Switching from BT to VOIP Suggetions PLZ

bluedove

I want to disconnect my BT line that I use solely to make international calls using indirect access numbers.
I am thinking of migrating to VOIP as my broadband is virgin cable, I live to far from my local exchange hence BT line can only give me 512kb, bb speed.
For the last 2 yrs, my average quarterly BT call charges is £35 with £36 line rental, 96% of this charge is international call charges as I have close family and friends in Europe, US, Africa and Japan (consequences of coming from a large Nomadic family).
My main aim of moving to voip is to cut down the bill, I’ve been searching voip providers for home users on the net, but most companys i found,supply to businesses.
Any suggestions of good voip home phone providers with cheap international call rates and maybe can allow indirect access numbers?

Owain_Moneysaver

Most IP phone providers won't support indirect access numbers, to do so they have to connect outbound to the PSTN which costs them money.

Bear in mind that without a BT phoneline, you will probably have no telephone that works during a power cut.

dave_dph

Have you looked at voipfone.co.uk

I am with voip.co.uk but they now only take new business customers.

Mark_In_Hampshire

There's also sipgate.co.uk - good for UK, not so sure about international charges. Feature set is good, though, and a complete replacement for a landline especially if you buy a proper handset too. Owain's right - VOIP won't work in a power cut unless you have a backup generator for all your computer equipment, but then landlines aren't 100% guaranteed in a power cut anyway (one place we lived at had frequent power cuts, which also took down the little sub-exchange on the estate)

bluedove

Gotta have further look into sipgate and voipfone, BT openreach exchange is powered by electricity, hence any major power cut will affect all lines anyway.
MY phones are cordless and use leccy hence if i have a power cut today i cn't even use the line.

bryanb

bluedove wrote: »

Gotta have further look into sipgate and voipfone, BT openreach exchange is powered by electricity, hence any major power cut will affect all lines anyway.
MY phones are cordless and use leccy hence if i have a power cut today i cn't even use the line.

Don't BT have battery backup in exchanges these days?

bluedove

I have checked all VoIP providers and decided to go with VOIPFONE; they agreed to give me a free 056 number with free monthly rental on PAYG. The cost of calls to 01,02, 03 and 08 are pretty cheap.

I ve had people say that land lines are needed for emergency or in event of power cut, but I haven’t had a power cut or emergency within the past 5 years and have been using a cordless phone.