One of the major advantages of CTI Applications is availability of huge computation power of computer along with telecom functions. Many telephone systems like PBX or answering machines can also have some computational power using which some call routing or other smart features can be implemented. But they can not perform highly complicated logical decision which is easily possible by a CTI applications.

One such small but widely used in some specific areas function of any telephone system is Call Screening! Call screening can be defined as filtering of incoming or outgoing call based on the caller ID or dialed number.

In incoming scenario, CLI ( Caller Line Identification) can be used to either allow incoming call or block it. Apart from CLI, DNI ( Dialed Number Identification) can also be used to allow of block calls. This is very useful in PRI connectivity in India where one PRI is normally provided with 100 different numbers along with one vanity number, known as “pilot number”. This kind of DNI based call screening could be used for many purposes!

In outgoing call screening scenario, the call could be allowed using either dialed number or dialing extension or both. Very often, in a office with PBX systems, few extensions are provided with direct dial facility to dial out. This kind of system exists in hotels too where some rooms can make international calls while others not. Similar restrictions are used by telecom service providers too where some numbers do not have international calling facility!

All these are instances of “call screening” of various types. Almost all call screening facility described above can be implemented in a PBX. But CTI based call screening have advantages:-

1. It is not easy to edit or change the “call screening” condition while using PBX features.

2. Only trained PBX personal can program or make changes in “call screening” logic. Also they can only add new numbers or extensions.

3. CTI based “Call Screening” systems have simple GUI based options to edit, change in call screening logic which can be understood and operated by any one who knows how to use computer mouse and read English.

4. Complex logic or even dynamically changing parameters ( like time of the day) can be used for call blocking/unblocking function.

5. Large list of phone numbers can be used for checking call blocking/unblocking conditions. Present day NDNC ( National Do Not Call) registry is nothing but such a list.

CTI based Call Screening system can also be used to routing of calls intelligently. It can also store all records of any blocked or unblocked calls and present them in refined ways. It is easy to share such call reports and convert to different formats like Excel Sheet which is understood by all.

CTI based “Call Screening” could be used in jails too where inmates would be allowed to receive calls from specified number at specified time only. Similarly, inmate would be able to make calls to specified number once in a month. All these would happen automatically, without any human intervention with proper call report.

So, if you require any type of “call screening” system for your office, hotel or hostel, it is time to implement a CTI based call screening system!

Yes, you have seen the title of this post right!, No typo mistake or any other mistake! I was wondering if IVR industry can be compared with any other industry and for some reason fashion industry came to my mind, pretty quickly before any other industry!

Here are few reasons why I felt IVR industry can be compared with Fashion Industry:-

1. As in Fashion industry, IVR industry too has designers who design call flow! Fashion designers design some clothes, accessories, apparels which has wide application ind ay to day life! Similarly, IVR VUI designers design various IVR systems which have wide applications in a practical life!

2. Designing any apparel requires not only technical expertise, but also artistic creativity! Same almost goes for IVR designing which involves in script writing to recording voice prompts by voice over artist in a studio!

3. Like in fashion industry, lot of design improvements in IVR are done after users feedback! And users of the both products do not care about the hard work put in by designers, developers and only care about the end product and how people are reacting to it!

4. Designers in a fashion industry design clothes for masses as well as classes! IVR designers too have to design their IVR for all, some smart users as well as not-so smart users! Many of the times fashion designers target their designs for high income groups. Some IVRs are also used in banking and some minimum knowledge like English language, Knowledge of Telephony jargon etc are expected from their users!

5. The way fashion industry uses raw materials to produce a product, in IVR industry too, raw materials like CTI boards, PCs or Servers and Software required to produce the complete IVR system!

These are the reasons why some time I feel like comparing IVR industry to Fashion industry! What Industry comes to your mind when you feel like comparing IVR industry to ?

Dialogic D/300 JCT-E1 is the entry level board for anyone who needs digital network interface with PSTN network as well as voice resources in the single board. I feel, D/300 board is most used entry

Dialogic D/300 JCT-E1 board

Features of Dialogic D/300 JCT-E1 board

1. Digital Network Interface

It has both E1(2.048MBPS) and T1(1.544 Mbps) support. It supports digital interface network protocols like ISDN PRI, R2MF. ISDN PRI is widely used protocol for connecting CTI board with PBX systems. With D/300 board, it is quite easy to configure it to work with many ISDN variants as per PBX from one country to another or manufacturer.

