Mark Spencer Recounts the History of Asterisk PBX

Asterisk is an open source private branch exchange (PBX) originally created by Mark Spencer of Digium. A PBX, is a type of phone switch, that allows multiple attached telephones to make calls to one another, and to connect to other telephone services including the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Not totally unlike routers that connect multiple computers to a network.

As the guest speaker at the Triangle Linux User’s Group (TriLUG) in Raleigh, NC on Thursday Mark recounted how he built the open source Asterisk project and the for-profit company Digium. He spoke about the journey from the open source Asterisk project to a company that provides support and services. 

Mark got started with Linux early in 1994 Slackware  (kernel version 1.09). One of the few in Auburn, AL at the time  that knew anything about Linux. After a stint with Adtran (a global provider of communications equipment) he moved out on his own starting a company called Linux Support Services. Mark traded his services for space in the back of a local computer store in Huntsville, AL. He started by building his own computer and eventually built his own phone switch informed by his experience developing GAIM (now Pidgin) among other open source projects.  

After explaining his need for capital to his friends at Adtran they offered to invest in his company. Eventually, he realized that he was receiving more interest in Asterisk PBX than for his general Linux consulting services. Then Mark met Jim Dixon who was building open source hardware. Their first project was to build an open source T1 card. This revenue was keeping them afloat but they didn’t receive any contributions and others were just taking their design and manufacturing cards that competed with theirs. Ironically, the same thing has happened with Asterisk though even with amble opportunity he chose not to talk poorly about those who some may say hijacked his work. 

Click Here to Continue Reading