Hi just wondered if anyone could recommend a good company for VOIP only, dont need the broadband, just the VOIP.

Would like good customer service and good connections!

Not sure if it makes any difference as this is all a bit alien to me, but Im in Perth!

Thanks in advance

I've been with mynetfone for 8 years now. $5 a month covers all my costs including untamed calls to uk.

Can't speak for their customer service 'cos I've never needed to call them.

Too much information!

I use Pennytel for calling UK and Aus mobiles. Use Maxotel for Aus fixed calls. Have just ported my Optus number to MNF. Have a UK L'pool number from Localphone. Have US LA number from Google voice. Recommend a variety of VSPs to safeguard against downtime by one.

Recommend Siemens Gigaset. I have C470IP. 610 is the latest.

Whirlpool is a good resource http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/107. Check the WP offers for better rates. Such as https://www.mynetfone.com.au/whirlpool/VoIP/Plans search "whirlpool" in Voip forum, will show you threads relating to VSPs with offers.

http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/VOIP_Providers

Key question is how you will use it.

• If you are calling around Perth a lot, then you need good cheap call and connection charges in your locale.
• If you are calling the UK lots then you need low/cheap/free call costs international.
• If you want people to call you from the UK, then you need to make it easy/cheap enough for them.

Personally I'd go for two numbers, one in Oz, one in the UK, and thus two providers. You need to be able to use two at once, but there is kit out there that will do that now.

If you do lots of calling in Oz, I'd suggest seeing if FakTorTel is still good, the whirlpool link above will tell you. They used to have good rates, etc. and provided the all important DiD number (eg a phone number) for free - not sure if they still do. Pennytel have a bad rep.

In the UK I use Sipgate, who provide a free local number. That way you can call friends for a local call, and they can call you for the same local call, on a local number.

BTW Warning, this area gets very techie, very fast.

Get a telephone contract with unlimited local calls (either landline or mobile) the get a "Skype Out" number.

This is a local number you call and then connect to any number in the UK or Europe and the cost for the "Skype Out" number is $6.99 per month UK only or $9.99 all of Europe.

Quality is amazing, just like a landline.
I can call family and friends for a chat on the way home while I'm commuting from work. (Mobile has unlimited calls)
Unlimited calls.

http://www.skype.com/intl/en/prices/pay-monthly/

Hmm, I think if I get it right you pay A$7.99pm and get unlimited calls to UK landlines?

If my maths is right, the Sipgate route would give you 7.3 hours for the same cost - so it only works out ahead if you talk to the UK for more than 7.3 hours pm. For £5.90 (A$9.02) you can get 1000 mins (16.7 hours).

Plus, the Sipgate route gives you a free number for them to call you - I think Skype makes you pay.

Of course, if you are comfortable with Skype that might still make sense - although I tend to use Skype just for video-to-video/skype-to-skype calls.

Thanks for the replies, I think im more confused than ever LOL

So.... if i were to get 2 different providers, do i get 2 lots of "equipment"

Could I order and set up Sipgate for UK from Oz? I thought i had read on their site that I would need a UK IP address?

Can anyone recommend a "simple" handset that will cover 2 providers?

Sorry if i am asking lots of silly/simple questions but as you have probably gathered i am completely clueless with this!

Thanks!

I did warn that it gets techie fast.

Basically you would need the ability to use two (or more) providers simultaneously. Some does, some does not - its something to check for.

My approach was a box that connected to the net, landline and DECT base unit, so every wireless phone in the house got the ability to make and take VoIP calls.

Yep, and for that reason its one of the things I tell people to do before going overseas. However, even after you've left you can either get a friend in the UK to do it for you, or use a VPN (such as might be used to access iPlayer) to do the sign up. Even a free one will do. Once signed up, it doesn't matter where you are.

Gigaset A580 IP
or
Gigaset N300 IP Base + handsets

Not tried them myself, but they have a good rep.

Simple is a relative term.

Be sure first of all you need two numbers - know who you will phone, how often, etc.

That's the first question

yeh, we succeeded.

VOIP is like setting-up an email address in Outlook/Thunderbird - not difficult.

I recommend Gigasets https://www.mynetfone.com.au/whirlpo...iemens-Gigaset. The phones can hold 6 providers and you can have 2 VOIP calls and 1 fixed call going at once. If you have more than one provider, you can use a dial-plan to say which provider is used for mobile calls, calls to UK,...

Basically, choose your providers and away you go. For my Localphone UK number, I registered from Aus. I assume it will be the same for Sipgate. If you just want to receive calls on a UK number, http://www.3c.co.uk/sites/ukddi/ will suffice.

I call UK fixed numbers using Pennytel, 8c for two hours. For calling UK mobiles, Localphone. You tell the system which provider to automatically use based on the destination of the call. The good thing about the Gigasets is the flexibility. You can give your kid their own number, and set it so that just the phone in the kid's bedroom rings. Numbers are $5/year, none of this $20/month rubbish.

Lois1, in stark contrast to the more technically-minded previous posters, I would use the KISS principle and recommend iinet, who provide VOIP, broadband, landline and mobiles.

Thank you all, I think my weekend will be taken up with research! A few people have suggested iinet to me, but we already have the broadband and frrom the website VOIP looks like an "add on" and not a stand alone option.

Thanks again !

I would seriously look at the Skype out number.

Don't confuse it with the traditional computer Skype, with this you don't even need a computer.

You just need a phone plan (home or mobile) with unlimited local calls, it's so easy and reliable for just $6.99 per month.

I love chatting to my parents while I'm driving home, today I had Dad on the phone (he's in the UK) while I was driving from Fremantle to Joondalup (about 45 mins) soooo useful.

If you have iinet broadband then voip with unilmited calls is $10 a month

http://www.engin.com.au/Voip/Voip.aspx

Engin home plus.

Had it 5 years.
$19.95 a month unlimited local & national.
Free unlimited to 8 countries (including UK)
Cheap rates to overseas mobiles.