Alcatel 4400 PABX connection with C#

Question

I have an Alcatel 4400 PABX. I would like to know if it is possible to connect with c# and retreive informations on users phone number ?

Can you help me please.

Many thanks

Answer 1

Im not sure about Alcatel, but I've worked with another PABX system's API which just implemented the TSAPI (Telephony Services API - I think...) standard.

If it has an IP interface, you will probably just need to get hold of an SDK from that manufacturer. Most provide .Net libraries, otherwise you might have to interface with an unmanaged library (native DLL) using .Net's platform invoke (pinvoke).

FYI - Ive done this with an Avaya system using the Avaya implementation of the TSAPI.

Answer 2

You can get to a PABX switch using the TAPI library, which is COM but works with .Net's interop stuff. I'd use C#4 or switch to VB.Net for it, as there are a lot of optional parameters and they're a bit horrid in C# pre its support for them (added in 4).

A much bigger problem is that the TAPI was deprecated in Vista. I guess that sort of makes sense - when did you last buy a PC with a modem?

Depending on Alcatel's support you may still be able to use TAPI on the newer Windows.

Windows Vista and 7 use Microsoft's new RTC (Real Time Communications) framework instead - I'm afraid I don't know it very well (my dialler developing days are 6 years ago now) but it would be the place to start.

I think RTC has now become part of Microsoft Lync ('cause y'know, they need another 'link' style product name with weird misspellings). So Lync's another place to look.