[medicalgiant]

Hi,

This is a kind of 'desperate bid' for assistance understanding VOIP as I'm bouncing from one site to another trying to get a handle on this. I thought it was an easy task, get voip product, install and make calls, but now I find that it's not that easy afterall I have to consider people maybe on different networks and 'Not all VOIP providers are equal' there maybe problems with equipment or for that matter they may not have any compatible equipment ie: phones like skype which may not be compatible with sipgate for instance etc etc.

So can someone advise me please as to who I should go with that offers the greatest compatibility and will allow me to phone for free landlines in the UK, or other providers should I end up doing so? I don't mind paying a small credit though I do resent it being a 12 month contract at £10 a month.

I only wanted to make calls whilst I was at the PC using my headset, then maybe wander off and make\take calls using my existing dect handset or another handset.

Can anyone offer any assistance on the above?

Thanks.

[stblob]

Hi
I use Tesco internet phone system and it works realy well.
I have an Tesco ip phone adapter that connects to my router and my normal dect phone connected to the ip adapter. You dont even need to have your PC on to make and receive calls. Ideal if you have Virgin broadband as you dont need a phone line.
The adapter was around £30 with £5 call credit, its pay as you go so no monthly line rental or choose from various options.
Check it out on there website.
Hope that helps.

[Fred Smith]

Originally Posted by medicalgiant

So can someone advise me please as to who I should go with that offers the greatest compatibility and will allow me to phone for free landlines in the UK,

Not aware of any VOIP providers allowing free PC to landline calls. Free PC (VOIP) to VOIP calls are available but both parties must have a VOIP number and be on the same network or a network which allows cross VOIP network free calls. As you have found Skype is a propriety service, but as with most VOIP providers it allows free calls between Skype users.

Personally I use Sipgate with an ATA connected to my cable modem and a DECT phone and also on my laptop using a soft phone and headset. This is on a PAYG basis. Minimum topup is £10 but it does not expire.

[medicalgiant]

Thank you both for replying, I feel as though I may get somewhere over this now.

stblob is it this: Tesco Internet Phone - Products) to which you're refering, I'm beginning to wonder if there's something I'm missing, could it really be this simple... buy phone, insert into computer and call landlines? (am I right in thinking I would need to register my credit card with them) and it's that easy?

Fred Smith, could you please explain in a little more detail about this:

Personally I use Sipgate with an ATA connected to my cable modem and a DECT phone and also on my laptop using a soft phone and headset. This is on a PAYG basis. Minimum topup is £10 but it does not expire.

I'm also on virgin using their 20MB package, I've got numerous computers dotted around the place including a laptop should I need to surf when the tv's in use. I understand a 'softphone' is software, but an ATA ?

Thanks again to the both of you.

[Fred Smith]

ATA, analogue telephone adapter. Connects a normal phone (wired or cordless) to a cable or ADSL modem or router via Ethernet.

See adapters at the bottom of this page, but advise you shop around as they can be bought cheaper if you are wiling to configure yourself.

https://secure.sipgate.co.uk/voipshop

[Rcww]

Try Voipstunt | Free international calls worldwide! you get free calls when you topup. You can also divert calls to your landline and even have a voip number to receive calls from landline or mobile

[sleekyG]

I haven't tried calling a landline from a PC. But I think Skype has a cheap rates in terms of voice calls whether thru cellphone or landline.

[Azzin]

Originally Posted by sleekyG

I haven't tried calling a landline from a PC. But I think Skype has a cheap rates in terms of voice calls whether thru cellphone or landline.

I use Skype to ring relatives in Spain and it's very cheap.

For example if I use my (Sky) landline to ring Spain in an evening it costs me about 9p per minute, whereas with Skype it's 0.014p per minute.

Prices – what's free and what costs a little on Skype

[fishf00d]

Skype is probably your best option.

[mikel543]

If you have BT broadband then the BT Softphone gives you the same tariffs as you have on your BT landline. So if your on the Evening and Weekend plan with your landline then its free weekend and evening calls on your softphone etc....

Quality is quite good compared to Skype. I used the Softphone to call home when I was in the US.

Call charges apply at other times.

[Giraffe76]

Hi all,

I dont mean to brag but i think i have an option that will trump you all.

I live in spain and use a VOIP program call freecall, for 10 pounds credit every 3 months i can call any landline in the world for free. They do have a fair useage policy which i hardly every exceed, i think its something like 15 or 20 calls in a day, once the 3 months are up or you exceed the fair useage policy you start using credit but its such small amounts per minute you dont notice. If you wish to call mobiles then that is a different thing and these are charged,not sure what because i dont call them, but its a fantastic program, can be uninstalled, re installed on any computer and which every pc you use you keep the phonebook you have built up whether its a day month or year between installs.

For more information see freecall.com

Regards