2. FAX support

Dialogic D/300 board supports both FAX and host based speech recognition. In certain cases, FAX and speech recognition may not work together. It also supports CSP ( Continuous Speech Processing) which offers IVR developers a powerful feature to develop many interesting IVR applications and features depending on the call progress. Speech recognition feature provides IVR developers to develop Speech-Enabled menu for any IVR application.

3. Scalability

Dialogic D/300 supports H.100 connector and it allows it to connect to other Dialogic boards. Inexpensive normal PC can be used to install this board and one PC may install upto 16 boards per machine if PCI slots are available.
With its support for GSM and G.726 bit exact voice coders ( standard for Voice Profile for Internet Messaging (VPIM) , one may develop unified messaging solutions based on D/300 board.

4. Programming

Dialogic D/300 board is supported by many RAD Tools for IVR development. It also supports widely popular GC ( Global Call Protocol) for making many high end, mission critical IVR applications.

Applications

D/300 board can be used to develop any kind of IVR applications. It offers many call related information available with digital network interface protocols. Call bridging available in ISDN PRI is one of the feature which is used to make Click To Call application can be developed.

D/300 board is also ideal choice for starting a voice portal service to start with 30 lines and then increase the lines.

DIalogic has some other models with higher capacity with same features. D/600 and DMV1200 have 60 voice and 120 resources respectively. One may move from D/300 to DMV/1200 without having to make any changes in the application.

Other CTI vendors like Donjin, Synway, Digium too have D/300 equivalent boards. For example, Digium TE122P/TE122B, Synway TEJ Series and Donjin DN300 are Dialogic D/300 equivalent boards with similar features.

There are many disadvantages of using analog CTI ( Computer Telephony Integration) cards. Apart from that, digital CTI boards offer many advantages over analog CTI boards and I would like to list three main reasons why one should upgrade to digital CTI boards from analog ones.

Even in India, E1 connectivity or PRI lines are easily available from any telecom service provider and it is much cheaper. And with, many new CTI manufacturers are offering high quality digital CTI boards which are easily available.

Here are three reasons :-

1. Dialed Number Identification ( DNI Facility)
Digital boards provide DNI ( dialed Number Identification) which is not available in analog CTI boards. DNI can be very useful. It provides options for separate CTI applications depending on the DNI detected. The same interactive voice response application could play different welcome prompts as per DNI. For example:- A digital interface with Telephone exchange may offer 30 different numbers, and one common number for all 30 lines. Now depending on caller dialing one or groups of numbers, a separate greetings, separate call flow can be implemented in the same CTI application. There would be flexibility to change, modify these numbers without having to change any physical lines.
DNI can also be used for shortcut in menu options. For example, there are 4 kinds of complaints in a company. Four separate numbers could be used for each of the complaints saving callers time to choose a complaint through menu. This can greatly increase usability of any interactive voice response system application.

2. Quick connections
Digital CTI boards uses digital protocol for quick call setup and quick information exchanges. So, any call can be connected quickly. But n analog, it order to CTI boards, one has to wait two rings before the call can be connected. Many of the times, analog CTI boards may not detect CLI at all. Any irate customer gets more irritated when her call is connected after 2/3 rings. It also saves time and handle more calls. So the throughput of digital boards is more than analog CTI boards.

3. Disconnect Problems
Analog CTI boards need to train on varius disconnect tones which may vary from one PABX to another. It takes time to setup detection of these various tones like Busy Tone, Engage Tone, Disconnect Tone, Dial Tone. Also, it takes some minimum time to detect any of these tones. So, analog CTI boards take time to dial out, disconnect.
During outbound calls, it is not easy to detect if called number has picked the call or not. Many people use here voice activity detection as ring back tone does not work with accuracy. With digital CTI boards, all these problems are removed. This not only saves time, but it increases efficiency, result in more number calls.

