Setup Flex PBX/IVR using Skype

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.