Open Source - Does Asterisk include a desktop client or web client for sending & receiving faxes?
- Kelli Higdon
Q: Does open source Asterisk include a desktop client or web client for managing faxes?
For example, I want to manage faxes (send, receive, create, delete) from a web browser or from my email client.
A: No, open source Asterisk does not include a desktop client nor web client for managing faxes. An end-user interface for managing faxes would be part of a complete system based on Asterisk.
Note: Digium's Fax For Asterisk software add-on can be used as a component of custom fax applications, including desktop fax integrations and unified messaging.
The Digium Fax For Asterisk Administrator Manual, Appendix A, includes an Asterisk dialplan example for simple fax transmit / receive using Asterisk's SendFax and ReceiveFax applications. A fax-management client could use SendFax and ReceiveFax by a similar idea. In a supported version of Asterisk such as Asterisk 1.8.X or later, the Asterisk SendFax and ReceiveFax applications can be provided by Digium's Fax For Asterisk or Free Fax For Asterisk software add-ons or by the open source res_fax_spandsp module (see Soft-Switch.org).
Q: Does Digium provide a commercial desktop client or web client for managing faxes with Asterisk (e.g., sending & receiving faxes using Fax For Asterisk and Free Fax For Asterisk)?
A: No. However, Digium sells Switchvox, a unified communications system that includes faxing (using Fax For Asterisk) along with many other capabilities.
Switchvox can receive faxes into a combined voicemail/fax inbox. Switchvox includes a web client that can be used to manage faxes (view the voicemail/fax inbox, download faxes as PDF files, and send faxes). Switchvox can be set as a fax printer for Microsoft Windows systems. One channel of Fax For Asterisk is provided to all customers of Switchvox.