There is one benefit of having analog lines. out of many analog lines, if one cable is cut, remaining lines will work, in digital, it is only one wire, so one cable is cut, whole of your lines or at least minimum 30 ports would go down.

So, if you are still using analog CTI board, consider upgrading to digital CTI boards now!

Almost one year back on 28th August 2008, I started a poll in this site to try to know how many people use Dialogic CTI boards as well as other CTI boards. I have concluded the poll today, 5th September 2009. The question of the poll was :

Which CTI card you use for your IVR Applications ?

And the options were :
1. Dialogic
2. Synway
3. Pika
4. AudioCodes
5. TelcoBridge

I forgot to include two more important CTI manufacturer Digium and Donjin. I future, I think I would conduct another poll about these two CTI boards. Digium is wide famous for Asterix.
Not many people voted in the poll! Only 28 people voted. 3 registered users and 25 guests. Total number of vote was 40 as one voter could select more than option.

A good percentage of 18 votes went for Dialogic(64%). I was expecting it to be more than 80% though! Second position was occupied by Synway with 14 votes(50%). Pika technologies came 3rd with 6 votes(21%) and other two got 1 vote (4%) each.

I think low voter turn out must be due to poor visibility of the poll. Last one year has been quite a learning experience, this year I hope to organise more meaningful polls as well as better voter turnout.

I think, analog CTI boards most problematic to configure other than simple incoming or inbound IVR Software. They are dependent on switch or PBX connected to them for many basic IVR functions, call operations. I am trying to list here the problems I had been facing while using analog CTI boards:-

1. Disconnect
2. Dial Tone
3. Dial out
4. Caller Id

1. Disconnect
You need to ‘define’ the disconnect tone to your IVR application so that it can detect disconnect. This disconnect tone may vary from PBX to PBX. Dialogic has a tool PBXpert to detect various analog tones like dial tone, disconnect tone, busy tone, ring back tone etc. With CRBT ( Caller Ring Back Tone) being popular now a days, detection of ring back tone has just become more difficult.

2. Dial Tone
Dial tone also varies from one PBX manufacturer to another. This dial tone becomes very important when you make an outgoing call. IVR application may be unable to make outgoing call if it fails to detect dial tone. Though there are ways to dial out without detecting dial tone or learn dial tone and feed in IVR application, it is still not easy.

3. Dial out
Once successfully dial out, it may not be easy to detect if dialled party has picked up the call. Many people use Call Progress Analysis to detect, if person has picked up the call. But I always think, it is not easy or it does not work accurately all the time.

4. Caller ID
Unlike in digital CTI boards or Digital Telephony interface, caller ID detection is almost a pain and it may not work accurately all the time. Normally, in analog interface with PBX, the caller id is sent by PBX in DTMF form after first or second ring. So, it is really cumbersome to detect Caller ID.

Digital CTI boards with digital interface does not have the above problems. So it would be nice if one can avoid using analog CT boards and use digital boards. Though digital boards are costlier, but now a days there are many CTI vendors which have digital CTI boards which are priced very competitive.

I have thought of an arrangement to avoid using analog CTI cards. Though it may make the IVR system costlier, but most probably, it will be good arrangement in terms of future enhancements, more features. My thinking is to use use a EPABX with PRI card. the CTI board will be connected to EPABX through E1 connectivity and use ISDN PRI protocol. Commonly used and widely available. In turn EPABX may have CO lines from telephone service provider ( analog lines which other wise you wold have connected to CTI board directly). This kind of EPABX may cost less than Rs. 150,000/-

Now, when price of 4 port CTI boards starts with Rs. 10,000/-, investing another Rs. 150,000 on a EPABX and another Rs. 30,000 for a digital CTI board, may not make sense, honestly! But there are some benefit of using this kind of arrangement for for specific IVR application and outbound IVRS is one of them, considering the cost of hiring a E1 link from telephone service provider.

But, the problems I have listed above can be solved by smartly writing your IVR software. In fact, they must be routine problems for many IVR developer, unfortunately no document is available on net, at least I could not Google it. And I am yet to write a smart IVR application for analog CTI board as I started my IVR software development with Dialogic D300 board and R2MF protocol!

