Is there a VOIP emergency phone broadcast service we can host on our own?

September 14, 2006 6:58 AM

I work for a nonprofit in Central Florida. In the event of an impending emergency (hurricane, fire, whathaveyou) we would like the ability to send a recorded message out to a pre-set list of contacts AND have a message box where those contacts would be able to leave messages for our staff.

There is a product called 'Contact 911' that does this for a fee. However, there are various reasons we don't want to go with them. Is there VOIP software product or service that would let us do this on our own?

posted by IndigoSkye to technology (2 comments total)

If you're looking for free, which, given that you're a NFP, I would tend to think that you are, I've had good luck with GNU Bayonne. It's a little complex, so you'll need to enlist the help of someone who can work their way around a simple, script-based programming language. That said, it isn't that hard, and I was able to figure it out while in high school a few years back. We created an Interactive Voice Response system that functioned as a computer help desk, but the software could definitely be used to do what you're describing. Maybe you could get a student from a local high school or college to figure it out for you in exchange for some community service time?
posted by fvox13 at 7:38 AM on September 14, 2006

Have you joined one of the N-TEN lists and asked other nonprofits what they're doing? I see services mentioned on the DC one on a regular basis that are targeted and priced with nonprofits in mind.
posted by phearlez at 12:42 PM on September 14, 2006