How can I setup my own voice mail system?

October 26, 2006 5:47 PM

How can I set up my own voice mail service? I want to set up something where people buy/rent phone numbers from me and setup voice mail greetings for their friends to hear when they call. How do I go about procuring multiple phone numbers in multiple area codes like "gotVmail" and similar services do? How do I setup voice mail to email? Basically, I want to set up a service like "gotVmail" without 99% of the bells and whistles. Can I do this with asterisk? Any insight into this is well appreciated.
posted by Ezrie to technology (5 comments total)

Just use RNK.
posted by b1tr0t at 5:54 PM on October 26, 2006

[they are asterisk based, IIRC. More importantly, they have all the telecom contracts already in place in order to procure the various resources needed to run most kinds of telecom service providers. You need to be servicing well over 20k customers before it makes sense to write your own contracts]
posted by b1tr0t at 5:56 PM on October 26, 2006

I did something like this, but a few more things. I couldn't spend time on it, and it ended up not getting off the ground. If you're interested, hit me offline and I'll give you the scoop of what I found to be the best, fastest way to get up and running.

In fact, I'd be happy to give you my code and server that is up and running, for a small percentage cut.. ;-) It implements the self management system, provisioning interface (user and admin), and a rudimentary dashboard for users to check out calls.

There are some angles to get low cost access to phone #s and resource pools.

Do you do VoIP or telephony now?

Done right, a telco service can make a lot of money. Either way, good luck!
posted by wflanagan at 7:35 PM on October 26, 2006

Wflanagan-

Thanks for the offer. I would like to contact you. I am kind of new to MeFi. Can you tell me how I get in touch with you?
posted by Ezrie at 9:29 AM on October 27, 2006

You can reach me at my username at gmail dot com. Send me a message and we'll take it from there.

William
posted by wflanagan at 3:54 PM on October 29, 2006