[OGo-Discuss] OGo and asterisk

[Sebastian Reitenbach]

Hi Adam,

discuss@opengroupware.org wrote: 
> >as I am using Asterisk and OGo, i want to start a discussion about how ogo
can
> >be coupled 
> >with Asterisk in such a way that the sum is more than both parts alone.
> >I don't want to start a technical discussion, on how to implement it, but
just
> >want to 
> >collect opinions, and suggestions for features that could be useful if
> >implemented.
> >I have a small php script developed, that can trigger the asterisk to make
> >outgoing calls 
> >by clicking the telephones next to a telephone number in the ogo webui. 
> That one
> >is far 
> >from perfect and I am not really lucky with it. It can be downloaded from 
> >docs.opengroupware.org. Therefore I would raise a discussion on ogo <-> 
> asterisk
> >coupling, 
> >about features that can be added to enhance ogo when these two are coupled
> >together.
> >With a coupled OGo/Asterisk combination I can at least imagine the 
> following
> >features:
> >1. dial 'n click via the webinterface by clicking on a telephone number or 
> the
> >small 
> >   telephone next to it
> >   1.1 a popup could show up, containing a summary to the called
> >number/person/company
> >   1.2 the popup should allow making notes to the phone call, saving it in 
> OGo
> 
> There is an enhancement open for OGo about this,  to make OGo support a 
> journal like ACT.
I was not aware about that enhancement request, and I have no clue what ACT is,
but after 
taking a look at this bug report, yes, a general journal application, that can
be used to 
track changed/communications on contacts/enterprises and changes on projects
would be a 
great enhancement. At least that enh. request is a good place to store further
ideas 
regarding that topic.


> 
> >2. on incoming calls, open a popup window on the users desktop with 
> information
> >about the   caller taken from the ogo contacts database
> 
> I don't see this as part of OGo but as an application where OGo is a 
> possible backend.  
sure, it was just an idea i had. when I see how ogo works, i think it would be
hard to 
integrate it right now. If it would directly come from ogo, it would have to use
some kind 
of an asynchronous web communication protocols, like these web2 thingies.

> 
> >3. a call history tab for persons, specific for that person, showing date, 
> time,
> >who 
> >   called who, and notes to the calls
> >4. a call history tab for companies, listing all calls to and from persons
> >assigned to 
> >   that compa
> 
> These would/should be covered by a journal application.
> 
> >5. for OGo accounts, a new tab, voice mail records should be added, where 
> the
> >user can 
> >   manage its voice mails
> 
> I completely disagree.  The move is clearly toward "Unified Messaging".  
> Integration for voice mail should be via the mail/imap server.  Messages 
> belong in the INBOX.  
Ok, if configured, asterisk sends voice mails to the users e-mail addresses with
a .wav 
file attached, containing the message. I get my voice mails via mail too. but
personally I 
do not really like it that way, I like to have them separated from mail.
On the other hand, for the ordinary user, you are right, keeping all
communication in one 
place, makes life easier for the ordinary user.
normally, the user listens via telephone to the voice messages, directly by
using the 
phone when in office, the other messages, via mail are more or less only used
when on the 
road and checking mail.
Therefore it is impractical to send out all voice messages via mail and remove
them 
immediately from the asterisk, removes the ability to listen to the messages via
the 
telephone. just sending the messages to the user, without removing them from the
asterisk, 
triggers MWI messages sent from the Asterisk to the phone, until the voice mail
box will 
be called and the messages get removed.
I think therefore it might be useful to have such an interface to manage these
messages 
left at the asterisk box.

then just another idea, what about configuring call forwarding, answering
machine, ... 
would be great to have a tab for accounts in the personsUI, where accounts can
configure 
this, as it is with the vacation tab for e-mail.

kind regards
sebastian