Elastix SIP Trunk – How it Works and Integrates with GoTrunk

In the world of VoIP, SIP trunking and hosted services are the two alternatives businesses can choose from. Both have their own sets of pros and cons. So how do you know which one is right for your company? Unfortunately, there’s no one right answer that works for every enterprise.

The key here is to select the option that meets your unique requirements. After all, a small bakery has little in common with a large manufacturing enterprise. So why should your phone system be the same? That being said, one reason for selecting SIP trunking is customization. This alternative gives you full control over the system. You’re in charge of everything – and security and configuration to features and updates.

What Do You Need for SIP Trunks?

If you are setting up your own premise-based SIP trunking system, there are a few parts you need to put together. A SIP trunk is naturally one piece of the entire puzzle. There was a time when few people understood SIP trunks. You needed the technical knowledge to set one up. The situation is quite different in 2019. Many providers offer intuitive onboarding through web dashboards.

Now that you have the SIP trunk, you need an IP PBX. In the case of hosted services, all of this is provided in a bundle to you over the Internet. With SIP trunks, you have to bring your own. There are a lot of options when it comes to IP PBX systems. One of the most popular ones is Asterisk. It is open source software, meaning you don’t have to pay to use it.

But the software lacks an easy to use GUI interface. To fill this vacuum, there are many applications which bring together Asterisk’s feature in one platform. Some of these are also free to use, just like the base software. One such example is Elastix.

What is Elastix?

Elastix is best described as a unified communication suite. It offers a range of PBX related features, supports fax, email, instant messaging, and a wide variety of other communication options. What sets Elastix apart from other PBX systems is its reliability, modularity, and ease-of-use.

It integrates some of the best options available in Asterisk. Apart from that, it also adds its own set of features and tools. It even allows you to create custom modules that better suit your needs. You can also download third-party packages to add specific features. All of this combine to make Elastix one of the best options for open source PBX software.

Is It Suitable for Small Business?

Small businesses tend to avoid SIP trunks as it needs a bit more work to set up. You may also have to pay licensing fees and purchase the software. But with Elastix, you don’t have to. The software is free for up to 16 simultaneous calls. It means that businesses with fewer than 50 extensions, don’t have to pay anything to use the application.

You also have options regarding setup and installation. For example, you can install Elastix on a small mini PC appliance or a server if you have one. You can even install it in your own cloud account such as Google Cloud. What this means is you don’t have to purchase anything extra to use Elastix with any SIP trunk.

Elastix offers mobile clients, so your employees can use their personal phones for business calls. This enhances mobility and allows you to offer remote working options. Unified communication features such as presence information, instant messaging, and softphone apps mean you don’t have to worry about upgrading.

Setting up Elastix with GoTrunk

Most providers will help you with setting up Elastix with their SIP trunk service. Let’s take a look at how to configure Elastix with your GoTrunk service. GoTrunk offers detailed instructions in their online manual. The instructions even show you how to set it up for two different versions of Elastix ( 2.5 and 4.0).

There are separate methods to follow depending on if you use a static IP address or dynamic IP address. As long as you’re familiar with your internal network, it shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes to set up Elastix. That doesn’t sound too difficult, does it?

After you’ve added GoTrunk to Elastix, configure the routing for outbound and inbound calls. Add outbound routes as well as inbound routes for each phone number in your GoTrunk account. Once this step is complete, you’re all set to make and receive calls!

Elastix offers a wealth of features that help any business. But it’s especially suitable for small businesses with its easy to use interface and quick setup. As your business grows, you don’t have to switch to another software. So why wait? Get started with SIP trunking for your organization today!