Asterisk continues to attract attention in the SMB market, but has also penetrated the enterprise, service provider and carrier markets. This is all due, in large part, to a bevy of new high availability offerings recently launched. High availability was a recurring theme among vendors and speakers. Vendors such asRanch Networks and RedFone (see summary of vendor announcements) showcased high availability solutions. More experienced and savvy resellers are fueling Asterisk’s growth in the SMB market. SIPBox, a reseller who left the hallowed ground as a Cisco reseller is finding more (and larger) customers with substantially higher margins. They have already doubled in size and were at the show to recruit more talent. According to Bill Miller, VP of Marketing at Digium, “The reseller channels get to make higher margins and a better chance to win deals. Here’s why over the next 18 to 24 months the market share for Asterisk-based solutions is going to skyrocket. We are now at the point where the products are stable and applications are driving the solution. Contact centers are just one of many driving the solution in higher end system. Newer technology and newer solutions, competing against the top tier, Asterisk and Digium are now ready to do that.” Skyrocket indeed: AstriCon has already started booking registration for attendees and vendors for next year (currently planned for LA). AstriCon has become in many ways the center of the Asterisk world “It’s different from many trade shows, because you can’t leave this show without learning something,” said Steve Sokol, of Sokol & Associates, AstriCon’s producer. “We wanted to make sure there was real value in attending AstriCon, not simply a networking event. Whether it’s learning about new applications, features, and functions or discovering a new business model, everyone will leave here with something.” If you came to network, though, you were doing that with the brightest minds in all of telephony. The Digium All Conference Party provided a great venue to casually address a variety of those in the Asterisk community (although you needed to be careful not to step on the Asterisk-enabled, cell phone-controlled Roomba robotic vacuum). The show was highlighted by a keynote given by Asterisk creator and Digium president and CEO, Mark Spencer. Adorned in his customary “geek couture” T-Shirt, this one read, “I'm trying to change the world, but they won't give me the source code.” Apropos, as Spencer’s keynote was titled “Asterisk: Taking over the World in 5 Easy Steps.” In his usual whimsical flair, he began by teaching everyone the correct way to pronounce Asterisk. Mark was careful to give credit to those who continue to improve and promote open source telephony; even going so far as to applauded competitors (a classy move, as some have been openly critical of Digium). He spent much of his time in an open Q&A session, much of which was dedicated to discovering the needs and desires of the Asterisk community. You can now access presentations from this year’s show at www.astricon.net. And, soon, Mark Spencer’s keynote will be available; so be sure to check the site for this update!
 
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