need help setting a new business phone system

[RotKT]

here's my situation:
there are 3 numbers in this new office; 1 main number (display business number, customers can just call this 1 number), the other 2 are used in case the 1st number is busy, it'll kick to the next number; customer wont know these 2 numbers.
my question is that what equipment do i need to do this and how.

right now i have 2 business digital phones. when i look at the jack on the phone, i see only 2 wires (for 1 analog number).

thanks

 

[pm]

That sounds like a PBX (Private Branch eXchange, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_branch_exchange ).

In my humble opinion, the cheapest and best way to set up a PBX is to recycle an older computer (Pentium 3 1GHz or higher), buy a 1 to 2 (or 1 to 3) FOX/FXS card, and load on Asterisk (http://www.asterisk.org/ ) which is a Linux build that enables a PBX. The other way to get them is from your carrier or a 3rd party, and either lease them or buy them outright. But when you see the prices, you'll see why I'm recommending Asterisk instead.

The downside of Asterisk is that PBX's remind of boats in that, in order you use them, you sort of need to learn a whole set of confusing words to name things - in order to configure the PBX. Additionally, you need to have at least a basic understanding of some Unix in order to navigate Asterisk... you can use a GUI based Asterisk setup that abstracts the whole Unix thing (I used Asterisk@Home, but another good one is Asterisk Now) but sooner or later you'll have to be be able to stop jobs in Unix and restart them and maybe edit a few files.

We had a live-in nanny for a couple of years and I set up an Asterisk box with an older mini-ITX motherboard that I had, and once I got it working, it never gave us problems for 2 years. I was trying to do something quite a bit different, but I had to say that I was generally impressed with Asterisk... although it took me a while to work my way through the terminology.

 

[RotKT]

thanks for replying.
is there any other way that's not involved computer (ie is there any standalong plug-n-play device that can do the job)?
i've seen some places getting it done w/o using computer
thanks

 

[pm]

Sure. Buy or lease a PBX setup. Talk to your local phone company.

 

[RotKT]

Originally posted by: pm
Sure. Buy or lease a PBX setup. Talk to your local phone company.

thanks
im leasing it from my local phone company.
im working on the computer route.
thanks for the help

 

[BoberFett]

You can buy turnkey Asterisk system from many different vendors that are cheaper than full fledged commercial phone systems.