Guest Post: Asterisk Providing Pizza Delivery?

July 9, 2008 by Garrett Smith

pizza

Ok, admit it, you like the Domino’s new online “Pizza Tracker.” If you haven’t heard of it, It is a Flash application that tracks the status of your pizza order as it flows through the steps from the initial order, preparation, baking in the oven, being boxed, and out for delivery. See: https://www.dominos.com/en/

While waiting for an order the other day I thought, what could top that? The system should call us when the pizza is out for delivery! No longer do you need to stare at the progress meter on your computer while waiting when you could be in the pool, watching a game with friends, or beating your kids in a game on the Wii. I figured I only had roughly 30 minutes to get this working, so let’s get cracking.

Watching the flash application make web requests in Firebug pointed me to the source of the status. All it does is pass your phone number on to a web page and it returns an XML structure with the data needed. The data includes timestamps of each step in the process, durations in the current step, the person who took your order, how long you were on the phone with them, the store manager’s name, etc. Plenty of data to provide some metrics to their corporate office, plus the information we need to send out the alerts.

How does the pizza tracker notification work you ask? Well it is made up of two components. The first component, a Perl script, runs every minute or so from Cron checking the online order status for the numbers we are tracking and generating calls for those out for delivery. The second component, the Asterisk dial plan, allows you to call an extension and set up the pizza tracker for a number and check the order progress.

It is by no means a complete application but it was fun to write, and seems functional enough to use. I’m sure there are tons of uses for something similar to this. One such use could be an airline notification system that notifies limousine drivers’ cell phones when their clients’ planes land. What is your next cool Asterisk project?

More from: Asterisk Garrett Smith Asterisk

Ribbit Jumps on BT Acquisition Offer

by Garrett Smith

Techcrunch reports that Mountain View, CA voice 2.0 platform company Ribbit has been acquired by British Telecom (BT) for a modest $55 million.

Ribbit’s main service offering is called Amphibian, and offers a variety of personal call management features with web + mobile + social network integration.

Ribbit also spawned an API and corresponding developer platform and offered an open and freely downloadable version of their Ribbit API, which uses Flash via Adobe Flex Builder.

Ribbit aimed to create an “iTunes”-like ecosystem with their Ribbit Store, the idea being to allow developers to distribute and monetize applications built using the Ribbit API.

Ribbit showcased several clever applications built using AIR and their Ribbit API. One application emulates the look, feel and some of the functionality of the Apple iPhone, the other is a very artistic take on the softphone called ChalkboardPhone.

BT is reportedly looking to leverage Ribbit to compete with Grandcentral, which was bought by Google just over a year ago for a similar price. The Google/Grandcentral acquisition likely served as a valuation benchmark for Ribbit. Congratulations to co-founders Ted Griggs, Crick Waters and Peter Leong.

IPCS Word(s) of the Day: SD Card

July 7, 2008 by Garrett Smith

SD Card= A flash memory card that provides storage on some IP cameras, digital cameras, cellphones and PDAs. SD Cards use the same 32x24mm form factor as the MultiMediaCard (MMC), but are slightly thicker (2.1mm vs. 1.4mm), and SD Card readers accept both formats. Introduced in 1999 by Panasonic, Toshiba and SanDisk, cards up to 4GB are available.

IPCS Word of the Day: Resolution

July 3, 2008 by Garrett Smith

Resolution= Refers to how much detail can be captured on a camera or displayed on a monitor. Cameras typically capture about 380 horizontal lines of resolution. High resolution analog cameras may capture 450 lines of resolution or more. High resolution IP cameras can record and stream in HD/Megapixel quality. The higher the resolution, the more detail that can be captured in a picture. The monitors and recording devices can generally handle at least as much resolution as the cameras can capture. Also remember that higher resolution images capture larger size frames (file size), and therefor, require more bandwidth to transport and more storage space to archive.

We Are Not Alone Anymore: Affiliate Marketing

by Garrett Smith

Since the inception of voipsupply.com we have been fortunate enough to have a dedicated group of installers, network consultants, VoIP enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and webmasters who have put time and effort to helping our business grow. These fast growing vehicles of young “feet on the street” are called our affiliates.

VoIP Supply’s affiliate program was originally put in place to provide our customers a way of delivering products to their customers and colleagues directly via our online store. In turn we have been able to track these purchases by their referral link and award affiliates on a percentage of the total sale made. With the success of the VoIP Supply affiliate program, we decided to replicate the model for our IP Camera Supply store and the IP surveillance enthusiasts.

At the pace we’re growing, we have seen a rapid increase into the inquiries and popularity of the program. We wanted to take our program mainstream and offer it to a wider range of people. In doing so we decided to join the Pepperjam affiliate marketing network. Before our affiliate programs were restricted to those who knew about the technology. Pepperjam now brings our exposure to a broader market, showcasing the popularity of the technology.

We are proud to be part of the Pepperjam affiliate network which in my own opinion is not necessarily the biggest, but they are the best. They currently represent some of the largest names in the fashion industry and retail markets who have since gone on to build up their brands in the online marketplace.
We welcome Pepperjam’s dynamic presence to the VoIP Supply family, and already feel extremely welcome in theirs.

IPCS Word(s) of the Day: Remote Surveillance

July 2, 2008 by Garrett Smith

Remote Surveillance= The ability to view cameras from an alternative location. Many current DVRs have an on-board Ethernet (RJ45) part, which allow them to be “networkable,” and allow them to be viewed remotely over a WAN. All NVR systems accommodate remote surveillance.

VoIP For Dummies with MagicJack

by Garrett Smith

I am in no way, shape, or form surprised about magicJack selling over 8,000 systems a day. They are on their way to 550,000 subscribers after a little over a year, as noted by the TWICE blog and Asterisk VoIP News.

