VoIP Gateway

The VoIP gateway in Kenya has been preferred by companies looking for a concurrent call handling solution. For example a call center system can benefit a lot from this solution. Besides superior call handling capability, installing VoIP service will lead to increased business efficiency and lower cost of operation.

A VoIP gateway (voice over internet protocol gateway) is a device that enables transmission of telephony data over internet. The telephony data could either be voice or video. This telephony data usually originates from a telephone extension. Here again, the telephone extensions could either be IP phones or analog desk phones.

A VoIP GSM gateway would be ideal for organizations which prefer to use SIM cards for calling. In this case, the gateway will be connected to an IP PBX and configured as a trunk to enable calling. The GSM gateways have served very well as alternative to the VoIP trunking which entirely relies on the internet. As a matter of fact, most organizations that have not installed VoIP services rely on the GSM connection for calling.

Benefits of VoIP

VoIP enables concurrent calling. Retaining SIM cards for calling through the IP PBX system limits the number of concurrent calls. Therefore, if a company has only one SIM card connected, the telephone users will have to wait for the active call to be terminated before making another one. This is because one SIM card allows only one call at a time.

Thus, in the FXO setup, increasing the number of concurrent calls will mean increasing the number of SIM cards connected. Increasing the number of SIM cards will translate to increased number of GSM gateways connected through the FXO ports. And, having as many as 8 GSM gateways mounted in the server can be awkward.

The ideal solution for an organization looking to increase the number of concurrent calls is to install VoIP trunk. The VoIP trunk, also known as SIP trunk, allow telephony users to establish as many as 64 concurrent calls on a single line. The number of concurrent calls depend on the size of SIP trunk service subscribed to. The smallest SIP trunk has 4 channels. Hence, to enjoy 64 concurrent a company will need to subscribe to a 64 channel SIP trunk.

Yeastar integrated SMS feature

Besides the usual capability for both inbound and outbound calling, this gateway has inbuilt SMS feature. Therefore, this same device allows voice calls and at the same time organizations can receive SMS and reply to text messages. Also, it has the bulk messaging feature. The bulk messaging feature allows an organization to communicate with clients using text messages. Bulk messaging platform in particular provides organizations with a unique platform for sending text messages to a targeted audience. When used well, this can be a very important marketing tool.

Configure Yeastar TG400 SMS Gateway

The Yeastar TG400 SMS gateway is a telephony device that unlocks the full capabilities of a VoIP PBX phone system. The TG gateway device can accommodate up to 4 SIM cards. Since the device supports hot-plugging, a SIM card can be inserted into the GSM gateway and also removed without having to switch it off. When the two devices get integrated, users will be able to enjoy the full features of a VoIP telephony infrastructure.

As a networking services company in Kenya, we believe businesses in the service sector should cater to every client’s communication preference. In as much as most clients prefer voice calls, a huge chunk of the young clientele base would actually prefer communicating via text messages. Therefore, companies in the service sector such as banks, hotels, and restaurants should have in place a telephony infrastructure that supports communication for different platforms.

Thus, the VoIP phone system should not only support incoming and outgoing calls. But the telephony system should also have a facility for receiving and sending text messages to customers. The TG400 gateway is the right device for those looking for a VoIP telephony solution suitable for both voice calls as well as SMS communication.

Connect Yeastar VoIP PBX to a TG Gateway

The TG400 Gateway can be configured to interconnect seamlessly with the Yeastar S100 VoIP PBX system. After successful configuration, users will be able to make outgoing calls as well as receive incoming calls through the GSM gateway. Secondly, users will be able to send and receive text messages through the GSM gateway’s web interface.

see; IVR system

Integrating Yeastar S50 VoIP PBX with TG400 Gateway

Login to the Yeastar S50 VoIP PBX system. Then, enable a SIP peer trunk. The peer trunk can be added from the settings page.

Now login to the Yeastar TG400 Gateway. Then enable a VoIP trunk. The VoIP trunk can be added from the VoIP settings page.

Enabling outgoing calls on the VoIP PBX

Log in again to the Yeastar S50 PBX. In order to create an outbound route, navigate down to the Call Control page. Then create the outbound route by clicking on the ADD outbound route. Also, select extensions that can be permitted to make calls using the TG400 gateway.

Now login back again to the TG400 gateway. Here, create an IP to Mobile to route enable IP PBX users to make outgoing calls using the new VoIP trunk. In order to create the IP to Mobile route, navigate down to route settings, then add the route.

Enabling inbound calls on the VoIP PBX

In the Yeastar S20 PBX, navigate to Call Control to create a route that can enable the PBX users to receive calls through the TG400 gateways. In order to add the inbound route, navigate to the Call control page then click add a new route.

Likewise, a new route has to be created on the Yeastar TG400 gateway. Here, navigate to Route Settings. Then, click add Mobile to the IP route. The call destination should be the trunk connected to the Yeastar S100 IP PBX.

SIM installation

SIM card can be inserted by pushing the angled edge first in. and the metallic contact surface should face down. To remove the SIM card, only press on it once and it will bounce out from the slot.

External antennas

The TG gateway comes with external antennas to boost signal connectivity. The number of antennas being proportionate to the number of SIM card slots. For example, if the TG gateway device has the capability to accommodate 4 SIM cards, it will come with 4 antennas. And as the number of SIM card slots increases, so will the number of antennas provided.

see; biometric time attendance system

Configure TG400 Message Gateway

In as much as the TG gateways are usually used for calling, they can still be set up to allow sending and receiving messages through the GSM network. A user has to access the gateway’s web interface to send a text message.

To use the Yeastar TG400 SMS Gateway for messaging, log in to the web interface. Scroll down to the SMS page. Set the Country Code if it is not set already. The Country Code can be customized to the user’s preference. After filling in the country code, set the destination number. The SMS module allows users to pre-populate the system with regularly used contacts. This creates efficiency since a user will not be required to keep entering the number afresh. Otherwise, the contact list will be available to be used any time a message should be sent.

see; payroll management system

If the gateways have more than one active GSM trunk, a user will be required to choose the one preferred for sending messages for the instance. The sent messages being accessible from one folder, the received messages can be accessed from the inbox folder. The messages can be downloaded, deleted, or backup.