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Hi,<br />
<br />
We currently use low Dell desktops for Asterisk phone systems for 5-10 users. I noticed that I could save a little bit of set up time and save a little on costs if I use IBM/Lenovo laptops. It would eliminate the need for buying an expensive battery backup, PCI serial cards (for the battery backup), and it would save the expense of a keyboard, mouse, and monitor if for some reason we would need to directly access the phone system.<br />
<br />
I am curious, what problems would we run into using a laptop for a commercial installation of a phone system? &nbsp;The phone system would interface with the phone company via SIP connection.<br />
<br />
Also, if I have a company that is interested in using an older laptop (IBM T40 or T42), how would I test if this equipment can handle 5-10 users, etc? 
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Hi,

We currently use low Dell desktops for Asterisk phone systems for 5-10 users. I noticed that I could save a little bit of set up time and save a little on costs if I use IBM/Lenovo laptops. It would eliminate the need for buying an expensive battery backup, PCI serial cards (for the battery backup), and it would save the expense of a keyboard, mouse, and monitor if for some reason we would need to directly access the phone system.

I am curious, what problems would we run into using a laptop for a commercial installation of a phone system?  The phone system would interface with the phone company via SIP connection.

Also, if I have a company that is interested in using an older laptop (IBM T40 or T42), how would I test if this equipment can handle 5-10 users, etc? 

Using a laptop for Asterisk Phone System

IP telephony (Internet Protocol telephony) is a general term for the technologies that use the Internet Protocol's packet-switched connections to exchange voice, fax, and other forms of information that have traditionally been carried over the dedicated circuit-switched connections of the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Using the Internet, calls travel as packets of data on shared lines, avoiding the tolls of the PSTN. The challenge in IP telephony is to deliver the voice, fax, or video packets in a dependable flow to the user.