CudaBlog | CudaTel Communication Server

Directory synchronization is easy with CudaTel

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Christine

I’ve mentioned a couple of times that the CudaTel Communication Server syncs nicely with directory services. I keep bringing it up because I think it’s a sweet feature. I hated maintaining separate databases on the same network.

This video from our training & documentation repository shows you exactly how easy it is to sync the CudaTel with your directory server – http://youtu.be/2m1_V0IcvcI

There are a handful of benefits to taking 1-2 minutes to configure directory sync:

* Single username / password
* Automatic phone deployment & extension assignment by group or OU
* Maintain a consistent logical organization across the network assets
* It’s easy and more efficient than manual phone deployment / assignment

You don’t need to have a directory to deploy the CudaTel Communication Server or your phones; it just makes some things easier.

If you’d like to test this feature for yourself, order a 30 day free demo from our website. No hassles, no BS, just a free trial run. You’ll love it.

Shopping for a new phone system?

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Christine

If you are visiting us for the first time because you’re looking for a new phone solution, let me tell why you’ve come to the right place.

The CudaTel Communication Server (CCS) is an appliance that connects and manages phone calls that take place over the Internet or traditional analog or digital lines. The hardware and the software are completely integrated, and the CCS is packed full of features so that you don’t need to buy anything other than the CCS to manage your phones.

Let’s take a high-level look at what you can do with a CudaTel:

*Configure and monitor your phone system
*Route inbound and outbound calls
*Manage and record users and phones
*Blend VOIP with traditional phone analog or digital service
*Syncronize your phone system to your network directory
*Provide SIP service to your enterprise
*Create an automated attendant to provide menu-based call routing
*Automatically provision and update software on supported phone sets

…. And a whole lot more.

We have more information on all of these features in our technical documentation. http://www.cudatel.com/training/

If you’d like to test drive a CudaTel, you can get a free 30 day evaluation through our website at http://www.cudatel.com/evaluation/trial

And if you have any questions or comments, let us know here in the comments or on twitter @cudatel.

Cudatel deployment is intuitive, automated, and easy

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Christine

One of the things that makes the CudaTel Communication Server so attractive is that it is so easy to use. With an automated installation and an intuitive web-based interface, you won’t be spending your day back in the server room bringing a CudaTel online. It’s easier than you think.

First let’s talk about the installation. Pop it into the rack, assuming that’s where it’s going. Connect the network, power, monitor, keyboard, and then turn it on. When it boots up you can configure your network settings. And by the way if you didn’t have a monitor and keyboard, you can configure these network settings with a simple use of the Reset Button. Details in the deployment page.

After you’ve brought your CudaTel Communication Server online, you’ll want to open up some standard ports in your firewall. And then you can head on over to the web interface to start setting up your phones.

Phone deployment is simple too: plug the handset into the network and select the user and extension in the web interface to the CudaTel. If you already have a directory in place, CudaTel will integrate nicely into your existing organizational structure and automatically deploy phones and assign extensions by group or OU.

I know that’s pretty awesome right there, but we’re not done yet. On supported configurations and models, the CudaTel Communication Server can deploy phones automatically with native hardware provisioning and can keep phones up to date by automatically downloading firmware and other updates.

I know, right!?!

If you’d like to try a CudaTel Communication Server, you can a free 30 demo unit to drop into your network. Set up a test organization and play around with it for a while. You’re going to love it!

CudaTel Deployment – http://www.cudatel.com/training/deployment.html

Interoperability, SIP compliance, Hi-Def audio, and more

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Christine

Ok, so you know that CudaTel is the phone system for the IT guy, and you know that CudaTel has no per-user or per-feature charges. You probably know that you get all of the CudaTel features right out of the box, you don’t have to order anything extra. And you might even know that we make sweet videos.

But did you know this…

Cudatel has recently completed SIP Trunk Certification for Optimum, XO Communications, and Windstream and continually performs testing to certify providers regularly.
Any SIP compliant service or device can be used with CudaTel, at a fraction of the cost of traditional phone service
On supported phones, the CudaTel Communication Server delivers voice quality in High-Definition audio
Multi-site integration capabilities allow CudaTels from different locations to be linked into a single phone system across a private network or the Internet. No telephony company charges.

