Asterisk vs proprietary IP PBX systems

[Aaron Rosenthal]

I'm looking to start a discussion and hopefully get a long thread of comments specifically regarding technology specific benefits Asterisk has over various proprietary systems.

I don't want cost benefits, I want definitive comparisons between the technologies themselves. For example, how does an Asterisk IP PBX compare with a large Nortel, Avaya, or Panasonic system? Don't think Switchvox or Trixbox.... think Asterisk built using best of breed hardware.

What makes Asterisk a more technologically advanced piece of software over the software that runs various proprietary systems.

Rants, raves, and all comments are welcome.

[Keith Masavage]

Hi, my name is Keith Masavage. I am an independent consultant who has had a number of forays into this IP PBX market and would love to get some feedback on a product. I am looking at a system from Interactive Intelligence and would like to know what some of it's downsides may be relative to some of the systems you mention above from Nortel, Avaya, or Asterisk.

As a point of reference, here is a link to the page on their site which contains some of the key facts regarding the Interactive Intelligence system.

http://www.inin.com/productsolutions/pages/enterprise-ip-telephony....

If any of you could take a look and let me know why this wouldn't be the best choice, I would appreciate it.

Keith
[e-mail]