[VoiceOps] Broadsoft MoH

Thu Aug 21 12:45:07 EDT 2014

I don’t know how well it is supported by Broadworks in particular however with other systems I have used Asterisk as a MoH device like your described ATA solution.

The key here is that Asterisk can act as multiple music on hold devices and provide all of the features you are looking for HOWEVER, you are STILL responsible for providing the interface for uploading and converting audio files to place on the Asterisk server as well as managing who has access to what. None of this is difficult or without many examples on the internet – for example (although a pretty poorly  one but relevant) http://impulse.net/from-the-systems-engineering-lab-add-flexibility-to-your-broadsoft-broadworks-music-on-hold-with-open-source-asterisk/

If you do find this a useful solution or even if not please do provide useful feedback of whether it works or not and what you tried. The link I provided was the first one that popped up in my search for “broadworks asterisk music on hold device” but I would be shocked if this concept is not a widely used solution even if it hasn’t been brought up yet on this list. I know it was very common with older solutions Broadsoft acquired/provided such as the M6.

Jesse

From: Colton Conor [mailto:colton.conor at gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2014 10:54 AM
To: Alexander Hardie
Cc: voiceops at voiceops.org
Subject: Re: [VoiceOps] Broadsoft MoH

I agree with your statement. However, Broadsoft should make it easier for clients to upload their own DRM free music. Multiple files, multiple file formats, and looping. If they supported that instead of requiring an external ATA or system to do music on hold that would solve 90 percent of the problems. Who really wants to login to the Broadsoft system and change a song every day, week, or month? Its much easier to upload say 20 songs, and have Broadsoft play them through them. Plus support current sound files like .mp3. Yes, I know Broadsoft needs it in G711 ulaw for playback to the PSTN. They should write a script to convert it for the user in the background.

Yes, please provide a list besides the PIKA WARP Plus that is certified. I would look it up myself, but our Broadsoft wholesaler doesn't provide us such information. Infact, they don't even show us the external option on their portal, so that is something I will have to get them to add.

On Thu, Aug 21, 2014 at 5:31 AM, Alexander Hardie <ahardie at bellsouth.net<mailto:ahardie at bellsouth.net>> wrote:
Music on hold is more than delivery of .mp3 files - and you are right it depends TOTALLY on an outside source to  Broadsoft  if you want to do anything that involves a richer content experience.

This is one of the issues between a premise based solution and a hosted one.  In a hosted solution the carrier is responsible for the distribution of content - the whole DRM issue is a pain.  In a CPE/PBX solution the service demark is in the building - technically the carrier providing the trunk never has to touch it.  In the hosted service they do.

There are several partners of BroadSoft - I think you can even dig up an old partner config guide somewhere - its been supported since R11 I think.

I can look for who the partners are and follow up on this thread - but there are several.

This is more an architectural issue than a product one - and is another reason deployments taking full advantage of what BroadSoft does well (scale, service logic etc.) requires the operator to provide some level of integration - in this case a far bit.

On Wednesday, August 20, 2014 8:32 PM, Colton Conor <colton.conor at gmail.com<mailto:colton.conor at gmail.com>> wrote:

So back to the original question. It seems like Broadsoft does only allow you to upload one .wav file at a time, and it plays the beginning of that file every time. I think this is bad on Broadsoft's part. It assumes the end user knows how to convert a .mp3 or other audio format to a .wav file (try explaining that to a common end user). Plus once they figure out how to upload the file, they can only upload one file. Uploading another file erases the old file. You could combine multiple songs into one long sound file, but then Broadsoft only plays the beginning of the sound file. So unless the caller is on hold for a really long time that doesn't help.

Broadsoft's solution from what I can see is to use an external source. What authorized, external sound sources are out there from Broadsoft? Ones that are configured and managed through Broadsoft DMS?

I just learned of PIKA WARP Plus. This does allow you to use an external source like an Ipod connected to the 3.5mm audio jack. It doesn't allow you to upload multiple songs to the device, and stream it back to Broadsoft in a loop however. Plus this product is pretty expensive if just using it as a MoH option. It is Broadsoft certified however.

I have heard there are some other ATA's out there that can use an FXO port as an audio in jack?

Anything that can do both? audio in jack plus upload multiple sound files? and managed by Broadsoft?

