SMB

[ericmachine]

Hi everyone,

I am considering to buy Switchvox SMB AA305 Appliance over vanilla asterisk.

My current architecture will be this:-

1 E1 ISDN PRI Line (200 DID numbers, 30 channels) -> AudioCodes M1K Gateway -> IP Calls over network -> Ethernet Switch (in this case).

Then both my switchvox and HylaFax Server (Dell server) will plug into the enternet switch to take advantage of the IP calls. I need the Audiocodes M1K Gateway for T.38 gateway real time faxing (recommended by HylaFax's team).

Few questions:-
a) Can the above work with Switchvox? I am not so sure, therefore like to double check before I purchase each of the components? Can the switchvox connect to my ethernet switch via a network RJ45 cable in order to pick up the IP calls?
b) In terms of switchvox, I know there's switchboard website. I know the switchvox caters up to 150 users. Does that mean all my 150 users will have their own switchboard page too? Or just 1 page for 1 user? The rest 149 will not have access? The reason I ask this as I plan to use this switchvox among few of my group and its subsidiaries. As the business differs, I do not want my other subsidiaries to know each other presence unless indicated. Or is switchvox cater for 1 company basis only?
c) In Switchboard itself, I assume I can make phone calls, and instant messaging? Does that mean I do not need any openfire instant messaging installation on a separate box?
d) How about audio/video conference? Does switchvox has that built-in? Initially I plan to install BigBlueButton which integrates with vanilla asterisk? Not sure this can be done? If not what should I do?
e) If I have switchvox and in future I plan to have custom applications that have integrations with Asterisk, can I do that? Or switchvox is not accessible by 3rd party applications integrations?
f) Does switchvox come with any metering or billing? So I know each extension made how many phone calls/minute? So I can bill to each of my subsidiaries? Any built-in stuff?

Any help? Thank you.

[utpbx]

I don't think Switchvox is the right fit for you based on point b :

As the business differs, I do not want my other subsidiaries to know each other presence unless indicated.

Switchvox, by design, is not multi-tenant friendly. When users open up the switchboard, they will have access to all extensions on the system.

[ericmachine]

but a local vendor confirms that each user can customise their views. hmm?

[utpbx]

Sure they can customize their view. You just can't prevent them from adding extensions that "belong" to another business unit if they wanted to. When I click on add to phonebook, I can see/search ALL extensions on the systems and add any of them to my switchboard. You can prevent a user from seeing who the other extensions are talking to, but they would still see whether or not they're on the phone, and presence status.

You mentioned in your first post that you "didn't want my other subsidiaries to know each other presence". What I'm saying is that you can't prevent users from one subsidiary, from adding an extension of another subsidiary, and thus having the ability to see their presence.

Let's say that Company A uses extensions in the 1xx range. Company B uses extensions in the 2xx range.

Extension 101 logs into their switchboard and clicks on "Add Phonebook Entries", "Create Phonebook Entry", then "System Extension". When extension 101 clicks on the search icon, he will see all 1xx extensions and all 2xx extensions. If extension 101 only adds 1xx entries in his phonebook, then sure that is all he will see in his switchboard. But the point here is that you cannot prevent him from adding 2xx extensions if he wanted to.

Now you can prevent users in the 1xx range from seeing the caller id/number that extensions in the 2xx are talking to, but keep in mind that even doing this, users in the 1xx range, if they add users in the 2xx range to their switchboard, would be able to tell if extension 2xx is on a call or not.

I hope that helps clarify things for you.