Digium has unveiled Asterisk 12, an upgrade to the open source IP PBX that features a new RESTful API. The API’s goal: Digium wants to attract more business application developers to the popular phone and communications system.

Similar to Linux in the operating system world, Asterisk seeks to be an open source alternative to traditional business PBXes, VoIP platforms and phone systems. The new Asterisk 12 release hopes to build on that strategy. 

According to a prepared statement from Digium: “The new API, the Asterisk REST Interface (ARI), gives developers a high-level tool for controlling Asterisk¹s operations including calling, conferences, call recording, sound file playback, and many more.”

Previous Asterisk releases typically required C programmers to build applications. The new APIs allow developers to write applications using Python, PHP and JavaScript. 

Digium’s PBX software is available both on-premises and via the Switchvox Cloud offering. The company also has a strong channel partner program. Jim Butler, director of global channel sales at Digium, is set to describe the program’s value during a session at Astricon this week in Atlanta.