Asterisk realtime voice mail
Asterisk Realtime Voice Mail (ARVM) is a feature in Asterisk, a popular open-source PBX (Private Branch Exchange) software, that allows you to store and manage voice mail messages in a database rather than on a physical voice mail box.
Here's how it works:
- When a caller leaves a voice mail message, Asterisk stores the message in a database, such as MySQL or PostgreSQL, instead of on a physical voice mail box.
- The voice mail message is associated with a specific extension or user, and is stored in a table in the database.
- The ARVM module in Asterisk provides a set of APIs and commands that allow you to manage and retrieve voice mail messages from the database.
- You can use the ARVM module to play back voice mail messages, delete them, and even forward them to other extensions or users.
The benefits of using ARVM include:
- Scalability: With ARVM, you can store a large number of voice mail messages without running out of physical storage space.
- Flexibility: ARVM allows you to manage voice mail messages using a variety of tools and interfaces, such as web-based interfaces, command-line interfaces, and even third-party applications.
- Security: ARVM provides an additional layer of security by storing voice mail messages in a database, which can be accessed only by authorized users.
- Integration: ARVM can be integrated with other Asterisk features, such as call forwarding, call parking, and conference bridges, to provide a more comprehensive voice mail solution.
Some common use cases for ARVM include:
- Large-scale voice mail systems: ARVM is particularly useful in large-scale voice mail systems where physical storage space is limited or where voice mail messages need to be stored for extended periods of time.
- Distributed voice mail systems: ARVM allows you to distribute voice mail messages across multiple servers or locations, making it easier to manage and retrieve voice mail messages in a distributed environment.
- Custom voice mail applications: ARVM provides a flexible platform for developing custom voice mail applications, such as voice mail-to-email gateways or voice mail-to-SMS gateways.
To set up ARVM in Asterisk, you'll need to:
- Install the ARVM module in Asterisk.
- Configure the ARVM module to connect to your database.
- Create a database schema to store voice mail messages.
- Configure Asterisk to use the ARVM module for voice mail storage and retrieval.
Overall, ARVM is a powerful feature in Asterisk that provides a flexible and scalable solution for managing voice mail messages.