Voip - Not strictly Solar but Business Related

[SRE]

I'm on a cost cutting mission - our broadband and BT landline is abysmal and I seem to be paying through the nose for it too. I'm changing to a local firm who provide broadband through their local masts and I'm changing to Voip - can anyone recommend a voip provider? Are there any pitfals with voip (our new broadband will be 5 mb up and 2.5 down, compared to 1 up and 0.3 down at the minute).

I'm not really that IT savvy so any help with potential pitfalls would be appreciated.

 

[Worcester]

Skype, (obviuosly) - I've used it for years, and regulary done skype - skype, skype - skype-Landline and skype - skype -mobile calls, though never seriusly looked at the costs, - my broadband provider - PlusNet (now part of BT though still maintaining its good QoS) also offers voip as part of the broadband deal - what's on offer from your new provider?
You've also got Vonage.. http://www.vonage.co.uk/voip-providers-uk/
Can't comment on any of the others, save to say that some suffer bandwidth issues, so you end up with a poor QoS, you'll also need to think anout porting your existing number and call forwarding.

If I was worried about QoS, I'd start with vonage..

 

[whinmoor]

Best to ask in your local area. Find out how other businesses manage. How does your local mechanic order his oil filters or clutch cables? How does the local architect send/receive massive data files?

Put your postcode into: Broadband Speed Checker - THE UK's No.1 Broadband Speed Test and see what speeds other people in your vicinity are getting and what supplier they area using.

 

[Worcester]

I'd also consider, in no particular order:
Internet Telephone Calling Solutions - DrayTEL
Connexin | Connexin - Home & Business VoIP
and
http://www.sipgate.co.uk/user/

I'd check closely the cancellation terms, and 'fair usage' terms for the unlimited offers, also look at transfering your number, 2nd lines, etc

Checl also if there are any data limits / charges for VOIP by your broadband priovider.

So SRE 4 plus your broadband provider to test / check out, let us know how you get on.

 

[SRE]

Thanks both, the problem with our broadband is the antiquated exchange not the broadband provider and as we're in the middle of nowhere it looks as though it's going to be 3 - 4 years at least before we get much more than we're currently getting. The tests I've been doing for the last couple of weeks are showing 1 down and 0.3 up (got it the wrong way round before )

We can have up to 10 down through the local guys but the cost is quite a lot for 10 so the 5 package is affordable and loads better than what we've currently got. Even the biggest City to us only gets between 3.5 and 4 down so we'd be doing well hitting 5.

At least one of the providers I've looked at can port my landline number over in 2 working days so i'm assuming that a good few of the others will be able to. I'll go through all 4 tomorrow and let you know how I get on, thanks again

 

[Worcester]

@SRE when I mentioned your broadband provider - I meant your new one ..

Good luck

 

[sambotc]

I use these Voipfone - UK VoIP Internet Phone Service - Hosted VoIP PBX Office Switchboard and Telephony services for a virtual number and divert. I haven't got a clue about techy stuff like that, and I think you are talking about something else but even so..

The service I use them for is reasonable with no contract and costs less than I have seen it for anywhere else, so may be worth a look for you based on that alone?

 

[SRE]

Had a quick look through those sites - couldn't wait until tomorrow. I'd been looking at Voiptalk - which looks ok but Vonage looks great too and I think it's got a few more features. The Voiptalk email support has been a little slow so we'll see if vonage is any better. Need a new router though, not enough ports on ours :-( there's always something!

 

[Somecamel]

It really depends on how much other traffic you have going down your existing Broadband line that will dictate the quality of the line, be very wary considering VOIP on anything below 5MB.

Your Exchange is still Un-Bundled, (sorry googled you) which means it will only be BT Wholesale who are supplying in your area (even though you may buy it from someone else).

What are these local guys offering? Satellite? Beaming broadband by chance?

 

[Somecamel]

Your exchange is small

861 residential premises

41 non-residential premises

 

[BruceB]

I use AAISP for a couple of VOIP numbers (with local telephone codes) in parallel with my main phone. £1.20 per line per month. VOIP should not be demanding on a broadband connection if you are only making one or 2 calls at a time. AAISP are using Gradwell I think for their telecoms. I use AAISP because they have intelligent people in this country answer the phones rather than randomly located call centre monkeys. Notice periods are only a month,
Regards
Bruce

 

[SRE]

Your exchange is small

861 residential premises

41 non-residential premises

I did say we were rural! The exchange is 5 miles from us

 

[SRE]

Quick update - I'm no technophobe but I'm not a techie wizz kid either but I think voip is beyond me!!!! I've got my landline transferred to my voip connection, my voip phone won't connect or ring out, acrobits doesn't appear to be working properly on my Iphone and even if I had some customers they can't get in touch with me!!

Anyone know where there's a good landline/call package at the minute? I'm giving up!

 

[Somecamel]

is the Voip phone connected to the router? or is this not how it works? (VOIP NEWB but interested)

 

[SRE]

Yes, voip is connected to the router and to use an Iphone you just download acrobits (£5). In theory it all sounds relatively easy but I went with Voiptalk because their package looked the best for me and they have loads of FAQ on their website which I'm happy to wade through but I bought new voip phones for the office and can't get them registered and Voiptalk take 2 days to respond every time you ask a question. No phone since the middle of my holidays - although I do get a message to say I've missed a call by email. You can't talk to a real person on the phone because you have to have a contract with them and they think I'm quite thick when I email to say I can't understand what I'm doing wrong!

Very, very frustrated!