I am also in no way, shape, or form a VoIP genius. Yes, I write about VoIP and the industry, but when it comes to technology and setting things up (honestly, it could even be figuring out an espresso machine), I’m usually the one with the Dunce cap in the corner. I can set up a PC, start a laptop, press play on my iPod, but configuring a VoIP system (which is in actuality not at all difficult)? I’ll leave that to the solutions providers.

MagicJack is still wowing everyone with its literally, plug-and-play system. It’s not necessarily something for businesses, but for calling mom and dad across the country, or saying hi to a friend working in Europe it works. It is technically a phone system that plugs into the USB port on the side of your computer. Done and done. Enough said.

In fact, I’m drawing a blank when thinking about the negatives of magicJack.

Their website even features a commercial with puppies.

Has anyone tried this out? Any thoughts?

The Short Kid at the Amusement Park: Mobile VoIP

by Tom Costelloe

One of the uses of VoIP that excites me the most is Mobile VoIP accessed through dual mode phones, phones capable of making out calls via both the GSM/CDMA network and Wi-Fi network. At the moment, the acceptance and availability is a bit like the short kid at the amusement park who can’t quite go on all of the rides, but knows he’ll have his growth spurt soon. This may seem like a strange analogy to use but it does make sense when you think about it.

Pros – These items put us at the amusement park, walking up to a massive roller coaster named after a comic super hero.

Wi-Fi Hotspots – More and more retail, hospitality and public spaces are offering free or low cost Wi-Fi access to their customers. My local launderette now offers free access

Phones – More and more phones are becoming available with the ability for WLAN connectivity, and it’s not just in the business class of phones.

Data Packages – The pricing on data has been very affordable with most major cell phone providers. Some of the providers are offering unlimited access for as little as $20 a month.

Cons – These put us a couple inches short of the comic book hero’s hand. We are not tall enough to ride the ride-yet.

Wi-Fi – Wi-Fi, although becoming more and more available, it isn’t available everywhere. Once you are on a call, you may be tied down to a certain area depending on signal strength.

Technology – This ties-in with the limitations of Wi-Fi; at the moment if you leave the hotspot, your call will be dropped. There is no automatic transfer from Wi-Fi to cellular currently supported by a major cellular carrier.

Phone Providers – Some of the major cell phone providers don’t allow you to bring unlocked devices. This means people are limited to the selections from the provider. In Europe the cellular providers are more SIM card based allowing for switching and upgrading of phones using unlocked phones.

Where this leaves us is still in the amusement park, but not able to ride all of the rides; however, with a growth spurt this will all change. The growth spurt will be aided as the technologies advance in the features available on cell phones. As more phones come standard with the ability to connect to Wi-Fi networks and the relatively cheap cost of data packages, interest and use will increase. Also, the growing availability and stability of Wi-Fi signals in public spaces, combined with the advances in phone technology will allow for more stable and reliable connects.

Next: Professor Plum in the Ballroom with the Rope: The Who, Where and How of Mobile VoIP.

T-Mobile Doing Their Part to Perpetuate VoIP Stereotypes

July 1, 2008 by Garrett Smith

In less than 24 hours, T-Mobile is going to be “revolutionizing the home phone.” What new technological advancement will they be unveiling? What can they do to shake up the industry and get consumers excited again about VoIP? What will be their key to success where so many other providers have failed?

How about cheap phone calls? Ten bucks a month for unlimited domestic calls. Haven’t we seen this before? Like the talented and versatile, yet tragically typecast actor….VoIP may as well stand for:

Valuable
only for
Inexpensive
Phonecalls

Where T-Mobile is really innovating here:

A – Their huge ad spend for a promised deluge of cheesy lifestyle marketing
B – Their co-opting of July 4th, Independence Day as a brand vehicle
C – Pushing the envelope of “fine print”

Plus taxes and fees. Limited-time offer; subject to change. T-Mobile @Home® Phone service: Qualifying rate plan,

Read: You have to be an existing T-Mobile customer spending $39.99 per month. There is also a $35 activation fee. Did I mention the 2-Year service contract? Feelin’ Free Yet?

T-Mobile @Home Phone plan, T-Mobile @Home HiPort™ Wireless Router and broadband Internet connection required. T-Mobile @Home General Terms: Nationwide voice-only plan; all data, messaging, international use, and other services billed according to your regular rate plan and other pricing. ©2008 T-Mobile USA, Inc.

Read: You also have to have a broadband internet connection, so figure $30/month there. The wireless router…we’re gonna go ahead and ding you $50 for that as well.

Independence is defined as being “not subject to the control of others”. T-Mobile’s @Home offering is a countermeasure against churn, devised to keep their customers anything but “independent”, gussied up and wrapped in an american flag. I don’t see much to get excited about here.

IPCS Word of the Day: PTZ

by Garrett Smith

PTZ = Pan, Tilt and Zoom. PTZ cameras have the ability to be “remotely controlled” allowing a user to take control of the camera and manipulate it using a joystick or embedded software PTZ controls in NVR or DVR software. The Axis 213 is an example of a PTZ camera. Currently, most PTZ cameras do not support Power over Ethernet because of their specific power requirements.

Guest Post: Asterisk Providing Pizza Delivery?

Ribbit Jumps on BT Acquisition Offer

IPCS Word(s) of the Day: SD Card

IPCS Word of the Day: Resolution

We Are Not Alone Anymore: Affiliate Marketing

IPCS Word(s) of the Day: Remote Surveillance

VoIP For Dummies with MagicJack

The Short Kid at the Amusement Park: Mobile VoIP

T-Mobile Doing Their Part to Perpetuate VoIP Stereotypes

IPCS Word of the Day: PTZ

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