These are just a few of the many advantages to putting CudaTel to work for you. If you’d like to try a CudaTel, you can sign up for a 30 day free evaluation here.

If you have questions or comments, contact us through our website or on Twitter @cudatel

Catch up with CudaTel at Astricon

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Christine

Hey all of you open source / UC / Asterisk geeks, Astricon is here again!!

If you’re not one of the aforementioned geeks, let me catch you up. Astricon is the 3 day convention & expo for enthusiasts of Asterisk and other open source communication frameworks. This year it’s at the Sheraton in Atlanta, October 23-25. (See the agenda here)

The CudaTel team will be there to soak up the geeky goodness and hand out some CudaTel swag. And of course they’ll be answering your questions on the CudaTel Communications Server, which is powered by the open source FreeSWITCH.

Stop by booth 40 to meet the team. The first 200 visitors will pick up the brand-new super-sexy hot-off-the-press CudaTel t-shirt. Visitors can also enter to win a CudaTel Communications Server 270A. The winner will be drawn on the 25^th. And you can kick back with the CudaTel team at the Astricon Party on Wednesday night at Max Lager’s Grill & Brewery.

It’s not too late to register. Head to Atlanta and have some fun!!

Meet the new Chief Blogger

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Christine

Hi everyone! I’m Christine Barry, the new Chief Blogger for CudaTel and Barracuda Networks. You may have seen my intro post over at the Barracuda Product Blog a couple of weeks ago.

I’m finally settled enough into my role at Barracuda that I could get rolling here at the CudaTel blog. I’m still learning the CudaTel products and community, and I’m really having a blast.

In my previous life I was a Network Engineer and IT Project Manager, working primarily with K-12 schools and small business clients. I did that for over a decade, and I loved every minute of it.

Ok, almost every minute of it. I never really liked supporting phone systems.

Some of my discontent with phone systems was due to my own impatience; I just wasn’t interested in phone systems enough to learn how to support them. I had my own job to do. I worked with network operating systems and routers and cabling and wireless, oh my. The job that I trained for had nothing to do with phones and I simply didn’t want to make time to learn a new job.

Some of my discontent was due to the fact that vendor phone support was stupid expensive. One of my clients had a phone vendor who charged $220 per hour, which was very high for that local market. Overall phone systems were just a source of frustration for me.

Let’s be honest, learning to support a phone system wasn’t just about learning a new device; it was about learning a new industry. Different standards, different vendors, different industry trends. VOIP systems were a blessing, but they weren’t rolling out fast enough for my taste. I eventually became proficient enough with legacy systems to support the users in most scenarios, but I wasn’t in any hurry to do that.

If any of that sounds familiar to you, you’re going to love CudaTel. Not because of any particular feature, but because they CudaTel system is easy, intuitive, and it just works. You don’t need to stop doing your network support job in order to support the phones. Network-related features such as AD integration and user-level management help make CudaTel the perfect phone system for the network admin.

As the Chief Blogger, I’m looking forward to connecting you with the CudaTel team. My goal is to show you how we operate and why we have so much confidence in our products. In turn I would love to hear from you. What’s working for you? What do you need from us? What can we do better?

I’m excited to get started! I hope to see you in the comments.

Who’s Calling? Cudatel releases Version 2.5.005

Posted on July 19, 2012 by bpitt

Have you ever wanted to know more about the caller you talking to without clicking the keys and trying to talk at the same time? Caller ID not cutting it? Barracuda Networks has shipped a new release, Cudatel Version 2.5.005.060. While this is primarily a maintenance release, we snuck in a really cool feature WAPU, which stands for Web Application Popup URL, but is way easier to type! At a very basic level, WAPU enables Cudatel to “pop” your browser with any website and pass variables such as caller-id name, ANI and DNIS (The number the call came FROM or dialed TO). Why is this useful? Lets walk through a couple scenarios.

Try this:

Google your phone number, or a friend’s business phone number….more often than not you will get interesting if not informative results. You will likely also get links to LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites with yet more useful information. By the way, this doesn’t work quite so well when your name is Brad Pitt; it’s difficult finding *useful* information.

