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BigPaul · 21-07-2008, 12:51 PM

The VOIP systems I mentioned rely on all participants having a PC and internet connection. Vonage looks to be similar to the VOIP offering made by Orange, BT and most of the ADSL providers in the UK (like Talk Talk).

These services use functionality, normally built into the service providers router equipment (definately in the case of orange and BT) which allows you to attack a standard phone handset to your ADSL router and make VOIP calls with out requiring a PC.

These operate by taking your standard phone signal digitising it and then transporting the conversation using IP protocols to a telephone switch local to the recipient where the conversation is translated back into a standard telephone call.

These services normally only enable "1 to 1" conversations (similar to standard phone lines), offer cheaper calls (as transporting the signal over the internet is cheaper than paying to transport a call over most phone networks) and rely on an active ADSL connection to work. All providers normally offer "free" calls to other users of their service and some offer "free" calls to users of other broadband provider VOIP services, this is achieved and available as these calls never leave the Internet and so do not cause the provider to incur and charges.

These services also generally provide cheap if not free calls to certain international destinations (normally related to those in which the service provider is active or has related companies operating in). If you currently make international calls using any of the following services/methods outlined in the below link

Simply Switch Guide to International Call Services provided by secondary Call providers

Then these VOIP services can offer a comparative and more convenient alternative service to these.

Vonage appears to offer any person with an ADSL broadband connection (or in fact any "high" speed internet connection) the ability to add this functionality to there service regardless of whether their service provider offers it or not. This does provide the benefit that it is not dependent on the broadband connection and therefore should be more mobile or even possibly compatible with Mobile Broadband services, enabling provision of a "land line" service with the flexibility of mobility.

They do have some down points, the most obvious of these is, they require electricity to work. The standard telephone network will operate even if you suffer a power cut, as although it does use and send electrical signals these are powered by a separate circuit to the mains supply. Alas the VOIP services discussed above require that a router be plugged in to the mains supply and that this supply be active to work, as such when a power cut occurs these will cease to work. Most providers for this reason encourage users to have an "alternative" emergency communication service available, either a mobile phone or a standard phone line.

Another 'not so obvious' one is, these services provide the user with a "dial in" number to give to friends and relatives, these normally are non geographic 0845 local call rate numbers. The benefit of these are that if you move around a lot you don't need to change your number, one of the major disadvantages is that they are not counted as "standard land lines" there fore they are excluded from most telephone call plans - these normally state that land lines are identified as numbers beginning with 01 or 02, as such although your friends and family will only be charged a local rate for the call, they cannot normally use any "free" minutes. It is also true to say that some mobile operators charge a premium for people to call these types of numbers, so people calling you may actually be paying more than they expect.

Also on some of the providers services numbers you would normally expect not to pay for eg. 999, "0800" etc either don't connect or become chargeable. It is important for this reason to read the small print on their contracts very carefully.

Another potential issue - especially for Third party solutions such as Vonage - is all calls will contribute to your broad band total usage, so if you are on a low user broadband package such a service could cause you to breach your user agreement and cause you to face higher costs.

In summary:-

A potentially cost saving service that provides most of what a standard phone line does and promises cheaper calls. If you call a lot of people who live outside your local area or abroad, or currently use the "international call cards" or "dialler prefix's" to reduce your international call costs this may present a cheaper and more convenient alternative.

Also if you move house frequently then this offers the ability to have a non-geographic number which is tied to your internet service rather than you BT phone line which you can provide to those who don't like calling mobiles.

Known Providers
BT VOIP Service explained
Vonage VOIP Service explained
Orange VOIP Service explained

Requirements
A high speed internet connection
A telephone Handset
and either an ISP (internet service provider) Modem/router (BT & Orange) or a third party VOIP router (Vonage)

Benefits (common)
Free VOIP calls to other users of the service.
Cheap/Free calls to BT numbers beginning with 01 and 02.
Low cost calls to international destination numbers beginning with 00 or +.
Non Geographic Telephone number which does not have to change when you move house.

Potential Down Points
Service does not work when there is a power cut, therefore cannot be your only telephone service
Non Geographic number is not included in most mobile/landline inclusive minute contracts and so calls made to you may cost friends and relatives more, and calls home may cost your more.
Not ALL calls are cheaper, some outgoing calls will cost more to make.
Calls are made as part of internet traffic and as such may contribute to your broadband total usage limits.

Mobiles Over IP
There is yet another form of VOIP we have not discussed yet, the only currently operative version that I am aware of it is Unique from Orange , this service involves the transfer of mobile communicates to a Local Wi-fi network when in range. The benefits of VOIP are then provided to the mobile user ie. cheaper/free calls when on the Wi-fi network. Some of these services are reported to operate across any compatible Wi-fi unit in the network, BT definately is operating this style of network with only those who agree to allow their hardware to participate being able to benefit, currently the BT network is used to provide roaming BroadBand access rather than cheap mobile calls over VOIP.

I can personally verify the functionality of the Orange service and that calls made at home turn up as "homebase" and are free of charge (again depending on the destination number"). So far I have not been able to verify its functionality at other orange broadband users address's as most my friends use Cable broadband, but supposedly it should identify and connect to valid livebox's and enable the service there.

