VoiP Phones
Posted by: Steve
3rd Jul 2009 11:47pm
Are VoiP Phones any good? Which one would you recommend?
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Comments 13
Anonymous
I use an ADSL modem with the VoIP built in. It is not cheaper. I prefer to use skype.
Ozbev
My reply may be too late but I actually have a video phone. It is voip technology and I can use it to phone interstate and local calls for free plus if the other party have a video phone I can see them face to face. All that is needed is internet connection and they can plug and play.
If you have a voip phone and all it can do is make calls is boring. I like the fact that I can also use mine to see the other person. It's great catching up with family and friends.
The beauty of it is that you can buy a phone and send it overseas, even if the company doesn't have coverage in that country. A friend bought a phone for his friend in Korea and his friend rings him all the time plus he can phone Australian numbers and they are free calls because the phone thinks it is in Australia. It's not cheating anyone because it is still voip technology and the calls are free. It will charge you if you call 1300 numbers or mobiles.\
Cheers
Bev
www.paidonbills.com
www.spotoncomputers.acnrep.com
lpullman
If you just want to try it out I suggest you see what your ISP offers. Most ISPs offer some sort of service and if you are already a customer, the setup is usually free. Get a software client (softphone) and a headset. I recommend X-Lite. We use it along with an Asterisk server and Nodephone here at work.
If you are using Vista or later you can fiddle the sound outputs so calls come throught the headset plugged into the front panel sockets while all other sound (including the ring) goes via the back panel to your speakers. My next step is to find a bluetooth dongle, see if I can pair an old handsfree and go wireless. Should get me around the office without losing the phone :-)
There are several routers that have a built in termial adaptor so you can plug a standard phone in and it will route via a VOIP service. Also there are dedicated VOIP phones that plug into a network .
One of the killer features of all these systems is that as long as you have an internet connection, you have YOUR phone. You can pick them up and move them and the phone follows you. A collegue using X-Lite was somewhat startled when his extension rang - he was in the airport lounge in Shanghai!
bernmar
I use Skype and find it very good. I only paid a small amount for headset (with mic) and with the webcam built into computer, its all I need.
aussiejohn
I use Skype to talk to my friend in Egypt. At 20 cents a minute it is the cheapest of any service I can find on an ad hoc basis. I could get it cheaper on a plan but I only call him once a fortnight so not worth it for a monthly plan. For other countries like Singapore I only pay 2 cents a minute on Skype.
I use Freshtel for my STD calls here in Oz. Only 10 cents a call for up to 3 hours. I put down a $10 deposit a few years ago and still using it!!
I have a headset with mic that I use for my VOIP calls.
Only use my Telstra phone now for local calls and I get 50 free each month.
oichy2
VoiP is great if you want to stop paying home phone line rental. there's lots of companies around. try searching for websites that can compare providers
H!!!!!!!
I find VOIP verygood and with iinet.net.au I can watch Iview programs.
H!!!!!!!
I find VOIP verygood and with iinet.net.au I can watch Iview programs.
DonnaBurt
Not being very tech savy - I can tell you we have an Engine Voip account and find it very reasonably priced. Around $30 a month gets us unlimited local and long distance calls. Although we do have to still have a line rental with Telstra but pay the least amount on this.
boags
VOIP is good, free or paid. I use Freshtel softphone (firefly) and Nodephone from Internode.
Prices are very very good.. IE un-timed National calls for 10 -18c some offer free calls to 8 or so international destinations as well.
jayenmelb
VOIP the next big money sucker out of YOUR pocket. There are free ways or pay for it ways. I have a $30 webcam and cheap pair of computer speakers. Downloading Yahoo messenger is free and just one of many free mesengers. I have voice to voice with or without webcam with friends around the world at no cost except what it chews up in upload and download which is minimal. Quality is perfect. OK you can't contact a friend who isn't online but in a dire emergency (extremely rare anyway) you are going to pick up your normal elephone for that.
Yqsymnx
Jaye, in response to this, I have VOIP and it saves me having to pay a monthly fee to Telstra for the rental of their copper wires.
It also allows for cheaper calls not only nationally, but globally. Something that your normal home phone doesn't have (except if you use phone cards)
But the biggest plus is getting out of the Telstra line rental and instead paying that money to an ISP for Internet access.
kyteflyer
I've actually got an ADSL modem with the VoIP built in, and I can use my regular phone with it. If using a softphone which I don't often do, I prefer headset/mic. I think there are USB phones which are skype specific but cannot speak of those as I don't use skype at all.