What voip provider should i use?

TheMastero

Hey all,

Im looking at starting to use voip. Im not sure what provider to use do.

Id be using it through my iphone and il be getting a voip phone for the house,
i was thinking skype but i see a lot are with blueface. Whats the difference?

Thanks,
TheMastero

doopa

TheMastero wrote: »

Hey all,

Im looking at starting to use voip. Im not sure what provider to use do.

Id be using it through my iphone and il be getting a voip phone for the house,
i was thinking skype but i see a lot are with blueface. Whats the difference?

Thanks,
TheMastero

I use both - personally I would go with blueface. I dunno exactly why - but I never really liked skype. I think the blueface terms and conditions are a lot clearer (and fairer) - though that isn't really a well formed opinion. But the best advice would be to go through your last few phone bills, both mobile and landline and check where all your money is going. Mine is going on calling UK mobiles - hence I'm looking at getting a UK number from sipgate. If you are calling landlines in Ireland then blueface is probably the way forward.

Both are fairly comparable price wise to be fair- though the new Banter app may change things a bit. Its not exactly there yet in terms of functionality (for me) - it seems to be getting positive reviews for what it is though.

Johnboy1951

I have both Blueface and a Betamax account ....... the Betamax gives me free calls to UK and Irish landlines and about 11C per min for Irish mobiles.
I use my 076 number from Blueface as the ID number on all calls.

Mr. G

Things to consider when choosing a voip provider:

-Emergency Calls?
-Reliability?
-Price?
-DID and port number?
-Features?
-Irish Owned?

I use blueface because I wanted to port our number and we found them reliable. Hope this helps. It is simple to use different providers as like another posted above, it makes things a lot cheaper..

championc

I use Rynga.com which is a Betamax / Dalmont company. I'm paying only 7c per min to call mobiles and with €10 credit, while used for chargable calls like those to mobiles, gives free landline calls for all over Europe for 120 days. So my telephony costs me only about €30 - €40 per annum on top of my Broadband which is via UPC.

And I can use VoIP on my mobile over Wi-Fi which is great when abroad because I can just call my home landline so it's then like an Irish landline to landline call which is free !!!


C

Mr. G

+1 for Rynga.

donaghs

How do residential customers here find the experience of using Blueface?

I'm fairly technical, other half not really, but dont half as much time as I used to for tweaking hardware/software. I basically want a reliable service that works, and would be cheaper than existing deals for free landline calls. Blueface "free calls for life" deal seems to tick the boxes...

championc

I'd be interested to know how much people ACTUALLY save with Blueface by the time they get their broadband from someone and then get one of the price plans from Blueface.

To me, if you go down a route like this, you need to make substantial savings. I was previously paying €10 per month for a "free calls" option and then paying another 10-15 for chargable calls. This has now fallen to €3 in total.


C

Mr. G

I have to say we saved alot of money when using Voip for our telephone provider. We used to pay eircom €250 per month for 2 office lines (1 fax and 1 phone). Now we pay €25 to eircom, €20 to blueface and €28 to rynga.:D

I use Rynga/Blueface at home and for business.


I hope this helps!

just do it

championc wrote: »

I use Rynga.com which is a Betamax / Dalmont company. I'm paying only 7c per min to call mobiles and with €10 credit, while used for chargable calls like those to mobiles, gives free landline calls for all over Europe for 120 days. So my telephony costs me only about €30 - €40 per annum on top of my Broadband which is via UPC.

And I can use VoIP on my mobile over Wi-Fi which is great when abroad because I can just call my home landline so it's then like an Irish landline to landline call which is free !!!


C

Champ
What's the story with the 120 days? Is that the first 120 days of the contract?, or each year?, or the first 120 days you make landline calls?

Also, do you now have a landline equivalent number for people to call you on?

Cheers, investigating making the switch from landline to voip...

just do it

Mr_Grumpy wrote: »

I have to say we saved alot of money when using Voip for our telephone provider. We used to pay eircom €250 per month for 2 office lines (1 fax and 1 phone). Now we pay €25 to eircom, €20 to blueface and €28 to rynga.:D

I use Rynga/Blueface at home and for business.