“How do I do this?” you ask. It is as simple as adding the string: http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en#hl=en&output=search&q=__CID__ to any call router or queue in the calling sequence options. Boom. Screen PoP

WAPU to LinkedIn with the caller id name as the search criteria and instantly know the background of the individual to whom you are speaking.

Are you or your customers using web based CRM solutions such as Salesforce.com or NetSuite? Using WAPU, you may be able to call those applications and pop customer account or opportunity information on the screen without ever touching the keyboard.

The best part, this feature, like all features in Cudatel, is free to all existing customers with Energize Update, and is included in all new Cudatel systems sold!

If you haven’t yet explored the myriad enterprise class features in Cudatel, you owe it to your business to evaluate your current telephony platform, and compare it to the value and predictable TCO of Cudatel.

For the complete release notes, go here: http://updates.cudasvc.com/cgi-bin/view_release_notes.cgi?type=bpsware&platform=2&version=2.5.005.060

Brad

If You’re An IT Admin, You’ll Love This Demo!

Posted on July 2, 2012 by aspraggins

You absolutely have to see how easy it is to configure the CudaTel system. With it being so simple to use, you should have no problem configuring your CudaTel in minutes. CudaTel Admin Demo

Why I Joined the Cudatel Team

Posted on June 15, 2012 by bpitt

I have spent many years in telephony from the early 90′s with proprietary, stand-alone IVR systems, class 5 programmable switches for pre-paid calling card and international call back platforms to a variety of legacy and IP-PBX solutions. Earlier this year, I met the Cudatel team at Barracuda and was immediately impressed with the depth of knowledge, professionalism and deep commitment to the channel. What really got my attention, however, was the disruptive go-to-market strategy for the Cudatel product. For me, the difference started with support: 24×7, USA based, live answer, no auto-attendant, no hassle and available when cut-overs usually occur – after hours! Having worked for other manufacturers, this was a refreshing departure from the expectations the industry has set and addresses one of the major sources of frustration for partners and customers alike. A quick web search confirmed my conclusion that Barracuda support is first rate in the partner and customer’s eyes.

Next was the product itself. Clearly the Cudatel development team has leveraged the knowledge and experience in networking, application delivery, and security to build a product that you can set and forget. I have run at least 3 other IP PBX solutions in my house from open source to commercial products. In every case I have had to configure settings in my router and “play” to get things working just right, especially with remote phones. I had also brought a second SIP trunk into my home which worked perfectly on outbound, but inbound dropped calls after 30 seconds. Hours were spent trying to “fix” the issue from SIP trunk provider, carrier, router manufacturer to PBX manufacturer. Ultimately, the fix was to tear out that system and drop in my Cudatel which worked perfectly without any additional changes elsewhere in my network (I guess we now know where the problem was). Bottom line is my system was up and running with dial tone, 2 auto-provisioned phones and one non-standard SIP device in about 35 minutes. Enterprise class features such as call recording, fax support, voicemail to email, automated attendant and queuing were all standard in the box – exactly the feature set our customers would use every day.

I now have 11 SIP devices configured with my Cudatel (excessive for the house but with kids, cameras to watch and listen to the pool, and wireless devices, not completely absurd) and could add as many more as I wish without ever paying a user fee. This illustrates my next point which is: the business model for acquiring a Cudatel is different – VERY different. Because Barracuda doesn’t charge by the user or by feature, you can purchase a Cudatel, add hardware assurance and energize updates for 5 years (a total of 3 line items!), and know your total cost of ownership for 5 years. We even throw in a new server after 4 years with the hardware assurance option to ensure your hardware as well as the software is up to date! I can’t think of another vendor who can make this claim. And, since we allow you to bring your own PSTN interfaces and SIP trunks as well as IP devices (including softphones for mobility and cost reduction), you have complete control over the entire infrastructure.

Finally, it’s about the team. Whether you need pre-sales help from the very capable sales team, technical support or a local partner to assist with installation, training, purchasing, financing or services, there is a highly motivated and professional organization to assist you every step of the way. I am proud to be a member of this team and stand ready to assist you in any way I can. Drop me a line, let me know what you think, tell me how Cudatel and Barracuda Networks has simplified your telecommunications strategy and lowered your costs. I look forward to hearing from you.

Brad

Oh, did I mention 30 day, no obligation evaluations?