21-07-2008, 12:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
BigPaul Mobile Fun Regular Join Date: May 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 17 Rep Power: 22	The VOIP systems I mentioned rely on all participants having a PC and internet connection. Vonage looks to be similar to the VOIP offering made by Orange, BT and most of the ADSL providers in the UK (like Talk Talk). These services use functionality, normally built into the service providers router equipment (definately in the case of orange and BT) which allows you to attack a standard phone handset to your ADSL router and make VOIP calls with out requiring a PC. These operate by taking your standard phone signal digitising it and then transporting the conversation using IP protocols to a telephone switch local to the recipient where the conversation is translated back into a standard telephone call. These services normally only enable "1 to 1" conversations (similar to standard phone lines), offer cheaper calls (as transporting the signal over the internet is cheaper than paying to transport a call over most phone networks) and rely on an active ADSL connection to work. All providers normally offer "free" calls to other users of their service and some offer "free" calls to users of other broadband provider VOIP services, this is achieved and available as these calls never leave the Internet and so do not cause the provider to incur and charges. These services also generally provide cheap if not free calls to certain international destinations (normally related to those in which the service provider is active or has related companies operating in). If you currently make international calls using any of the following services/methods outlined in the below link Simply Switch Guide to International Call Services provided by secondary Call providers Then these VOIP services can offer a comparative and more convenient alternative service to these. Vonage appears to offer any person with an ADSL broadband connection (or in fact any "high" speed internet connection) the ability to add this functionality to there service regardless of whether their service provider offers it or not. This does provide the benefit that it is not dependent on the broadband connection and therefore should be more mobile or even possibly compatible with Mobile Broadband services, enabling provision of a "land line" service with the flexibility of mobility. They do have some down points, the most obvious of these is, they require electricity to work. The standard telephone network will operate even if you suffer a power cut, as although it does use and send electrical signals these are powered by a separate circuit to the mains supply. Alas the VOIP services discussed above require that a router be plugged in to the mains supply and that this supply be active to work, as such when a power cut occurs these will cease to work. Most providers for this reason encourage users to have an "alternative" emergency communication service available, either a mobile phone or a standard phone line. Another 'not so obvious' one is, these services provide the user with a "dial in" number to give to friends and relatives, these normally are non geographic 0845 local call rate numbers. The benefit of these are that if you move around a lot you don't need to change your number, one of the major disadvantages is that they are not counted as "standard land lines" there fore they are excluded from most telephone call plans - these normally state that land lines are identified as numbers beginning with 01 or 02, as such although your friends and family will only be charged a local rate for the call, they cannot normally use any "free" minutes. It is also true to say that some mobile operators charge a premium for people to call these types of numbers, so people calling you may actually be paying more than they expect. Also on some of the providers services numbers you would normally expect not to pay for eg. 999, "0800" etc either don't connect or become chargeable. It is important for this reason to read the small print on their contracts very carefully. Another potential issue - especially for Third party solutions such as Vonage - is all calls will contribute to your broad band total usage, so if you are on a low user broadband package such a service could cause you to breach your user agreement and cause you to face higher costs. In summary:- A potentially cost saving service that provides most of what a standard phone line does and promises cheaper calls. If you call a lot of people who live outside your local area or abroad, or currently use the "international call cards" or "dialler prefix's" to reduce your international call costs this may present a cheaper and more convenient alternative. Also if you move house frequently then this offers the ability to have a non-geographic number which is tied to your internet service rather than you BT phone line which you can provide to those who don't like calling mobiles. Known Providers BT VOIP Service explained Vonage VOIP Service explained Orange VOIP Service explained Requirements A high speed internet connection A telephone Handset and either an ISP (internet service provider) Modem/router (BT & Orange) or a third party VOIP router (Vonage) Benefits (common) Free VOIP calls to other users of the service. Cheap/Free calls to BT numbers beginning with 01 and 02. Low cost calls to international destination numbers beginning with 00 or +. Non Geographic Telephone number which does not have to change when you move house. Potential Down Points Service does not work when there is a power cut, therefore cannot be your only telephone service Non Geographic number is not included in most mobile/landline inclusive minute contracts and so calls made to you may cost friends and relatives more, and calls home may cost your more. Not ALL calls are cheaper, some outgoing calls will cost more to make. Calls are made as part of internet traffic and as such may contribute to your broadband total usage limits. Mobiles Over IP There is yet another form of VOIP we have not discussed yet, the only currently operative version that I am aware of it is Unique from Orange , this service involves the transfer of mobile communicates to a Local Wi-fi network when in range. The benefits of VOIP are then provided to the mobile user ie. cheaper/free calls when on the Wi-fi network. Some of these services are reported to operate across any compatible Wi-fi unit in the network, BT definately is operating this style of network with only those who agree to allow their hardware to participate being able to benefit, currently the BT network is used to provide roaming BroadBand access rather than cheap mobile calls over VOIP. I can personally verify the functionality of the Orange service and that calls made at home turn up as "homebase" and are free of charge (again depending on the destination number"). So far I have not been able to verify its functionality at other orange broadband users address's as most my friends use Cable broadband, but supposedly it should identify and connect to valid livebox's and enable the service there. Last edited by BigPaul; 21-07-2008 at 01:16 PM..