I hate the idea of having any other device besides the phones themselves at a clients site for a hosted solution.

On Tue, Aug 19, 2014 at 2:04 PM, Colton Conor <colton.conor at gmail.com<mailto:colton.conor at gmail.com>> wrote:
So back to the original question. It seems like Broadsoft does only allow you to upload one .wav file at a time, and it plays the beginning of that file every time. I think this is bad on Broadsoft's part. It assumes the end user knows how to convert a .mp3 or other audio format to a .wav file (try explaining that to a common end user). Plus once they figure out how to upload the file, they can only upload one file. Uploading another file erases the old file. You could combine multiple songs into one long sound file, but then Broadsoft only plays the beginning of the sound file. So unless the caller is on hold for a really long time that doesn't help.

Broadsoft's solution from what I can see is to use an external source. What authorized, external sound sources are out there from Broadsoft? Ones that are configured and managed through Broadsoft DMS?

I just learned of PIKA WARP Plus, and their product guide is attached. This does allow you to use an external source like an Ipod connected to the 3.5mm audio jack. It doesn't allow you to upload multiple songs to the device, and stream it back to Broadsoft in a loop however. Plus this product is pretty expensive if just using it as a MoH option. It is Broadsoft certified however.

I have heard there are some other ATA's out there that can use an FXO port as an audio in jack?

Anything that can do both? audio in jack plus upload multiple sound files? and managed by Broadsoft?

I hate the idea of having any other device besides the phones themselves at a clients site for a hosted solution.

On Tue, Aug 19, 2014 at 11:57 AM, Matthew S. Crocker <matthew at corp.crocker.com<mailto:matthew at corp.crocker.com>> wrote:
Under NDA so you won't get pricing from me. Several hundred thousand is a good estimate.   Broadworks is software. It runs on commodity hardware and Linux or Solaris.    Ours is running on IBM Blades and Redhat Linux.   You also want a good SBC.  We use acme packet (oracle)

Broadworks is rock solid.

On Aug 19, 2014, at 11:42 AM, "Adam Vocks" <Adam.Vocks at cticomputers.com<mailto:Adam.Vocks at cticomputers.com>> wrote:
Anyone care to say what a Broadsoft implementation costs?  I really don’t even know what broadsoft sells, is it hardware box that we rack up in our data center?

From: VoiceOps [mailto:voiceops-bounces at voiceops.org] On Behalf Of Alex Hardie
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2014 10:16 AM
To: Peter E
Cc: voiceops at voiceops.org<mailto:voiceops at voiceops.org>
Subject: Re: [VoiceOps] Broadsoft MoH

It's pretty advanced guys - and expensive for a reason - it's bullet proof.  Those centered around it being a POTS replacement are correct - when you look at business continuity, scalability and reliability.  Taking those points into consideration it is the only platform that can exceed six 9's.

Even more so when you compare it to something like Call Manager or an Asterisk derivative... Asking either to scale is a mistake - at any load they become as unstable as Gladys Kravitz on a triple espresso...

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 19, 2014, at 9:30 AM, Peter E <peeip989 at gmail.com<mailto:peeip989 at gmail.com>> wrote:
It may not be "the most advanced" but I'm not sure I agree with your "POTS replacement" assessment either. We have many, many enterprise customers and BW suits them just fine.

On Aug 19, 2014, at 7:11 AM, Alex Balashov <abalashov at evaristesys.com<mailto:abalashov at evaristesys.com>> wrote:
The idea that Broadsoft is "the most advanced softswitch out there" is woefully misguided. It is "the most expensive softswitch out there"..

Otherwise, its feature set is geared toward generic, cookie-cutter POTS replacement.
On 18 August 2014 22:32:25 GMT-04:00, Colton Conor <colton.conor at gmail.com<mailto:colton.conor at gmail.com>> wrote:
I was talking with a friend about their broadsoft implementation, and they mentioned that the had a client complaining about Broadsoft's music on hold's features. Basically, the said you could only upload one music file at a time, and it would only play the beginning of that file every time. Plus you can only upload a .wav file, and broadsoft won't convert a .mp3 or other audio file for you.

Sure enough I checked out Wholesalers implementation, and found the same thing. Is this true for all Broadsoft installations? This seems like quite a feature limitation for the most advanced softswitch out there.

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