Asterisk software 'to support larger deployment'

A new version of Asterisk, the open source telephony engine and tool kit, is set to be launched later this year to support "much larger" deployments of internet protocol private branch exchange (PBX) systems and voice over internet protocol (VoIP), Network World reports.

The new version of the Asterisk software, which was created in 1999 by Mark Spencer, will be released through the company he founded, Digium.

Asterisk's IP PBX software has already proved itself as a cost-effective way for small businesses to upgrade their telephone systems, the site says. According to Digium, a million copies of the software have been downloaded so far.

Interest in the software has generated a number of commercial vendors who charge for Asteriskprofessional services, peripherals and software extensions. However, according to NW, they are still cheaper than prices charged by some larger IP PBX vendors.

It says some Asterisk-based systems cost a tenth as much as equipment from other providers.

Asterisk is released as open source software and can be downloaded free of charge.