Multiple lines from one phone number 3

[jimmyfever]

I am extremely new to telephony programming, so hopefully these questions will be pretty easy.

I'd like to write a voice-only application that uses touch tone input. I'd like to be able to have one phone number that can handle X number of calls simultaneously.

Questions:

1) What do you call the device that handles the phone calls coming in from the phone number? Is this a PBX? Or is a PBX only used to route phone calls to extensions.

2) How much does this equipment cost?

3) Can the phone company set up a system with, say, 10 phone lines in a residence? Or does there need to be some special infrastructure to do this? If it's possible to do this, about how much do you think it would cost?

Thanks for your help,

Jim (jdeselms@hotmaildotcom)

 

[perrio]

Are you still working on the phone problem?

 

[ISDNman]

Not sure what you are trying to accomplish, but the following info may help you understand some background.

When a business has 1 number and can take, say 10 calls, here is how it works.

They have 10 lines. The lines are configured as a "hunt group". This means that is a line is busy the call "rolls over" to the next line.

Usually each line has it's own number (though this is not required). The number listed in the telephone direcotry is the "Listed Directory Number" or LDN.

The lines of a hunt group can be used in any way. You could have 10 phones, 10 modems, a ten line key system or a PBX.

Needless to say, you have to pay 10 times as much! Not sure if hunt groups are tarrifed for residential use, so you may need to buy business lines which will be even more expensive and will likely have a per call or per minute component.

Far easier to get multiple numbers for a single line, but that's another question for another time.

Best of luck.

ISDNman

 

[orypecos]

I believe that U can rent a partial T-1 line that would bring in 10 lines to your house on just the regular phone line, and connect it to a phone system. This would only be of use if u have more than one person taking calls. If u are the only one taking calls then 10 lines are not going to do u any good. U can just have one line coming in and have the phone company just beep u when u have another call. Just using the call waiting feature that we are all familiar with a home phone line.
The phone company can provide a thing called Centrex that makes it appear that u have a phone system at your home or business, but in effect the phone system features are being provided by the phone company. The features that I am talking about could be voice mail, conferancing, or any other features that u usually find on a business phone system.
Some peole will have a phone system installed in their house cuz they don't want to 'rent' these features from the phone company.
The more u tell us of what u are wanting to do the more we can help u.

Da-vi'do

P.S. For the best response to a question, please read FAQ222-2244. Also give the type & version of your voice mail & pbx system & preview your post to make sure it is complete & understandable. Be aware that if u don't answer a question, I usually will not continue to help u. Please leave a post on how u fixed the problem too.

 

[orypecos]

As far as your questions
#1 A 'pbx' usually refers to a larger router of calls that come in from the phone company.This is opposed to a smaller system that just routes to a phone that has many call appearances but doesn't route it to any particular phone. All the phones ring with all the calls.
A pbx can have thousands of features for routing calls between extensions and to and from the phone company and in addition to other applications such as voice mail and paging.
As far as cost, U can get a used system for a couple of hundred dollars, or just one phone on a system can cost over that much.

 

[jlshelton]

In California, you can add Hunting to residential lines (SBC), though it can be difficult to find a residential service rep who knows how to do it. Typically $1/line/month.

If hunting is not available in your area, you can get Call Forward on Busy in many areas; it costs more, but will do the job. Typically $2/line/month, but often included in feature packages.

A traditional Key System allows multiple phones to have direct access to multiple phone lines by pressing a button ("key") to select which line is accessed. Many modern electronic key systems include features to route calls, making them low-end PBXs. Some of these systems distinguish a "PBX Mode" where telephones do not have buttons associated with outside telephone lines, but instead dial a code (like "9") to get access to the next available line.

Key Systems can be had for a few hundred dollars, though expect to pay more for a good quality one with capacity for 10 lines and many extensions plus good features. The Partner forum at TekTips talks about the Avaya Partner system which is well-respected in the small to mid-sized range. There is a large market in used Partner equipment (see eBay) making it possible to get started for few $$$. Good systems with specialized phones having programmable buttons and displays require you to pay extra per phone, though most will let you use regular phones with fewer features available. If you can settle for no more than 4 lines and 8 phones, there are several inexpensive KSU-less systems (no control unit, just phones) that work reasonably well. GE and AT&T brands come to mind.

Tarifs in your state or city may limit how many residential lines can be brought to a single residence; the phone company may also presume that a large number of lines are being used for commercial purposes. But if you have 10 people living at your house, you have a good argument for 10 lines. The wiring from the street to your house may only support 2 - 6 telephone lines, and the phone company may ask you to pay extra to run more wire from the street to your house. (This might run $100 or more.) In some neighborhoods, there may not be enough capacity for that many additional lines; I had to wait months one time to get a third line at home.

With a good high-speed internet connection, you could run many virtual phone lines using VoIP; check with Vonage and competitors to see if they have limitations.

You can also ask about delivery of 10 lines via T1 (digital) circuits. Again, the local phone company may not agree to do this for residential service. And you would need special equipment to access the individual phone lines; typically a good Key System and nearly all PBXs have T1 modules.

If you can describe more about your application, we might have other ideas for you.