Though I have previously written about tools for developing IVR software as well as standardised VoiceXML based IVR Software, I was always thinking about writing rapid application development tools for developing simple to complex and large IVR software available in the market presently.

What is Rapid Application Development Tools for IVR Software ?
These are the tools like a Microsoft Visual Studio used for rapidly developing IVR Software as per IVR call flow. While Microsoft Visual Studio is very vast and supports many kind of applications, RAD for IVR Software deals only with IVR Software or IVR kind of voice application. For example, Auto Dialer, Voice Mail, Auto Attendant etc.
Normally they have beautiful GUI ( Graphics User Interface) for implementing IVR Call flow with graphical tools for controlling CTI board related and Voice Related functions. They provide visual tools implementing IVR Call Flow with minimum requirement of actual coding.
They use their own scripting for IVR Application with own syntax or syntax of standard computer programming language like basic, C. Some even provide controls (pre-compiled executable API code for specific function, can be used as it is) to be used standard Software Development Environment like .NET, Visual Basic etc.

I think there is a scope for comparing three ways to develop IVR Software or any Voice Applications as a whole. The three ways to develop IVR Software are:
1. Legacy IVR Software using native API of CTI boards using C++
2. Using open standard VoiceXML
3. Using Rapid Application Development Tools like VBVoice

In my last post about about Legacy IVRS and VoiceXML IVRS, I tried to compare pros and cons between first two in the above list. Here I would like to mention few benefits of using RAD tools for developing IVR Software.

1. One can rapidly develop IVR Software as the name suggests. The developer does not have to worry about CTI Board related functions as they are already built-in the RAD tools, tried and tested with many CTI Boards.
2. Short learning curve for developing IVR Software. As RAD tools use very simple, easy human kind of language as well as visual tools, it becomes very easy for anyone to develop IVR Software quickly.
3. Support Multiple CTI Boards. This may be one of the major advantages for using RAD tools. As RAD tools provide support for CTI boards from multiple vendors, the developer need not re-develop his IVR Application from scratch while changing CTI Cards.
4. Development Support. RAD Tools providers good support in developing the IVR Software and it comes handy as C++ developer may get stuck somewhere and nowhere to turn for help, but himself.
5. The IVR and other voice applications are getting more and more complex day by day. So, RAD tools gives an IVR Developers option to concentrate more on the call flow and IVR usability aspects than spending time on CTI board interfacing.

As I belong to old school of development, I always advocate use of good old C++ for writing stable, robust and working round the clock software. And I feel RAD Tools may not be suitable for large, complex and enterprise IVR or Voice Applications.

But recently I had tested one RAD tool for developing IVR Application, namely VBVoice 5.6.1 from PRONEXUS INC. I hope to write about this and comparing it with other RAD tools in near future.

High-End digital CTI boards for a voice portal is not cheap! In fact some of them cost as much as a Honda Civic car in India. So, choosing a right CTI Board for your Voice Portal may not be easy, that is until you read this article .

So, how to choose a CTI Board for your voice portal application ? There are few parameters using which one should choose CTI Board for Voice Portal:-

1. Number of Expected Simultaneous Calls
Most important factor to consider! If you expect simultaneous calls to be not more than four, buy any four channel analog card. But than, most probably it will not remain a voice portal! Ideally, if one should choose a CTI board with 50% more capacity than the expected number of glutenous calls. if some one expects 10-15 calls, he should choose one 30 port Digital CTI board.

2. Time to connect a call
Time taken for connecting a call when an user call is important! It depends of the interface the CTI board supports. For example, CAS R2MF connects much slower than SS7 or ISDN PRI. One will hear “teent teent teent” sound after dialing the Voice Portal before connection. Normally quick and instant connection to Voice Portal is desired.

