Missing object notification

Posted on January 22, 2010 | By Voicent

Having trouble getting responces from gateway. in 30% of successful calls gateway does the call to the site. please find vxml file example attached.


<form name="dialer">
...
<field name="am_pm" cond="time == '*'">
<prompt timeout="30s">
<block>Please select one for AM or two for PM.$lt;/block>
</prompt>
<dtmf>1 | 2</dtmf>
</field>

<block name="confirmation">
Thank you...
</block>

<object classid="http://12.12.34.34/ls004ke2tmv.aspx?id=1234">
<param name="price" expr="price" />
<param name="time" expr="time" />
<param name="am_pm" expr="am_pm" />
</object>
</form>


Can you advise what is the cause of the absence of callbacks.

When the execution is done with the confirmation section, it will execute the object section, and the call will finish. Looks like the call is disconnected sooner than there is a chance to execute the object section. This will happen when the caller hears the “thank you”, but not the rest of the message, and hangs up the phone.

So the fix is easy, just move the object section above the confirmation section. So when the customer heres the confirmation, the object section should be executed already.

I have moved the object before confirmation, now it end the call before confirmation but issue with responces seems resolved. Can I get both responce and confirmation message?

Please make sure the return of: “http://12.12.34.34/ls004ke2tmv.aspx?id=1234″ is of java Properties format. Otherwise, the system assumes the object call is not successful and stops the rest of the dialog. You can find the format in the load() method of the java.util.Properties class. Basically a list of name value pairs:

name1=value1
name2=value2
…

Ok, thanks alot, but what parameters should i return to voicent gataway? Should i just open responce stream, send parameters there and then close it?

It does not matter. It can be any list of name value pairs. You can access these name value pairs from the return variable of the object tag. For details, please see the IVR Studio document.

Yes, you can send the name value pairs and then close the response stream.

Posted in IVR General |

Setup Flex PBX/IVR using Skype

Posted on January 18, 2010 | By Voicent

Voicent Flex PBX and IVR Studio can be easily configured to use Skype to establish a flexible and fully automated business phone system for inbound calls. The major advantages are:

1. Low monthly phone bills: Each line (per Skype account) costs $3 per month for a unlimited US & Canada subscription. If you need regular phone numbers, you need to pay extra for a SkypeIn number.

2. Flexible extensions: Extensions can be setup as another Skype account or a regular telephone. Skype extension can be run anywhere there is Internet connection.

3. Auto-attendant: FlexPBX has easy GUI to configure unlimited levels of auto-attendants.

4. IVR System: With IVR Studio, most inbound IVR applications can be created without any custom programming. Actions like sending email, manipulating database, and executing an external program, are built-in actions in the IVR system.

5. No hardware to purchase or maintain

Steps to configure FlexPBX with Skype

1. Download Voicent software

2. Install FlexPBX and IVR Studio

3. Download Skype 3.8 and install

4. Read more information about skype and purchase Skype subscriptions and SkypeIn number. If you need to run a two line system, you need 2 Skype subscription, each with SkypeIn number

5. If you want only one number to call for your customers, setup Skype forwarding from the first Skype account. Forward calls to the second SkypeIn number. So when a customer calls in, and the first line is busy, it will ring the second line.

6. Run Voicent FlexPBX, set up a few test extensions and a simple auto-attendant. Details please see flexPBX program walkthrough.

7. Deploy the PBX application to Voicent gateway. Setup active time for the application from Gateway > Setup > Options > Inbound

Steps to configure Extension

If an extension is a regular phone number, there is no configuration needed. For RemoteAgent based extension, do the following:

1. Install Voicent RemoteAgent software on a different computer

2. Install Skype 3.8. Use a different Skype account from the Skype accounts used by Voicent gateway. the extension Skype account can be a free account since the call will be transferred using Skype-to-Skype call, which is free.

3. Set RemoteAgent Call transfer options to (Connect main menu > Call transfer Options) “transfer calls to Skype instance on this computer”. One big advantage of this option is that it will free the main Skype line on the gateway once the call is transferred.

4. Login to Voicent Gateway whenever ready to receive calls

Now you have a fully functional PBX system.

If you want more than a simple auto-attendant system (PBX main feature), you can use Voicent IVR Studio to create virtually any automated inbound call handling application. For example, you can redirect calls to certain extensions based on agent experience, or forward voice mail to email, or check account balance automatically etc.

Posted in PBX, VOIP |

Auto Telephone Order Placing System

Posted on January 14, 2010 | By Voicent

I happen to come across your website on Google. We are reaching out in regards to a telephone system, that we can ingrate and use with our needs perhaps your company can assist us. We are looking to host the system (in house) therefore we would need the Hardware and Software end of the package.

I came across a company that were selling some items and when I called them they had a Auto Telephone Order Placing System. Self explanatory but I would like to point out that this Auto Telephone system allowed me to place an order for a BOOK, It prompt me with information on the books, also asked about my personal information i.e: Full name, it would repeat the name to make sure it was the correct, and allowed for me to prompt if it was correct or incorrect via voice recognition, also information as shipping, and even credit card information, email address, etc. This system that the company had set up would be an ideal solution and great to incorporate into our infrastructure.

Actually, it is not that hard to create such a phone ordering system using Voicent IVR Studio.

All the phone interactions, such as prompt for entering information, collect user inpurt, and confirm caller input, can easily designed within the IVR Studio’s graphical user interface. Creating such as Voice user interface does not involve programming at all.

IVR Studio also provides extension methods for easy software integration. These methods include actions for interfacing with database, website, external program, etc. You could use these built-in support, for example, to save the order information to a relational database, interface with your backend credit card processing software. This part does require you know some programming.

The best place to get started is to download the software and try some of the samples.

Posted in IVR Usage |