Digium Introduces World’s First Phones Designed for Asterisk

Digium introduces a new family of high-definition IP phones. They are the first that are engineered to fully leverage the power of Asterisk, the world’s most widely adopted open source communications software, and Switchvox, Digium’s award-winning unified communications system. With Digium technology on both the server and the phone, users will benefit from the best possible performance, unprecedented integration and a uniquely customizable phone system.

Asterisk has always been about flexibility, allowing integrators and developers to create highly customized solutions. Likewise, Digium phones include an app engine with a simple yet powerful JavaScript API that lets programmers create custom apps that run on the phones. They aren’t simply XML pages; Digium phone apps can interface directly with core phone features.

Digium has leveraged this unique programming interface of the phones to create a suite of productivity applications that work with both Asterisk and Switchvox. Switchvox includes a unique web interface called Switchboard that gives each system user control of their personal communications environment. Digium has extended the capabilities of the Switchboard to the phone, putting advanced features like presence management, searchable contact directory, queue monitoring, recording and voicemail control, all at the user’s fingertips.

The Digium phones include the following models:

• D40—An entry-level HD IP phone with 2-line keys. This is Digium’s best value phone, designed for any employee in the company.
• D50—A mid-level HD IP phone with 4-line keys and 10 rapid dial/busy lamp field keys with an easy to print paper label strip for the user’s most important contacts. This model is perfect for users who spend a lot of time on the phone.
• D70—An executive-level HD IP phone with 6-line keys and 10 rapid dial/BLF keys and real-time status information displayed on an additional LCD screen, allowing users to quickly navigate through up to 100 of their most important contacts. Designed for administrators or executives, the D70 offers top-of-the-line features.

Digium plans to have general availability of these new phones in April 2012. The MSRP for these models is as follows: D70 - $279, D50 - $179 and the D40 - $129.