Open source telephone hardware and software distributor Connection Telecom is to hold the country's first boot camp to prepare technicians and engineers for their professional certification in open source telephony.
Rob Lith, one of Connection Telecom's directors, says the camp is designed to help prepare those looking to gain their Digium-Certified Asterisk Profession qualification, known as dCap, which means they are properly qualified to install and service the hardware and software.
He says there are only two people in the country with the qualification and yet there has been strong adoption of open source telephone solutions.
"While the adoption of Asterisk has been very fast, it has really been in the hands of the so-called 'weekend-warriors' - those who have been enthusiastic about it and learnt through experience. The boot camp and the ability to sit for the dCAP exams will make them certified professionals."
Lith estimates that the Asterisk open source solution has been adopted by at least 4 500 companies over the past four years, with about 495 of the high-end cards installed.
Most of the cards are installed in the smaller companies with five people or more, while enterprises still have to seriously adopt the technology.
"The real sweet spot has been the call centre industry, which has quickly realised that open source is not only cheaper, but just as, if not more reliable, than proprietary systems," he says.
The boot camp is aimed at professionals who work for system integration companies, such as Vox Telecom, Stitch, Clarotech, and a number of other smaller companies.
"Asterisk adds another arrow to the quiver of those smaller data or ISP-type companies that can now very quickly ramp-up to offer a voice service to clients," Lith says.
The first boot camp will be held from 14 to 18 April, in Johannesburg, with place for about 12 people. The cost is R23 000 for the five days.
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