infoprovision

Set up and manage an office phone system - a simpler version of Asterisk

Description:
FreePBX is a free software application which has some pre-programmed functions It allows you to create and manage extensions. voicemail, IVR (Interactive Voice Response), and some other features. This functionality is accessible via a user-friendly web interface.

Some of the features that FreePBX supports are:

Set up an office phone system, make free or very cheap phone calls over the internet and create your own interactive voice response systems.

Description:
Asterisk is an open source/free software system which allows you to set up a telephone private branch exchange (PBX) and connect to other telephone services including the public telephone network. You can set up features such as voice mail, conference calling, interactive voice response (phone menus), and automatic call forwarding.

A user-friendly version of Asterisk which incorporates FreePBX.

Description:

Trixbox is a telephone system based on Asterisk , it allows an organization to setup and manage a telephone system with traditional telephone networks as well as Internet based telephony or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

An SMS hub is a stand-alone system which allows you to send and receive large numbers of text messages via the mobile phone network, without needing to be connected to the internet or to any other computer network.

Interactive Voice Response, or IVR systems, run on computers. They handle incoming phone calls and provide callers with a range of automated options, allowing them to report specific events or get specific information.

You can use FreePBX, Asterisk or TrixBox to do this. These tools are powerful and have great potential for advocacy, but they are currently very challenging to install and require Linux administration skills.

'Clickatell is a commercial SMS service which allows you to send SMS messages via a web site or through desktop software. It offers SMS coverage to over 500 networks globally.

Who's it for; Commercial SMS services are good for organisations who don't wish to invest in setting up an SMS hub such as FrontlineSMS but wish to send and receive bulk SMS messages.

BulkSMS is a commercial SMS service which allows you to send SMS messages via a web site or through desktop software. It offers SMS coverage to over 500 networks globally.

Who's it for; Commercial SMS services are good for organisations who don't wish to invest in setting up an SMS hub such as FrontlineSMS but wish to send and receive bulk SMS messages.

Send and receive large amounts of SMS messages from your computer.

Who's it for: FrontlineSMS has been specifically designed for use by NGOs and doesn't require an internet connection.

Alerts, news, and updates on a particular cause, event or project can be distributed in many ways. Sharing information with users keeps them interested, helps educate them, fosters engagement and can be a catalyst for spontaneous person-to-person campaigning. There are various means of using mobile phones to provide information.

You can send messages and encourage your supporters to forward them. This has the advantage of being cheap for you and is the easiest way to provide information via mobile phone.