An Evaluation Of Browser-Based Clients For Asterisk

ABSTRACT

Asterisk is a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) software used to connect telephony applications such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). In the Department of Computer Science at the University of Namibia (DCS-UNAM), Asterisk is currently set up to provide basic VoIP services to staff and students. However, this system currently has limited accessibility because it can only be accessed with VoIP clients such as hard and soft phones. Alternatively, Browser-based VoIP clients (BBVCs) can be used to provide nomadic accessibility to Asterisk. The study evaluates the BBVCs for their challenges and usability in providing users in DCS-UNAM with nomadic access to Asterisk services. Both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies were used for this study. A literature study was carried out to find available BBVCs that can be customised to work with Asterisk. Out of them, the Java Inter-Asterisk eXchange Client (JIAXC) library application was selected as the appropriate BBVC for this study. Data produced during the compilation, the loading and the use of the BBVC‟s web phone were captured using Wireshark Network Protocol Analyzer, Firefox Java Console and the Gnome terminal. Some of the data collected were analysed using Wireshark and the IAX2 Call analyzer. The overall usability of the BBVC was also obtained using questionnaires which were distributed to Third year Computer Science students at DCS-UNAM and then analysed using Statistica software package.