I first saw a reference to the new Mac Mini-based IP PBX, iBlue, on Andy’s blog. This is cool. Of course, if you’ve ever read VoIP Hacks, you already know how to build one. Asterisk on a Mac Mini is a swimmingly good idea for a microPBX (but they didn’t use Asterisk). And loading the restore media onto an iPod Shuffle–well, that’s just cute, as any USB solid-state dongle drive would’ve sufficed.
Check out Om’s comments on the iBlue:
The iBlue is based on the 4S IP PBX, a software-based IP PBX. It uses SIP for VoIP and runs on a Mac mini. The device boots off the iPod shuffle, and basically turns the Mac Mini into a PBX. I am guessing it could work on any old Mac that can support OS-X. You can install the software on a Mac as well. The 3000 Euro version of the package (including Mac Mini and iPod shuffle) can support 250 users and 30 parallel calls.
Of course, as the old saying goes, I’ll believe it when I see it. I wonder if these are hard limits or performance limits? 30 parallell calls on a EU 3000 PBX? Sorry, that’s not a huge leap forward. There are lots of $1500 Toshiba hybrids that you can slap up on your plywood mounting board and make 30 simultaneous calls, albeit without the benefit of VoIP. Plus, in 90% of the installations, people are going to have to trunk to the PSTN, which means adding a couple 4-port FXO gateways at five or six hundred bucks a pop (something that $1500 Toshiba just HAS). So, really this is a $4500 solution in all reality. Now I know it comes with a few IP phones–which is nice I guess–but I’m not seeing the superior value proposition here. Especially considering Asterisk@home, which provides similar functionality, has no hard limits on utilization, and is free. Pop that on a $500 Intel Mac Mini, add a pair of FXO gateways, and you’re off and running for three grand less than what the iBlue will cost.
So they painted a Mac Mini, loaded their IP PBX and front-end, pledged tonight a big chunk of the proceeds of the first thousand units sold to some VoIP competence center in Germany. OK, that’s cool. But what would be even cooler is if I could spend half the dough and donate the money to the charity of my own choosing. Oh wait, I guess I could, if I bought LinksysOne or loaded Asterisk on a Mini myself.
But rah rah for doing it on a Mac guys. The coolness factor can’t be denied.
Regarding the price, Andy does have a great point:
This is similar to a Voxilla offering based on Communigate Pro.
The interesting point of distinction is how much less expensive Voxilla’s system is. So you don’t get the iPOD….
