Discussion
I am looking to get a couple of extra phone lines (1 phone, 1 fax) and am interested in a Voice over Internet Ptotocol (VoIP) package.
I know this has been discussed a couple of times but technology moves on and just wondered what reccomendations anyone has about which service etc now that you might have been using it for some time.
I am particularly interested in knowing how good the quality is,what the service is like, costs in relation to land line and I don't want one which has to go through a PC.
At the moment I'm leaning toward Vonage www.vonage.co.uk/ but is this the best?
Any opinions, experiences would be most appreciated.
I know this has been discussed a couple of times but technology moves on and just wondered what reccomendations anyone has about which service etc now that you might have been using it for some time.
I am particularly interested in knowing how good the quality is,what the service is like, costs in relation to land line and I don't want one which has to go through a PC.
At the moment I'm leaning toward Vonage www.vonage.co.uk/ but is this the best?
Any opinions, experiences would be most appreciated.
Interstingly with Skype, I posted a few months back that the service was poor over a high latency satellite link.
Basically I could hear the other party perfectly but my voice would break up alot at the other end.
Well, recently tried it again, I'm guessing that my sat ISP has done something to detect skype and now allocates the bandwidth as the service is pretty much flawless now.
Anyway, as you were.
best
Ex
Basically I could hear the other party perfectly but my voice would break up alot at the other end.
Well, recently tried it again, I'm guessing that my sat ISP has done something to detect skype and now allocates the bandwidth as the service is pretty much flawless now.
Anyway, as you were.
best
Ex
Skype pricing for calls to regular phones looks much better (1.2p per minute to most places on the planet, and I don't think they distinguigh between landline and mobile). The (current) inability to recieve incoming calls from conventional phones might be a show stopper for you, but Skype-In is in the pipeline.
A Skype handset that would plug straight into an ethernet switch would be nice (and it'll happen soon enough).
A Skype handset that would plug straight into an ethernet switch would be nice (and it'll happen soon enough).
chrisjl said:
Skype pricing for calls to regular phones looks much better (1.2p per minute to most places on the planet, and I don't think they distinguigh between landline and mobile). The (current) inability to recieve incoming calls from conventional phones might be a show stopper for you, but Skype-In is in the pipeline.
A Skype handset that would plug straight into an ethernet switch would be nice (and it'll happen soon enough).
I have an XDA with skype installed on it and also a wireless router at home so that I don't need a PC on. Skype can be installed on the later PDA's - 400mhz and PPC2003.
chrisjl said:
Skype pricing for calls to regular phones looks much better (1.2p per minute to most places on the planet, and I don't think they distinguigh between landline and mobile). The (current) inability to recieve incoming calls from conventional phones might be a show stopper for you, but Skype-In is in the pipeline.
A Skype handset that would plug straight into an ethernet switch would be nice (and it'll happen soon enough).
Skype-In is here and works. I have two numbers (UK and USA, and it's fine. Not available on the PocketPC platform yet though.
Calls to mobiles are usually much higher cost than landlines - check the tariffs on their site.
There's no reason why several solutions can't be used, taking the cheapest option as suits.
I would just like to add that I have bought one of these boxes from ebay at £25..
When a call is receieved it rings the phone attached rather than the box itself ringing. As my friend is a telco engineer he has installed a Panasonic PABX in my house with a phone in each room. I have routed the Skype Box output into #line 3. Now if I get a skye call, the line 3 LED flashes the phones all ring, I hit the line 3 button and take the call from anywhere in the house, even in the bath
To make a call from anywhere in the house I have a network shortcut mapped out to my email server which runs the skype program and it works across the lan no problem. Just hit line 3 and select the caller from the list and bingo free calls over the PABX. I am totally blown away by the call quality on my netcom wireless dect headset, its like the person is literally whispering in your ear - spooky to say the least
Have been speaking to my girl in Arizona everynight now for about three hours a night for nothing 
I was using Pennyphone before which charges just 1p a minute but even then the monthly bill was still about £40 a month at that rate.
One wonders how the telco's are going to be able to catch up, as clearly this is going to be very big.
Best case scenario we all get phonecalls for free
When a call is receieved it rings the phone attached rather than the box itself ringing. As my friend is a telco engineer he has installed a Panasonic PABX in my house with a phone in each room. I have routed the Skype Box output into #line 3. Now if I get a skye call, the line 3 LED flashes the phones all ring, I hit the line 3 button and take the call from anywhere in the house, even in the bath
To make a call from anywhere in the house I have a network shortcut mapped out to my email server which runs the skype program and it works across the lan no problem. Just hit line 3 and select the caller from the list and bingo free calls over the PABX. I am totally blown away by the call quality on my netcom wireless dect headset, its like the person is literally whispering in your ear - spooky to say the least
Have been speaking to my girl in Arizona everynight now for about three hours a night for nothing I was using Pennyphone before which charges just 1p a minute but even then the monthly bill was still about £40 a month at that rate.
One wonders how the telco's are going to be able to catch up, as clearly this is going to be very big.
Best case scenario we all get phonecalls for free
Thanks for the replies, as for Skype-in does it work with PC off? as I don't want to have to have PC on always (although it's rarely off) but I want a fax that's permanently on regardless of PC state.
As it stands I think I'll probably go for Vonage but just wanted to check with anyone in the know first in case there was anything better, as I don't want the hassle of changing numbers twice!
cheers guys
As it stands I think I'll probably go for Vonage but just wanted to check with anyone in the know first in case there was anything better, as I don't want the hassle of changing numbers twice!
cheers guys
www.sipgate.co.uk - you dont need the PC on and can use your normal phone
bogie said:
www.sipgate.co.uk - you dont need the PC on and can use your normal phone
Looks interesting, have you tried it?
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