Digium has designed an appliance that will be modified by service providers and OEMs in an attempt to better serve vertical markets.

by Alex Goldman ISP-Planet Managing Editor [September 12, 2006]

Huntsville, Ala.-based Digium already sells some hardware, such as interface cards, but the Asterisk Appliance (possibly not its final name) is brand new. Asked whether this violates the open source ethos, Fleming explains that the Appliance will be open source. "We're not providing it for retail sale. It's for developers to develop a product for sale. It's like Asterisk. We become the provider of the platform, but not the platform itself."

The product comes with training and a software development kit (SDK).

The first 50 purchasers will be able to buy an extra day of training from Mark Spencer, the creator of Asterisk

Digium is seeing more and more demand for applications tailored to specific vertical markets. So, Fleming says, if one VAR has installed Asterisk in dozens of doctor's offices and understands the demands of that market, the VAR might develop an appliance for that market.

Digium has included a GUI, aimed at making it easier to develop applications for specific verticals.

Each device includes a commercial Asterisk license.

Devices will come with Asterisk Business Edition (see our article).

The Digium product is designed for offices with 2 to 50 people. It is designed to:

• Make it easier to develop business products
• Reduce power consumption
• Deliver a rapid ROI

Pricing and availability
The kit is available now from Digium.

Although Digium has pricing for the development kit: $3,995, including training and support.

However, pricing per appliance for products sold to end users is not finalized. The product is modular, and depending on the configuration, Fleming estimates it could cost between $700 and $1,200. Volume discounts will be available.

—End