I hope this helps!

Thinking of making the switch from landline, hence the questions.

Why hold onto eircom? If you port your number with Blueface, from what I understand from their website, your eircom fixed line contract is automatically terminated.

And why both Rynga and Blueface? What is each good for?

My landline usage is currently around 400min landline calls (Ireland and UK) and 50-100min mobile calls. I'd ring UK mobiles more frequently if it was a cheap option.

Mr. G

just do it wrote: »

Champ
What's the story with the 120 days? Is that the first 120 days of the contract?, or each year?, or the first 120 days you make landline calls?

Also, do you now have a landline equivalent number for people to call you on?

Cheers, investigating making the switch from landline to voip...

Every time you top up your Rynga account you will get 120 freedays to use on countries listed FREE on this page http://www.rynga.com/en/calling-rates.html . You can use your credit on your account to spend on mobiles, when out of free days etc.

just do it wrote: »

Thinking of making the switch from landline, hence the questions.

Why hold onto eircom? If you port your number with Blueface, from what I understand from their website, your eircom fixed line contract is automatically terminated.

And why both Rynga and Blueface? What is each good for?

My landline usage is currently around 400min landline calls (Ireland and UK) and 50-100min mobile calls. I'd ring UK mobiles more frequently if it was a cheap option.

Rynga allows you to call abroad for free and call mobiles for a lot less.
Blueface allow you to transfer your number, call emergency services etc. Blueface Rates to mobiles are priced at different times and are generally higher then Rynga. Remember you can't call 1890,1850,19xx, 118xx, 1800xxxxxx with Rynga so you need to use your Blueface credit. Blueface don't have freedays unfortunately.

We use (business and home) pbxes.com which allows you to use multiple trunks (and providers). pbxes.com is free for 2000 minutes and it is not expensive to have a premium account and use ivr, queues,extensions,call recording etc.

Hope this helps!

just do it

Mr_Grumpy wrote: »

Every time you top up your Rynga account you will get 120 freedays to use on countries listed FREE on this page http://www.rynga.com/en/calling-rates.html . You can use your credit on your account to spend on mobiles, when out of free days etc.



Rynga allows you to call abroad for free and call mobiles for a lot less.
Blueface allow you to transfer your number, call emergency services etc. Blueface Rates to mobiles are priced at different times and are generally higher then Rynga. Remember you can't call 1890,1850,19xx, 118xx, 1800xxxxxx with Rynga so you need to use your Blueface credit. Blueface don't have freedays unfortunately.

We use (business and home) pbxes.com which allows you to use multiple trunks (and providers). pbxes.com is free for 2000 minutes and it is not expensive to have a premium account and use ivr, queues,extensions,call recording etc.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for prompt reply!
I'm getting the jest of it. Rynga are the cheapest to use, but getting Blueface allows you to port your number and dial emergency nos etc.

I've been looking at the Rynga website but it's not clear how much you need to top-up by to get the 120 freedays. Do you know what the min is?

Can I take it in my scenario (basic residencial use only) I could ditch the landline (after porting the number via blueface)?

Mr. G

just do it wrote: »

Thanks for prompt reply!
I'm getting the jest of it. Rynga are the cheapest to use, but getting Blueface allows you to port your number and dial emergency nos etc.

I've been looking at the Rynga website but it's not clear how much you need to top-up by to get the 120 freedays. Do you know what the min is?

Can I take it in my scenario (basic residencial use only) I could ditch the landline (after porting the number via blueface)?

Rynga don't have any specific home or business plans. The minimum topup is €10+vat and transaction fee (I think) and it came altogether to around €12.50.

Blueface will provide you with an 076 number, a blueface extension and a local geographic number. Your 076 number is a special voip number that you get when you topup your blueface account a minimum of €5 (Includes vat and there's no transaction fee) or subscribe to a plan.

