18185 pre-dialler? Orchid dialler?

Andy_WSM

Hi, Does anyone know of a pre-dialer that is available that I can program so that all calls automatically go out via 18185?

Does anyone have a spare one or one they no longer use?

I have been told to look for "Orchid" but a search of eBay has revealed nothing and it appears the company have gone after searching Google.

Thanks.

Andy

Quentin

They are only available "used".

They do turn up on ebay.

Search orchid dialler (though the last ones shown sold in September)

Andy_WSM

Thought that might be the case Quentin. I have saved a search on eBay.

Roland_Sausage

You might also want to save a search for 'Freeserve Dialer'. It's a little box, which looks identical to the Orchid dialer (so probably be made by the same company) which the ISP Freeserve gave away in the early 2000's to route calls through them.

I have successfully managed to program the one I bought on eBay last year for 18185 and it works a treat. PM me if you manage to get one as I still have the instructions saved.

Andy_WSM

I've made contact with Orchid Telecom now and they sell a box called "smart dialler" for under £30 inc VAT & Postage, so will likely order one of them on Monday unless anything else comes up.

I dropped the "inclusive calls" on BT last week. Keep forgetting to dial 18185 and to my horror found BT are charging 24p for a local call lasting seconds.

Quentin

Are you aware there looks to be a likelihood BT will stop allowing 18185 type calls in the near future?

Andy_WSM

Quentin wrote: »

Are you aware there looks to be a likelihood BT will stop allowing 18185 type calls in the near future?

No?! Would that even be legal?

It's bad enough that I HAVE to have a phone line to get broadband! In America you can have "wires only" for a few quid.

Quentin

Ofcom:

...we are removing BT's obligation to offer carrier pre-selection (CPS) and indirect access (IA)......

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/nmr-13/statement/statement-summary

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

Andy_WSM wrote: »

I have been told to look for "Orchid"..

Not sure if you've seen the Orchid thread here. Lots of knowledgeable folks inhabit there.

Andy_WSM

Quentin wrote: »

Ofcom:



http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/nmr-13/statement/statement-summary

Wow! Good old regulators. Wonder how much BT back handed them for that one?!

Andy_WSM

Fruit_and_Nut_Case wrote: »

Not sure if you've seen the Orchid thread here. Lots of knowledgeable folks inhabit there.

Yes, had a scan last night thanks, seems a futile thing to do now though if BT aren't going to pass CPS in the future.