O’Reilly has just released a new entry in the Hacks series that will help you tweak, configure, and experiment with all kinds of VoIP systems, services and devices: VoIP Hacks by Ted Wallingford. I’ve been eagerly awaiting this one, it’s going right to the top of my reading pile. Ted knows what he’s talking about and I always enjoy his writing. He’s also written Switching to VoIP, some great articles for us on Migrating to Enterprise VoIP and What Is VoIP?, as well as being the primary blogger over on the VoIP Weblog. Quite a prolific guy!

In VoIP Hacks you’ll learn how to do things like create a software PBX with Asterisk, gauge VoIP readiness on an enterprise network, tricks for using IP hardphones, analog telephone adapters, and softphones, and setting up voice mail and recording conversations. Ted also covers using SIP, H.323, and other signaling specifications, and low-layer security in a VoIP environment These sample hacks are available for free online (PDF):

Hack 3: Wire Your House Phones for VoIP
Hack 11: Sound Like Darth Vader While You VoIP
Hack 40: Skype with Your Home Phone
Hack 55: Link Two Asterisk Servers with PSTN
Hack 96: Build a Standalone Voicemail Server in Less Than a Half-Hour