Blueface also provides you with a local geographic number when you subscribe to a plan (Cheapest is €10).
You will get a blueface extension that any other blueface customer can call for free. It doesn't cost you anything to get this and it is free to call another BF extension.

You can call your 076 number and geographic number from any other landline or mobile and they won't know the difference, its nearly the same thing!

Blueface require you have Broadband (not dsl on your landline you want to port) and a plan with them before you port. It takes around 2-4 weeks to fully port and blueface will cancel your landline account(if you cancel it you lose your number), they will contact you when its being ported over and takes a few minutes.

I hope this isn't too complicated and I hope this helps!

just do it

Thanks Mr G.

My current landline deal is the eircom talktime anytime UK with BB costs €64.

So now if I switch over:
Wireless BB €20
Blueface €10
Rynga €3 (€12 for 120 freedays)

Total €33. (half:))


O2 speed check results on current landline BB:
Last Result:
Download Speed: 789 kbps (98.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 98 kbps (12.3 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 145 ms
01 May 2011 23:35:39

I'm in the sticks so no fancy fast BB or UPC. As it is I'm lucky to have BB as I'm at the max distance permissible from the eircom exchange. My neighbour 50m away had to fight hard to get his BB connection from eircom. But 3 and Vodafone have mobile broadband in my area according to their coverage maps. Upto 7.2mbps. What it is in reality is another story. I'll be trying out 3 tomorrow. I hope it's better than the speeds I'm currently getting above. If it is, happy days and a cheaper phone to boot:D.

szines

Try these if you want free land-line and cheap mobile calls:
www.voipblast.com
www.webcalldirect.com
Excellent voice quality and easy to use.

just do it

I don't think this even qualifies as a 2 marker, but I'm going to ask it anyway.

If I get a VOIP phone working off a mobile wireless router, I don't need to have the PC on for it to work?

Mr. G

just do it wrote: »

Thanks Mr G.

My current landline deal is the eircom talktime anytime UK with BB costs €64.

So now if I switch over:
Wireless BB €20
Blueface €10
Rynga €3 (€12 for 120 freedays)

Total €33. (half:))


O2 speed check results on current landline BB:
Last Result:
Download Speed: 789 kbps (98.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 98 kbps (12.3 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 145 ms
01 May 2011 23:35:39

I'm in the sticks so no fancy fast BB or UPC. As it is I'm lucky to have BB as I'm at the max distance permissible from the eircom exchange. My neighbour 50m away had to fight hard to get his BB connection from eircom. But 3 and Vodafone have mobile broadband in my area according to their coverage maps. Upto 7.2mbps. What it is in reality is another story. I'll be trying out 3 tomorrow. I hope it's better than the speeds I'm currently getting above. If it is, happy days and a cheaper phone to boot:D.

I would call mobile broadband more like narrowband or midband. I had it once, it was way way too slow for my liking, of course I can't get 3G in my house.

The quality of voip depends on your broadband speeds, and your upload is slow enough so the quality on the other end would be bad, your download are as well a bit slow so again, quality will be bad.
Are you in the 3G area for other networks?

3, Justmobile and postfone are on the vodafone network, but use their own equipment and piggy back on vodafones network.

I heard something about vodafone(?) are blocking voip from a certain time, AFAIK that was mobiles? Best check though before you switch..

We used omnitel before and moved to eircon when they came in but, omnitel have been taken over by ripplecom in limerick. Using Wireless is a better option then mobile broadband if your having it in a fixed position. Take a look at digiweb maybe for wireless metro (not satellite)..


Hope this helps.

just do it

Wireless broadband available in my area through Lighthouse. WiMax for €35pm 2mb download 1mb upload. Are these good enough speeds for VOIP?

I've just talked to Vodafone. 3G available in the area but recommend a 7 day trial. This comes in at €20pm with speeds up to 7.2mb. The proof will be in the pudding.

Thanks for your help Mr Grumpy, I've a good grasp of my options now.

