Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus) Discussion

1carminestocky

Whilst UWs internet phone line uses VOIP like the others, the main selling point is the fact that the calls made on it are included in the calling plan you have - in my case that would be 24/7 and if we still had the place abroad this would be an absolute no-brainer for us. We don't so it isn't. Of course, anyone with a holiday home anywhere not just abroad should look at it, as long as they have broadband (via an actual router) there...

1carminestocky

penrhyn wrote: »

Has anyone got an image or spec for this device, I thought it might be something you would plug into a router?

It is. Although I haven't seen one personally. Apparently from what has been said on here previously it's just a small device, like a USB stick?

Cardew

1carminestocky wrote: »

Whilst UWs internet phone line uses VOIP like the others, the main selling point is the fact that the calls made on it are included in the calling plan you have - in my case that would be 24/7 and if we still had the place abroad this would be an absolute no-brainer for us. We don't so it isn't. Of course, anyone with a holiday home anywhere not just abroad should look at it, as long as they have broadband (via an actual router) there...

I have a holiday home abroad and use SKYPE. That is absolutely free for SKYPE to SKYPE calls(including video)

If you want to use a SKYPE phone, or a PC to a land line it is 1.25p/min.

The point is that VOIP calls are free or dirt cheap these days.

Ypaymore

1carminestocky wrote: »

Apparently from what has been said on here previously it's just a small device

Its a pre programmed voip phone adaptor similar or the same as this.

See: http://www.sipgate.co.uk/voipshop/linksys/pap2t

If you cease service i believe UW ask for it back or you have to pay a for it.

1carminestocky

Cardew wrote: »

I have a holiday home abroad and use SKYPE. That is absolutely free for SKYPE to SKYPE calls(including video)

If you want to use a SKYPE phone, or a PC to a land line it is 1.25p/min.

The point is that VOIP calls are free or dirt cheap these days.

Like I said, the USP of the UW internet phone is that the calls are included in your phone package. In our case these calls would be fully inclusive 24/7. Genuinely don't know about this hence the question:

Could I use my landline to phone your Skype number abroad? If so, how much would it cost me?

kippen_noedel

1carminestocky wrote: »

Could I use my landline to phone your Skype number abroad? If so, how much would it cost me?

Why would you even consider calling on your landline with your broadband package ?

I would just use Skype on my mobile if not at home (for free) or via my computer at home. In fact my son was able to call me for free to my mobile on his round the world gap year trip.

PS I have no landline.

Cardew

1carminestocky wrote: »

Like I said, the USP of the UW internet phone is that the calls are included in your phone package. In our case these calls would be fully inclusive 24/7. Genuinely don't know about this hence the question:

Could I use my landline to phone your Skype number abroad? If so, how much would it cost me?

I don't use that service so don't know full details, but my understanding is that you would ring a UK tel number at whatever it costs you to call a number - it could be in your inclusive minutes for mobile or land line - and that reaches me anywhere in the world.

A pal of mine runs his business from wherever he is in the world - his customers just ring his UK number.

There is another SKYPE system where you can set up numbers abroad and just dial a UK number from any phone and hit a speed dial. The cost of the international element(generally 1.2p/min) is debited to your account. So you could give that number to, say, your son and he could dial you or any of the numbers you have set up.

Most of my family and friends have SKYPE so our calls between each other are free(including video) or we can call landlines at 1.2p/min.

Senior_Paper_Monitor

Again, confusion reigns - my post 7158 on here trys to explain the simplified differences between Skype and VOIP.

Skype has a real place (primarily in the personal market) - its 'Skype Pro' and 'Skype in' (this is where you have an exchange number - in a country/location pretty much of your choice, which you can pick up anywhere) - BUT its reliability and quality remains questionable for serious business use.

Also be warned that if trying to use 'Skype in' with the '3' mobile Skype offering - it is blocked. It does not work. This is the matter of a some chagrin to me having been missold a large volume 18 month '3' contract solely for use with Skype in (having given them clear technical specifications and questions to check prior to signing). If I had the time and sufficient enthusiams over a poxy mobile phone contract, I have little doubt that I could persue this through the courts and win. If ever a company deserved berating on here it certainly the bunch of charlotans at '3'!

A further possible problem for some is that some government owned networks (in particular Etisalat - who are the monopoly provider in the UAE) are now blocking Skype - because of potential loss of revenue.

The UW 'internet phone lines' are straightforward VOIP technology - my testing of these has been trouble free and we have two lines in near constant use, primarily outbound but also receiving some inbound calls. The quality and reliability (based at our home office in Oxfordshire) is every bit as good as our two virgin cable lines and our BT (now UW) traditional copper landline. I have not tested the device travelling but would expect results considerably better than Skype.

The device (2 lines) is very much 'plug and play' and even the most committed luddite should be able to set it up easily (provided they have a router). I suspect it may also be possible to use it attached to a lap top computer which could connect to any wireless network (in which case it becomes a doddle for travelling use) but may require some active 'setting up' to work - but I haven't yet tested this.

The device (2 lines) is 4" x 4" x 1" (so readily portable) - there are no pre-dial numbers to use and it is, to all effect, a 'normal number' for inbound and outbound use. Call charges in and out for the owner and inbound caller are exactly as for the applicable UW landline contract (and as for the UK number concerned - even if the device is being used abroad).

I hope that helps.

kippen_noedel

Senior_Paper_Monitor wrote: »

Also be warned that if trying to use 'Skype in' with the '3' mobile Skype offering - it is blocked. It does not work.

A further possible problem for some is that some government owned networks (in particular Etisalat - who are the monopoly provider in the UAE) are now blocking Skype - because of potential loss of revenue.

Funny that, it works perfectly for me and did so when I was abroad, albeit to use it abroad for free you have to swap to WiFi & in restricted areas via a Proxy, my son did the same on his rtw trip, including using it in Dubai & China.
For professionals doing regular business in restricted zones connect via Banana VPN, or a similar service. A VPN is not cost effective for casual users.

So people you can ignore the UW Rep warning.

Cardew

Senior_Paper_Monitor wrote: »

Again, confusion reigns - my post 7158 on here trys to explain the simplified differences between Skype and VOIP.


The UW 'internet phone lines' are straightforward VOIP technology - my testing of these has been trouble free and we have two lines in near constant use, primarily outbound but also receiving some inbound calls. The quality and reliability (based at our home office in Oxfordshire) is every bit as good as our two virgin cable lines and our BT (now UW) traditional copper landline. I have not tested the device travelling but would expect results considerably better than Skype.

The device (2 lines) is very much 'plug and play' and even the most committed luddite should be able to set it up easily (provided they have a router). I suspect it may also be possible to use it attached to a lap top computer which could connect to any wireless network (in which case it becomes a doddle for travelling use) but may require some active 'setting up' to work - but I haven't yet tested this.

The device (2 lines) is 4" x 4" x 1" (so readily portable) - there are no pre-dial numbers to use and it is, to all effect, a 'normal number' for inbound and outbound use. Call charges in and out for the owner and inbound caller are exactly as for the applicable UW landline contract (and as for the UK number concerned - even if the device is being used abroad).

I hope that helps.

I don't know what point you are trying to make in your posts, other than to promote UW as somehow being superior to Skype.

Your post #7158 claimed that Skype did not use VOIP;

Skype is not a VOIP application - it is an all internet application

Well of course it does use VOIP.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype_protocol

Skype uses a proprietary Internet telephony (VoIP) network. The main difference between Skype and other VoIP networks is that Skype operates on a peer-to-peer model, rather than the more traditional server-client model

If any 'confusion reigns' in this thread it is largely because of your 2 posts on the subject.

For the purposes of this thread, what has been stated about Skype is accurate.

Free Skype to Skype calls from PC to PC are possible all over the world. If you are using video then without question the link can be poor quality if the broadband internet service is poor.

I talk regularly to Oman where the service can be poor at certain times, if it is, we don't use video and then there is rarely a problem.

Don't forget this is free to anywhere in the world. Most VOIP calls are not that cheap to some countries.

Using Skype to landlines, again to and from many countries, has never given me a problem.

I have a BT VOIP line(provided free!!) where international calls cost 1.25p min to most countries, if I am at my PC or laptop, I still use Skype from choice when calling landlines.

The point is surely that for the majority of us Skype with its free video link, and ability to phone land lines/mobiles has advantages over the UW offering.