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:

  1. 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.
  2. The voice mail message is associated with a specific extension or user, and is stored in a table in the database.
  3. 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.
  4. 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:

  1. Scalability: With ARVM, you can store a large number of voice mail messages without running out of physical storage space.
  2. 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.
  3. Security: ARVM provides an additional layer of security by storing voice mail messages in a database, which can be accessed only by authorized users.
  4. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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:

  1. Install the ARVM module in Asterisk.
  2. Configure the ARVM module to connect to your database.
  3. Create a database schema to store voice mail messages.
  4. 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.