3. Interface With Switch Support
The type of interfacing with switch of Telecom Provider is important parameter to consider. Many Telecom Service Provider may not have CAS or ISDN protocols on their switch or they may not be willing to provide that connectivity to Voice Portal operators. So, one must consider about available protocol with Telecom Provider before deciding on a CTI board. Interfacing with various protocols is responsible time to connect of calls. SS7 cards are costlier than ISDN PRI or CAS R2MF boards, connects calls almost instantly. And some CTI Manufacturer like Dialogic does not have a combined board which has both Voice Processing and SS7 Signaling so far! This kind of arrangement has its own advantage over combined CTI boards. For example, one can have add more Media Processing (Voice Processing) Boards while keeping one signaling board in one system. Also combined (Signaling and Media Processing) CTI boards do not come in low density configuration, they normally have 8 E1 or more. 4E1 meaning at least 120 simultaneous calls!

[ad#image-large]

3. Scalability and IVR Software
This is another aspect one should not ignore. If the Voice Portal becomes popular, which is the main aim by any Voice Portal Operator, so the CTI Boards should have scalability feature where increasing number of simultaneous calls should not make existing hardware redundant, or make IVR Software obsolete. Separate boards for signaling and media processing is recommended for scalability. IVR Software should be designed such a way that, it can handle more voice resources without having to re-develop the IVR Software.

4. Support for the CTI Board
Availability of development support as well as quick 24 hours support for any problem in the CTI hardware is a must! Every minutes of downtime of Voice Portal, the operator loses revenue! So, one should choose a CTI vendor which can provide quick support or quick replacement of CTI hardware in case of CTI board failure! Also, CTI Vendor should have active forum to discuss various issues and should have good number of third party developers!

5. Cost
Cost is very important, well for everybody! But, one should not compromise of quality of CTI cards for cost.

My Favourite and Recommended CTI hardware:

1. For 30 to 120 simultaneous Calls.
Start with Dialogic D/300 JCT or DMV1200 card. They have ISDN, R2MF protocol, good support, quite tested CTI board. Many developers have written IVR Software on them! Dialogic has good support, active forum, large number of developers. But since they are the biggest CTI vendor, they may not provide you with a demo card for development of your Voice Portal!
These boards can be even used with Dialogic SS7 Signaling boards.

2. For 240 or more simultaneous calls
1. Synway SHD-240D-CT/PCI
Good Value for money, good support. Built in Signaling and media processing. Cheaper than Dialogic equivalent.
2. Dialogic SPCI4/SPCI2 and DNI2410
Awesome combination, great scalability, very good support and large number of developers as well as very active forum. Cost is almost double that Synway though!

Synway Information Engineering Co., Ltd. has opened its office in New Delhi, India on March 11, 2009.

As per Mr. Luke Lu from Synway, all technical support to its clients would be now available locally. In recent times, Synway has been quite aggressive in pushing its products in India. Their products are very competitively priced and almost half of Dialogic CTI Boards!

They are now supporting IVRS Developers in India and encouraging them to develop IVR application using Synway CTI Boards. I was one of those beneficiaries.

Their Indian Office Address is :
Address: E- 237 First Floor Greater Kailash Part I New Delhi 110048
Tel: 0091 1146593473
Fax: 0091 1146593473
Mobile: 0091 9717182000
Email: luke@synway.net

Arguably, Dialogic D4/PCI analog card must be the most widely used CTI card in the world! Also, most probably again, all 4 Generation Visual Tools for developing IVR Application supports this Dialogic D4/PCI CTI Card.

This card is easy to install, very feature rich, and has many advanced call processing feature. The most problematic part of any analog card s detecting engage tone, busy tone, ring back tone, apart from detecting Pulse Dialing! Amazingly this card has all those call processing feature which can be utilised effectively to solve these problems.

For those who are interested in know complete details, click here.

Here are few tips about using this card:-
1. Find out if your EPABX/Telecom Service provider has enabled Loop current drop at end of call. If not, ask them to enable so that you do not face Call Disconnect Not detecting problem. ( I feel, this is the most widely encountered problem by all IVRS people.)
2. You must create TSF file using PBXpert. This utility comes with Dialogic System Release, all versions. This tool makes few incoming/outgoing calls with two extension lines ( if EPABX) and train itself to detect the Engage Tone, Busy Tone and disconnect Tone, Ring Cadence etc. This step is very important.
3. To make your life easier, check for various PRM files in dialogic directory.

Finally, if nothing seems working, join www.dialogic.com/den/ and shoot your question in the forum. Or you can contact me.