Hello Everyone:
Since I brought this question up initially, let me also tell you the basic solution that I found to address it.
A simple FXO/FXS box does the job. 8)
Here what I experimented with and the result:
You take an FXO device, in my case I used my retired HT488's FXO. You patch it with a phone cable onto an FXS. I used a free FXS available on a PAP2T.
You all know that an FXS device generates a dial tone right? So, you see what my solution consists of. But hang on, there is more to do before it works...
You create an outbound rule so that when you dial a certain prefix, say 99, you call out on the FXO that you just patched onto the FXS. The dial rule should strip two digits.
Now, this is the interesting part; if you simply dial 99 (or whatever prefix you used), these two digits will be stripped and a blank dial string will be sent to your FXO. Your FXO will pick up the line which is connected to the FXS, which in turn will give you a dialtone. Anything you dial at this point will be sent back to 3CX and will be subject to general extension processing. You can do anything and everything that's possible to do with an extension, but you got that second stage dialing in between.
Now, how do I use it practically? I mapped a free IPKall number to a free VOIP account. Any incoming call on that line is sent automatically to an extension (let's call it 555) specially set up for this purpose. The extension in question (555) is setup to dial out 99 on "Forward All Calls"/"Forward To Outside Number".
So, what's the use of it? Well, using my cell phone, I dial the IPKall issued number which via my free VOIP account rings into my 3CX system at the extension 555, which in turn dials out 99, which is set to go out on my FXO connected to the FXS, which immediately gives me a dial tone. :lol: Now, I can dial any long distance number that I want and the number is dialed out on one of my outside lines based on the rules established in my system.
Now, you wonder how do I secure my system for unwanted use :lol: Well, with all these hints, I am sure you will figure it out real quick :mrgreen:
Have fun.
Halea
PS: You could also patch the incoming VOIP line to dial out 99 immediately, without going through an extension, but then .... Did I say too much about the security thing?!?! :roll: