Anyone use VOIP for there home phone?

themoffster

Does anyone have experiences of using voice over IP instead of a normal house phone?

Paul_Varjak

I use InternetCalls as my VOIP phone provider. The service is very cheap but very unreliable. I have frequent call cut-offs, poor quality line (including echos) and non-connections.

I put up with the poor service because it saves so much money, but I do not use the voip incoming number (except for close friends who want to call free computer to computer).

So, don't think of using VOIP instead of your home phone just yet!

Inspector_Clouseau

Hi,

I use BT Softphone for the last 3 months seems okay haven't had much trouble. Word of caution though I did have a power cut and was unable to dial or receive calls (PC dead) so I now keep a normal phone as an emergency back up.

Regds,
Insp C

BexTech

For around 2 years I've been using VoIP. For 15+ months I've used VoIP solely, as I've dumped my landline so that saves £11 per month.

I've had about 2 problems in 2 years.

I've had 16+ months of completely free calling to UK landlines for just a €6 top-up. Though now pay around £1.80 per month for 1,200 free mins, plus the £1.80 credit can be used on chargeable calls.

Call quality is excellent, often much better than the BT landline I used to have, people don't even know it's not a landline.

I use an ATA which allows me to use my standard phones and don't need a PC to be on.

I have an incoming number with VoIPStunt and also one from Sipgate, my ATA allows for two lines and people call me on both.

I have trialled using software phones, but the quality isn't usually as good as an ATA or VoIP router, as anything running on your PC can affect your calls, plus you have the hassle of having to have the PC on all the time 24/7 to make and receive calls any time of the day.

Yes, even with an ATA or VoIP router, if you have a powercut then you will lose phone service, but there are many many people on BT landline that only have DECT phones, so they would be in the same situation. If you have cable phone line then even with a standard phone if there is a powercut in the area unlike BT where they have backup a cable phone line gets cut anyway.

I'm more than happy with VoIP, if I wasn't I wouldn't have relied just on VoIP for so long.