FOLLOW ME GSM GATEWAY

A Follow Me GSM Gateway connects to an analogue telephone line or analogue extension on a phone system and automatically redirects all incomming calls to a mobile phone number. By using a mobile phone tariff where calls to the same network, or calls between sim cards on the same package are free of charge, free call diversion from a land line to a mobile phone can be achieved. We are awaiting a new version of our popular GSM Follow Me Gateway which is due for launch in June 2007. Please visit our online store http://www.discountphonesystems.co.uk and subscribe to our e-newsletter and you will be e-mailed when the new Follow Me GSM Gateway is available to order.

The GSM SAVE Follow Me GSM Gateway provides the ideal solution to eliminate the cost of forwarding calls from a landline to a mobile phone. When using normal call diversion services from lanline telephone suppliers any calls to the landline number are routed to a mobile phone number - the telephone company will then charge for each minute that the caller receives diverted calls - for a busy tradesman that can mean recieving and paying for 60 minutes of calls per day - at a cost of 15 pence per minute it quickly adds up to hundreds of pounds per month in diverted call charges. By connecting the Follow Me GSM Gateway to your telephone line and inserting a suitable mobile phone SIM card calls can be diverted directly via the mobile phone GSM network - and depending upon the mobile phone tariff these calls can be free of charge - all that is payable is the initial cost of the Follow Me GSM Gateway and the monthly rental of an additional SIM card.

Connection Diagram
Home User

Business User

Main Features and Applications

Routing between PSTN and GSM Users can program the numbers they need to dial through GSM. The Follow Me GSM Gateway will choose the proper path (GSM or PSTN) to make the phone call - This is ideal when calling work colleages and can be used for further cost savings when calling mobile phones on other networks depending upon the mobile phone tariff.

ACR Dialler (Automatic Call Routing)

In addition to GSM/PSTN router, the Follow Me GSM Gateway also has all features of an ACR dialer providing users with the ability to use alternative telephone companies and calling cards for cheaper PSTN calls.

Answering a GSM Phone Call by Normal Telepohone When the handset receives a call, the normal telephone will ring. User can then pick up the handset and answer the call.

Call Diverter (Follow Me) When users are out of the home or office, they can set the number where they are. If anybody calls them from the landline PSTN number, the unit will forward this call to the number through the mobile phone. It also works in opposite direction.

Transit between PSTN and GSM Network Users can call into the Follow Me GSM Gateway device to the landline PSTN number, and then dial out from the GSM, or in opposite direction enabling mobile users to call into the GSM Gateway and make a call over the landline (ideal when making international calls). Password can be set to protect unauthorised access.

Use GSM as a PSTN Line Under some conditions, the PSTN line is not available. Users can still use a normal telephone or PBX through the GSM network.

Calling Time Limit

Users can program the limit time for GSM outgoing calls.There are 2 modes, single call time limit and total calling time limit For example, users can set up max. call of each GSM call to 5 minutes or when the total call time comes to 2,000 minutes, change the route to PSTN. This is ideal when using the Follow Me GSM Gateway as a call saving device for calling mobile phones - using some of the competitive mobile phone tariffs that provide inclusive minutes to call any network for example Vodafone 1000 - by setting the total time limit to 1000 minutes will mean that you can safely use all your minutes and not risk overspending - especially when calls to other networks after using the inclusive minutes can be 3 times the cost of calling from a landline.

Mobile Pay Phone Connect a normal coin phone to the Follow Me GSM Gateway and it becomes a mobile pay phone. The system can be easily installed on trains, buses, or the places where PSTN phone lines are not available.

Easy Programming More than 100 parameters provide most flexible settings. The PC-based programmer let dealers program the parameters easily. It can be programmed locally with PC or telephone set, or remotely through the PSTN line

GSM Gateways
Background
The uptake of cellular telephones has exceeded that of fixed line telephones worldwide. In most instances the charges for a call from a fixed telephone service to a cellular telephone service exceed the charges for a call from a cellular telephone service to a cellular telephone service (fixed-mobile calls are more expensive than mobile-mobile calls). In the highly competitive cellular phone market the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have lowered rates to call from cellular telephones as an incentive to bring consumers to their networks. Some MNOs allow "free" or uncharged calls to others on the same network. It is also a common practice for the MNOs to offer "capped plans" enticing consumers to use mobile phones more and more.

Why does my company need a GSM Gateway?

A GSM gateway enables cheap mobile-mobile calls instead of expensive fixed-mobile calls. The gateway can e.g. be connected to a PBX system. So all calls into cellular networks will be routed via the gateway instead of via the PSTN (Public Switched Telephony Network). GSM gateways use integrated wireless modules (the same types of wireless modules are used in standard cellular phones) as well as integrated antennas. The GSM gateway has been designed to route calls between a companys telephone system and the mobile network directly --- by-passing their ISDN/PSTN fixed line services.

The GSM Gateway suits companies who experience high traffic call volumes to mobiles and who are on Carrier plans that suit. The gateway is scalable and provides powerful but easy to use software interface for operation. E.g. a carrier may charge 20 cents for a fixed to mobile call. The same call charged at the mobile to mobile rate by the same carrier is 6 cents. The gateway builds the facility of accessing the carriers cheaper rates for mobile to mobile calls.

Definition: A PBX (Private Branch Exchange) is a switch station for telephone systems. It consists mainly of several branches of telephone systems and it switches connections to and from them, thereby linking phone lines. Companies use a PBX for connecting all their internal phones to an external line. This way, they can lease only one line and have many people using it, with each one having a phone at the desk with different number. The number is not in the same format as a phone number though, as it depends on the internal numbering. Inside a PBX, you only need to dial three-digit or four-digit numbers to make a call to another phone in the network. We often refer to this number as an extension Practically, the functions of a PBX are the following: Provide one single number that external callers can use to access all persons in a company. Distribute calls to employees in a answering team in an even way; using the Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) feature. Automate call answering, but offering a menu of options from which a user can select to be directed to a specific extension or department. Allow the use of customized business greetings while answering calls. Provide system call management features. Place external callers on hold while waiting for a requested person to answer, and playing music or customized commercial messages for the caller waiting. Record voice messages for any extension from an external caller. Transfer calls between internal extensions.

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IP-PBX PBXs are not only for VoIP but have been around for landline telephone systems as well. A PBX that is specifically made for VoIP is called an IP PBX, which stands for Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange). Up to now, PBXs have been a business luxury that only huge companies could afford. Now, with IPPBXs, medium-sized and even some small companies can also benefit from the features and functionalities of a PBX while using VoIP. True they have to invest some money into hardware and software, but the return and benefits are considerable in the long term, both operationally and financially. The main benefits that an IP-PBX brings around are scalability, manageability and enhanced features. Adding, moving and removing users to an from a telephone system can be very costly, but with an IPPBX it is as cost-effective as it is easy. Moreover, an IP phone (which represents terminals in a PBX phone network) may not necessary to attached to one specific user. Users can transparently log in the system through any phone in the network; without however losing their personal profiles and configurations. IP-PBXs are more software based than their predecessors and so maintenance and upgrade costs are considerably reduced. The work is easier as well. PBX Software An IP-PBX needs a software to control its mechanism. The most popular PBX software is Asterisk (www.asterisk.org), which is a good open-source software.