VOIP, Discussion, questions and answers

fayraz

buglawton wrote: »

Did anyone already mention the "Skype to Go" solution? I am using this with Skype Unlimited World that is £8/month. Call an 0208 number first using an ordinary DECT home phone then dial the international number. At weekends the 0208 part is a free call, weekdays with BT/18185 it is just a one off connection fee eg 9p. So no need for additional VOIP hardware.

For incoming calls, I just use the usual BT number.

With Virgin they will charge you 1p per min for the 0208 call using 18185 depending on which call package people are on.

buglawton

If I were to go to Virgin I'd look at one of their unlimited UK landline minutes deals anyway. In which case that 0208 number should be 'free'. Any case I thought Virgin offered a weekend free landline mins deal to match BT?

fayraz

buglawton wrote: »

If I were to go to Virgin I'd look at one of their unlimited UK landline minutes deals anyway. In which case that 0208 number should be 'free'. Any case I thought Virgin offered a weekend free landline mins deal to match BT?

Yes on their standard £11.99 they offer free weekend calls to get the all inclusive they charge you an extra £7.95 on top of that. So its not really worth paying all that line rental and then on top paying for something like Skype.

I just want to stick with the £11.99 per month and then maybe add something like Skype on top of that.

buglawton

So I use BT with Skype and 18185.
Weekends - free access to the 0208 number + Skype unlimited World.
Weekdays - 18185 first so fixed fee of 9p to the 0208 (9 or 10 p is same practically as connecting any BT call these day) or so - unlimited call length.

For calls you know are going to be short anyway, use 18185 direct as no charge if engaged or unanswered.

Wammer

I am brand new to VOIP and haven't installed any software yet.

I had obviously heard of Skype, but read some of this thread and see that there are alternatives.

I read some of the links on Page 1 of this topic, but many of them date back to 2005 so I don't know if they are out of date.

I am considering signing up with VOIPBuster and would appreciate any feedback.

I would only be using it to call from the US to the UK. Probably just to landlines because, as far as I can see, it is expensive to calls mobiles at 16p/min.

To dial from the US do I just need 0044 before the number or do I need the code to make calls from the US which is 01144?

I would be using a netbook with a webcam to make the calls, no headset. Will this work OK?

What is the minimum amount of credit you can buy?

buglawton

Occasional calls for a few weeks , lots of calls over a year? Usage pattern might decide which service is best. Skype is not the cheapest but instant to set up, works everywhere reliably and for heavy daily use you can upgrade to a flat rate, eg one country only for under £5/month. My wife uses PC speakers and webcam mic, works fine to ordinary phones if used from a quiet place.

paulofessex

I dont know about VoipBuster but with Skype you may be able to purchase a UK online number so when you make a call it will be as if you are in the UK, thats if the UK is the only place you want to call of course.

Wammer

Thanks for the replies.

This would only be for using while on holiday for 2 weeks at a time maybe twice a year.

I only expect to make 3-4 calls of maybe 10-15 mins, but it may be more or for slightly longer if it is cheap enough to call.

Any further suggestions or advice appreciated.

tonyhamm

who provides voipbuster etc.. to be a fine service provider.

Far cheaper than skype as well.

I am always suspicioius about these kind of disparaging posts as there seem to be lots of them on certain voip rating sites, which put me off signing up at first and cost me an hour or two of extra searching, before finally signing up and finding it must be nonsense spam postings from rivals.

I have never ever had any problems with my betamax provider - i.e. a Justvoip account which i have had for nearly a year.

buglawton

For your simple and occasional usage it's a no-brainer - Skype.