Digium Inc., the company behind the popular open source VOIP platform Asterisk, has announced that it has acquired Switchvox, a leading provider of IP PBX phone systems for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). This acquisition strengthens Digium’s presence in the SMB market and provides even more avenue for the deployment and improvement of its Asterisk-based solutions.

Switchvox is the world’s largest supplier of open source IP-PBX products for businesses, with an estimated 65000 end points in operation. The company offers CPE-based solutions powered by Asterisk (with Swithcvox’s own custom code added).

To some extent, specifically in the area of making Asterisk easy to use and providing a GUI for the powerful asterisk platform that is easy to use for its customers, Switchvox embodies what Asterisk is striving to become. Switchvox has succesfully marketed to the SMB market their VOIP and hybrid solutions, building both on the power of Asterisk and their expertise on creating a user-interface that is both intuitive and user-empowering.

Switchvox also features integration with leading leading CRM applications SugarCRM and SalesForce.com, as well as with Google Maps. With its new Switchvox SMB V3.0, detailed information from SugarCRM and Salesforce.com automatically pop-up on incoming calls via the Switchboard.The integration of Google Maps makes it possible to locate where inbound calls are coming from, empowering the users more to adopt to potential leads.

Digium and Switchvox are undergoing heavy integration of the two company’s products and solutions, and plans to unveil a new product strategy and roadmap later this year focusing on asterisk-based unified communication solutions for their SMB and enterprise customers.

But until Digium rebrands and relaunches Switchvox products under the Digium brand, Switchvox products will retain their branding for the forseeable months.

With regards to proprietary components of Switchvox’s offerings, Mark Spencer of Digium expressed interest in making them open source (Digium is a big proponent of open source) to add to the current open source Asterisk.

The acquisition looks like an excellent marriage of two companies with complementary strengths in the IP PBX space, with both parties expressing interest and and excitement on the acquisition. Josh Stephen, President and CEO of Switchvox, has this to say:

“The entire Switchvox team is excited to become part of the Digium family and to be entering this new phase of the company’s life. We look forward to extending the reach of Asterisk and other Digium products, making them more accessible to more people. We have been working on a road map that we feel will change the IP PBX landscape, and with the knowledge and help of Digium we will to be able to work faster than ever to bring those features to market.”

And on their blog, Bill Miller said:

“Danny and Josh, the two respective CEOs will publish their thoughts here shortly, I am prefacing their post by telling you, “Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!” Get ready to Rock and Roll with Digium and Switchvox. When “best of breeds” get together, the results are “best of the best” so join us for the ride!”

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