Win32 API to Vonage/Linksys?

Posts: 1 · Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 8:42 pm Post subject: Win32 API to Vonage/Linksys?

Are there any APIs that would allow me to monitor the vonage phone service or the linksys router from a W32 based computer such that my PC can act as a "virtual phone"?

I have dealt with 3Com's NBX which is a IP based telephone system and I programmed a TAPI/WAV product that allows a computer connected to the 3Com switch to act as a phone - ie, it acts like a telephone extension and thus can count the number of seconds that have passed since the first ring and if no other extension picks up the call, the computer can then "pickup" the call, play back a sound file, and record - in otherwords, the computer acts as a fancy voicemail product.

That said, the software also allows for nice things such as Outlook integration/screen popping such that if "877-DORK-BOY" shows up on the caller ID, I can have the program find a contact in Outlook with that telephone number and popup that user's account on my screen, ie for customer service calls - if Joe Blow calls for support - My CSRs computer will show a popup "incoming call from Joe Blow - click to load customer data" - the CSR should then be able to click my button and my system will pull the customer's data from my system and the CSR can then pick up the call on their line with the customer's information already loading.

I would also want the ability to initiate phone calls from this API such that I can schedule an Outlook task item and when the time comes, the CSR should be able to click a button and "dial" the phone from their PC - then just pickup their handset and talk - for voice verification phone calls (in some industries on a sales call - the customer must voice verify that they are accepting a service) so the API should allow me to record the conversion since it is acting as a phone on the line (ie, I can pickup two phones in my house on the same line and both people can talk/listen, so I want the computer to act as another phone that can at least listen - possibly even talk via TTS.

If any such API exists that would allow me to build such a program for Vonage or if the router has any such interface, please let me know, otherwise, if such an API can be built into future routers or Vonage features, I think that would open up some GREAT potental marketplace for Vonage in the small business.market.

Thank you.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 10, 2005 Posts: 3

I'm sorry to say that unless something has changed in the past 2 months, you're outta luck. I contacted CS when I got my Vonage (beginning of the year) to inquire about an API/SDK or something to help me do some similar things to what you've mentioned. In response (which took 2 weeks btw), I was threatened with a void warranty if I "messed with" my hardware in anyway (they thought I wanted to change my firmware or something Rolling Eyes

) and then promptly told to "use the Dashboard". I would be interested to hear if anyone has been able to come up with anything different.

One would think that such a "progressive" and "cutting-edge" company would be up on these kinds of things but sadly, they don't even seem interested.

Posts: 1424 · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 3:37 pm Post subject: Re: Win32 API to Vonage/Linksys?

For a home user, most of what you want to do could be done using a voice modem on any analog line, including the one coming out of the adapter. Or you could use a software PBX like asterix to implement all of these features and connect it to the analog output of the adapter.

I know that there is some software for non-Vonage adapters that screen scrape the web interface of the adapter to provide some of these features, for instance talking caller-id.

For Vonage adapters, one option would be to capture the packets on the network and build your software around that. You would not have the ability to answer the calls and play messages, but you could get the call detail information. You can initiate calls from software using Vonage's Click2Call interface.

Small business users might want to look at devices like the epygi series which provide multiple lines and support for IP phones. The diagram on the epygi web site shows an admin PC which may offer some of this functionality.

Posts: 6 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 17, 2004 Posts: 6

If you order a SoftPhone line, the XTen Softphone phone program they provide is a standard SIP softphone. Hence, you should be able to build whatever features you want by writing software that uses SIP.

Hypothetically, it should work even on a traditional Vongae line if you take away your ATA.

Posts: 1424 · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 6:07 pm Post subject:

larkas wrote:

If you order a SoftPhone line, the XTen Softphone phone program they provide is a standard SIP softphone. Hence, you should be able to build whatever features you want by writing software that uses SIP.

Unfortunately SoftPhone is an additional charge and does not include unlimited minutes.

larkas wrote:

Hypothetically, it should work even on a traditional Vongae line if you take away your ATA.

Unfortunately we don't know the vonage-forum.com/sutra24147.html#24147" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="postlink">'secret' needed to make this work.