Mr. G

just do it wrote: »

Wireless broadband available in my area through Lighthouse. WiMax for €35pm 2mb download 1mb upload. Are these good enough speeds for VOIP?

I've just talked to Vodafone. 3G available in the area but recommend a 7 day trial. This comes in at €20pm with speeds up to 7.2mb. The proof will be in the pudding.

Thanks for your help Mr Grumpy, I've a good grasp of my options now.

Yes, lighthouse 2mb download/1mb upload is fine for VoiP. You could look at Ripplecom as they are doing it for €29pm with no limits, and they do services in the west as well.:rolleyes:

Note that many Dellmount/rynga companies have a FUP of 300 minutes per week of freedays (realised that today!). So if you went with Blueface altogether it might be easier, with Blueface, they are an irish business and they don't rip you off or hide anything from you:). They are very honest people, dellmount (rynga) are sneaky, cold moneymakers, that never reply to a support issue:mad:.

Anyways, using Blueface does save you money, and with excellent support you cant go wrong. (We used to spend €200-300 amonth to eircom) thats down to about €80 this month!(Business Plus, includes 250 mobiles and unlimited landlines+pbx).:)


I know this seems not worth it, but once you have moved broadband provider, things get a lot better. Hope this helps!

What you could do if get a phone and connect it to your eircom router and use that for your calls, pay the 10 or 20 euro a month but its cheaper then eircon

Johnboy1951

just do it wrote: »

Wireless broadband available in my area through Lighthouse. WiMax for €35pm 2mb download 1mb upload. Are these good enough speeds for VOIP?

I've just talked to Vodafone. 3G available in the area but recommend a 7 day trial. This comes in at €20pm with speeds up to 7.2mb. The proof will be in the pudding.

Thanks for your help Mr Grumpy, I've a good grasp of my options now.

Do not attempt to use mobile internet connection for VOIP .... you will surely regret it if you choose this.

Mobile broadband (usually using USB sticks) is not suitable
and as has been mentioned some of, if not all, the service providers prevent VOIP working on their networks, according to reports from users on Boards.

Some have reported that during the trial period VOIP worked well ...... only to have it fail after they signed up to a contract ....

just do it

just do it wrote: »

My current landline deal is the eircom talktime anytime UK with BB costs €64.

So now if I switch over:
Wireless BB €20
Blueface €10
Rynga €3 (€12 for 120 freedays)

Total €33. (half:))


O2 speed check results on current landline BB:
Last Result:
Download Speed: 789 kbps (98.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 98 kbps (12.3 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 145 ms
01 May 2011 23:35:39

O2 speed check results on current landline BB:
Last Result:
Download Speed: 821 kbps (102.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 44 kbps (5.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 142 ms
02 May 2011 20:30:48

Conducted a skype call with someone in China at these speeds with excellent sound quality.

Went to town today to trial mobile broadband with 3. Both 3 and Vodafone were shut! Is that a sign or what? (3G with O2 not available in the area).

From the feedback on Vodafone blocking VOIP (3 piggyback on Vodafone so I suspect the same), I maybe better off with wireless broadband.

So this is what I'm currently looking at:
Ripplecom 2MB/512KB €30pm
Goldfish €2.50pm
Rynga €3pm

Total €35.50pm - a little over half current eircom package (€64). Will work out less as inevitably there is some extra monthly charges on the eircom bill for calls to mobiles etc. These will be cheaper on VOIP.

Now, anyone using VOIP over basic Ripplecom? How's it working out?

Mr. G

just do it wrote: »

O2 speed check results on current landline BB:
Last Result:
Download Speed: 821 kbps (102.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 44 kbps (5.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Latency: 142 ms
02 May 2011 20:30:48

Conducted a skype call with someone in China at these speeds with excellent sound quality.

Went to town today to trial mobile broadband with 3. Both 3 and Vodafone were shut! Is that a sign or what? (3G with O2 not available in the area).

