[steventheamusing]

I'd like this discussion to be about features that may be of interest to the VoIP community. Here are some of my favorite features. If any of these are well implemented by providers, please name them and let me know what kind of restrictions they have.

Time aware DND. I specify the hours and days of the week I am available and the line will only be allowed to ring during those times. This would be good, for example, to prevent telemarketers from calling my East Coast area code at 9:00 AM (when it is 6:00 AM on the West Coast). It would also discourage my far flung children from deciding that 11:30 PM is a good time to call.
CallVantage may have this feature, and the next two described below.

Related to the above: Number dependent ring through. This is the same thing as above, except some caller IDs are automatically permitted to ring regardless of the time (or perhaps have a less restricted time).

Privacy Personal Voice Portal: Continuing on the ideas above, except that the call is intercepted and the caller is told "This is a restricted calling time and you are calling from an unrecognized number. If this is an emergency, you may press 1 to interrupt the peacefulness of the <substitute name>; 2 to leave a message, and 9 to prevent your ear from being destroyed by a massive electromagnetic pulse." :lol: The intent is to dissuade or eliminate nuisance calls - even from those we love. NOTE: SBC is offering something similar on their voice lines "Call Privacy" which effectively costs about $15/mo. to get all the required features."

Privacy Screen another Voice Portal idea, but in this case, the caller has another option: record a short message which will be played to the person being called. The callee gets a ring from the portal which plays the callers message and allows the callee to take one of several actions: 1 snub to voicemail, 2 connect immediately, 3 drop with extreme prejudice (i.e. place on always ignore list), or 4 play back some specific prompt (like, sorry not available, call back later). SBC is offers this in "Call Privacy"

This is just a starter list, of course. Please let me know who also provides these types of features and what you would like to see...

--Steven the easily amused.

[PhoneBoy]

Qwest has time-aware DND, but you can't set the times. Qwest also has a privacy screen feature that will do something similar to what you describe for "unavailable" or "private" calls.

I implement some of these features on my Asterisk server, or I could fairly easily if I wanted.

[muppetmaster]

I do all of this with my home Asterisk system today (http://www.asterisk.org). Works great!

[PhoneBoy]

Problem is, your choices in Asterisk-friendly VoIP providers are pretty limited.

[muppetmaster]

There are quite a few options actually:

Asterisk to/from PSTN services

Services that provide interconnection between Asterisk installations and the PSTN.
This section added August 2004. Please include ONLY providers that offer to terminate service via SIP
or IAX2 to an Asterisk server, without creating a violation of their published terms of service.
Some of these services may be suitable for use by call centers and high volume inbound users.


# Acropolis TelecomFR/Europe
# BinHost (cache) US, -Less than 10 DID NPA's +Wholesale only, prepaid
# Broadvoice USA. SIP. +Local DID +Cheap entry price +Unlimited plans +DID's in a variety of NPA's. -Inband DTMF only
# Co-Pilot Consulting (cache) US +Linux/Asterisk Friendly +Asterisk Hosting +Resells services from XO and other large upstream providers
# Clearpath Communications US, Michigan. +800#, -Less than 10 DID NPA's.
# Diamondcard.us (cache) USA/Europe, SIP/IAX/H323 +USA/Germany/UK DID's +Unlimited simultaneous calls.
# Ecuity V-Tone Service (cache) US, +Level 3 reseller -Large volume only
# e-fon.ch (cache) Switzerland SIP/IAX + Swiss DID
# Fonality (cache) US. SIP. +Local DID +LNP +Network Availability Number +custom800#s +Limited Outbound CallerId +Unlimited plans +IAX soon.
# Gafachi US SIP/IAX -Outbound only as far as I can tell
# Magrathea - UK
# Nufone US, Michigan. SIP/IAX. -No Fancy Website +Network Availability Number +custom800#s=2c/m +Michigan DID's +vanity 800#s.
# PrimusTel (cache) US, +Level3 reseller -Large volume only
# TelIAX (cache) US/Denver. SIP/IAX +Inexpensive Plans -Website Provides little information
# Terrace Communications US, CA. SIP/IAX +Local DID +LNP +Outbound CallerID Number +800#s -NO WEBSITE
# TxLink Communications (cache) US,TX SIP/IAX +Local DIDs in many US markets +Asterisk Supported +Low $50 minimum
# VoicePulse US IAX with VoicePulse Connect service. +Local DIDs +Outbound CallerIDNumber -Slow tech support +Many DID NPA's -Many users report problems with inbound DTMF
# VoipJet US/New York City. IAX. -For carriers only, no end uers. +G.711 -Outbound only +IAX Trunking using Digium Card

http://www.voip-info.org/wiki-VOIP+Service+Providers

[steventheamusing]

Another feature I'd like to see:

An easy to use "shared line". That is, one I can "share" with my teenage children so that my phone doesn't ring when the call is for them and v.v. Should be coupled with voicemail that keeps separate stores for my children vs. myself/wife. Probably by front-ending all calls with "press 1 for Old Coots, 2 for whipper snappers..." - unless the number is already known in which case it should ring through directly.

[muppetmaster]

Originally Posted by steventheamusing

Another feature I'd like to see:

An easy to use "shared line". That is, one I can "share" with my teenage children so that my phone doesn't ring when the call is for them and v.v. Should be coupled with voicemail that keeps separate stores for my children vs. myself/wife. Probably by front-ending all calls with "press 1 for Old Coots, 2 for whipper snappers..." - unless the number is already known in which case it should ring through directly.

Once again, Asterisk is your answer...