Cactus: VoIP PBX

SIP PBX software - SIP-compatible private branch exchange for Windows VoIP-ISDN gateway - Add VoIP to your existing ISDN PABX! External/Internal - Define even external IP phones as branch numbers Area-code routing - Route calls to VoIP or ISDN depending on the number Call diversion - Divert calls int/ext if a branch is busy or user is out of office Easy setup - Configure SIP providers and branch numbers within minutes Runs as a service - Does not require a Windows user log-in Check it out! - Demo version (full functionality): Download

Price excl. VAT: Cactus-SoHo 83.19 €, -Pro 214.29 €, -S2M 739.50 € [Order] - Shamrock Software, +49 8137 5882

Cactus features

You want to use VoIP and perhaps ISDN for inbound and outbound calls, or use SIP phones and connect multiple locations? No problem. All you need is a Windows PC and Cactus.

Cactus implements a software-based Voice-over-IP private branch exchange (IP PBX, IPBX) on a normal Windows PC. It is compatible with all standard-compliant SIP phones and soft phones, and with all well-known SIP providers like Cox, Free, Fastweb, Neuf, Sipgate, Voipbuster, Voipgate, Voiptalk, Voipstunt, UGC and many others (not with proprietary services like Skype, though). Internal phone conversations do not cause external IP traffic, enhancing privacy and reducing Internet load.

Using an ISDN card, VoIP/SIP can be integrated into an existing ISDN PBX so that conventional or ISDN telephones can be used for inbound and outbound VoIP conversations. Alternatively, the ISDN card can also be connected to a public switch.

Multiple Cactus PBX PCs can be connected together so that their branches can be dialled directly as if they were in the same building. The Internet telephony connection can either use a conventional DSL/cable router or the Windows RAS/PPPoE driver. Other features include:

• Allows different external escape digits for business and private calls (0 and 9)
• Optionally intelligent automatic external access based on the length of dialled numbers
• Transfer calls to internal or external VoIP or ISDN numbers, using Hold and Transfer functions
• Short access codes and group numbers easily configurable, multiple phones can ring in parallel
• Native call diversion for busy or out-of-office, does not require diversion function in SIP telephones
• Call-Through: Transfer an inbound call to one or multiple internal and external destination numbers
• Call routing: Outbound calls can be routed to different SIP providers or ISDN depending on the area code
• Fallback to backup provider or ISDN if the default SIP provider is not available due to a temporary outage
• Adapts itself to the habits in your country, e.g. 0 or 1 as long-distance prefix and ISDN a-Law or µ-Law
• Transparent support of all VoIP codecs between IP telephones, using G.711 a+µ for ISDN connections
• Provider messages like "Unknown number" or "Try again later" can be heard during call establishment
• Detailed CSV-formatted monthly logs with all connection data, including date, time, duration, numbers
• Different call routing possible for specified weekdays or time of day, e.g. night or Saturdays/Sundays
• Supports ISDN adapters with NT mode, e.g. for connecting an ISDN telephone directly to the PC
• Optionally runs as a service, so no Windows user log-in is required

Cactus versions

There are three Cactus versions: SoHo = Small Office+Home, Pro = Professional und S2M = Primary rate. They differ in the maximum count of simultaneous connections, please see the table. Using an ISDN card is optional; it is not required if only SIP connections are used.

The Cactus prices are not only looking attractive, they definitely are it, honestly and crystal-clear: There is no additional license cost e.g. for users, telephones or branches. All settings are done in Windows-typical dialogues instead of cryptic configuration files. And the competent Shamrock hotline is completely free. Compare for yourself!

Demo download

The free demo version limits the duration of each call to 5 minutes max. and is functionally equivalent to the SoHo version. Cactus runs with 32-bit and 64-bit Windows and can be switched between English and German at any time.

Unpack CACTUS.ZIP (1,2 MB) into an empty temporary folder like C:\Temp and then launch SETUP in it. Please answer "Yes" if Windows asks if you really want to install the software. You will need administrative privileges for the installation. The temporary folder can be deleted later.

Software and manual can be found in the Windows Start menu. Please read the configuration chapter in the manual. Note that an additional 0 is required before all external numbers, as long as you do not enable the automatic external access in the Cactus settings.