From the feedback on Vodafone blocking VOIP (3 piggyback on Vodafone so I suspect the same), I maybe better off with wireless broadband.

So this is what I'm currently looking at:
Ripplecom 2MB/512KB €30pm
Goldfish €2.50pm
Rynga €3pm

Total €35.50pm - a little over half current eircom package (€64). Will work out less as inevitably there is some extra monthly charges on the eircom bill for calls to mobiles etc. These will be cheaper on VOIP.

Now, anyone using VOIP over basic Ripplecom? How's it working out?

We used to be with omnitel, but they have since been made up into ripplecom. It is best to use fixed wireless, it will allow you to get voip aswell. its not easy to get voip on mobile.

Vodafone closed on bank holidays? Last sunday they were open til 6 (I think).

championc

Whatever you go for, can I suggest that you get yourself an ATA (I have a Linksys SPA3102). This will allow you to use standard phones and not have a PC turned on permanently or use headphones or something like this. The routing would then be done by this little box. You could route say Irish Freephone and 999 calls to Goldfish and all others via Rynga (or whoever).


C

just do it

championc wrote: »

Whatever you go for, can I suggest that you get yourself an ATA (I have a Linksys SPA3102). This will allow you to use standard phones and not have a PC turned on permanently or use headphones or something like this. The routing would then be done by this little box. You could route say Irish Freephone and 999 calls to Goldfish and all others via Rynga (or whoever).


C

Our current phone is crap so will look at getting a VoIP phone when switching. Is this not a better option than an ATA and standard phone?

Incidentially, swinging back towards Lighthouse broadband as quiet a few clients of ripplecom not too happy with speeds or service. Still going to trial the 3 mobile broadband and see what kind of speeds I get. Just need to make sure I can use if for VoIP if I keep it;).

malachy47

Anyone who attempts realtime VOIP over mobile phone connectivity deserves everything they are going to get.

just do it

malachy47 wrote: »

Anyone who attempts realtime VOIP over mobile phone connectivity deserves everything they are going to get.

For those of us how aren't as to date with tech stuff, how are we to know that? On the face of it there's no reason why it shouldn't work. Also there are plenty people on here not happy with their wireless broadband from one of the main suppliers in the country. Given this and that most people aren't tech savy or forum users, I don't believe it is as clear cut as you suggest.

chalkitdown

just do it wrote: »

For those of us how aren't as to date with tech stuff, how are we to know that? On the face of it there's no reason why it shouldn't work. Also there are plenty people on here not happy with their wireless broadband from one of the main suppliers in the country. Given this and that most people aren't tech savy or forum users, I don't believe it is as clear cut as you suggest.

Unfortunately the previous poster is correct, mobile broadband is not good enough for long term voip stability.
It is the quality of the connection rather than the speed that dictates how well voip will work.
Blueface used to have an application that you could run on your BB connection to measure jitter, run this on any connection that you are considering, but bear in mind that mobile BB will vary a lot, so if you are trying a dongle run the tests over a period of days.
Even then you should be prepared to accept that your service could deteriorate at any time if any further mobile BB users connect to the same mast.

championc

just do it wrote: »

Our current phone is crap so will look at getting a VoIP phone when switching. Is this not a better option than an ATA and standard phone?

So are you planning on running the phone off a PC or what ? A SIP compatible phone will need to run off some form of PABX - either it's own box or a soft PABX on a PC. Or maybe I've missed something.


C

just do it

championc wrote: »

So are you planning on running the phone off a PC or what ? A SIP compatible phone will need to run off some form of PABX - either it's own box or a soft PABX on a PC. Or maybe I've missed something.


C

Hmm, I was assuming I could plug a VoIP phone into the wireless broadband router. Can I not do this?

Johnboy1951

just do it wrote: »

Hmm, I was assuming I could plug a VoIP phone into the wireless broadband router. Can I not do this?

With some phones you can ...... essentially they have an ATA built in.

Grandstream are one well known brand ....
http://www.voiplink.com/Grandstream_IP_Phones_s/19.htm