AsteriskNOW

AsteriskNOW is a software that provides a platform for installing Asterisk in under 30 minutes. This open source PBX software has become quite popular, and now, it can be configured hassle-free with the aid of a graphical interface. It is essentially a customized Linux distribution that comprises Asterisk, the Asterisk GUI, and all other requisite software for an Asterisk system.

Asterisk, on the other hand, is a complete IP PBX in software that is compatible with various operating systems such as Linux, Mac OS X, OpenBSD, FreeBSD, and Sun Solaris. It delivers an array of features akin to those you'd find in high-end, costly PBXs, including advanced features. Moreover, Asterisk supports Voice over IP in multiple protocols, and it can interoperate with practically all standards-based telephony equipment that makes use of relatively cheap hardware.

Both Asterisk and AsteriskNOW are open source software that are licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). This means they are available for free download. Asterisk came to be in 1999, courtesy of Mark Spencer of Digium, Inc. It has since received invaluable contributions from open source coders globally. The software's development has also benefitted greatly from the testing and bug patches provided by the community.