Diverting calls

Knightsuntold

Hi,

Complete newbie on here - virtual drinks behind the bar, given the time of day, tea and coffee only.

What I'm looking for is the cheapest way to transfer landline calls through to my mobile. It sounds simple, but given other factors, it really isn't and my head is battered with the research. My problem is that for the next 12 months or so, I'm going to be living in a series of rented accommodation. I hoped that BT would be able to give me a number that I could take with me, but that isn't possible, as I will be moving between exchanges. The next option is to look to Voip, which does give me a number I can take with me, Given the fact that it is only to sweep up a handful of calls from people who won't call my mobile direct, it is looking like a pretty expensive option, with prepaid packages of minutes that I may never use, and, in some cases, scary set up costs.

One solution that occurred to me is that I could have a Voip number, which diverts to a BT landline, and then diverts again to my mobile. Does anyone know if this is possible? There is a good chance that this is a really stupid question. I'm the first to admit I'm struggling to understand how this could work, the cost implications and I may have missed something really obvious.

Any help will be gratefully received!

Inner_Zone

Sipgate basic VoIP, no set-up cost no bundle cost (if you don't select Sipgate 1000), just PAYG.

https://www.sipgate.co.uk/basic

Or get a TalkTalk line use their Talk2Go app on a smart phone, you can receive and make calls via 3G and Wi-Fi on the landline number.

Knightsuntold

Oh, wow!

Thank you for your quick response and for the recommendation. The PAYG option would be ideal. Do you think it will be possible to set the system up in the way I have described? No one I've spoken to has suggested it as a solution, which makes me think that it may not be possible.

Inner_Zone

Knightsuntold wrote: »

Oh, wow!

Thank you for your quick response and for the recommendation. The PAYG option would be ideal. Do you think it will be possible to set the system up in the way I have described? No one I've spoken to has suggested it as a solution, which makes me think that it may not be possible.

I have Sipgate (now called basic for over ten years now) it is certainly possible to divert to a mobile or landline, provided there is credit on the account.

Or use a VoIP client on a smart phone (3G if the network allows VoIP or Wi-Fi ) and no need for divert, similar to the TT app.

I don't see why you would need to divert the VoIP to BT landline to a mobile, why not just bypass BT.

Knightsuntold

Inner_Zone wrote: »

I have Sipgate (now called basic for over ten years now) it is certainly possible to divert to a mobile or landline, provided there is credit on the account.

Or use a VoIP client on a smart phone (3G if the network allows VoIP or Wi-Fi ) and no need for divert, similar to the TT app.

I don't see why you would need to divert the VoIP to BT landline to a mobile, why not just bypass BT.

Now, you see, this is where the battered head comes in, and I could be missing the outstandingly and blindingly obvious. The option of a desert island, with no phone contact whatsoever is becoming more attractive by the minute. It was a way of trying to keep the costs down. At the moment, any calls transferred from the BT call-forward line to my mobile are covered in my budget, and I'm happy with them. The Voip element is a new and scary environment for me. I've spoken to so many people and got myself thoroughly confused. I'm worried about Voip and the impact it has on my data package, not to mention the battery life on my phone. Up until today, I didn't even realise that there was PAYG option, although thinking about it, I'm pretty sure that the last guy I spoke to last night, did tag it on the end of the conversation, but at that point my brain was only saying 'gimme chocolate and vodka, not necessarily in that order.'

Inner_Zone

Knightsuntold wrote: »

Now, you see, this is where the battered head comes in, and I could be missing the outstandingly and blindingly obvious. The option of a desert island, with no phone contact whatsoever is becoming more attractive by the minute. It was a way of trying to keep the costs down. At the moment, any calls transferred from the BT call-forward line to my mobile are covered in my budget, and I'm happy with them. The Voip element is a new and scary environment for me. I've spoken to so many people and got myself thoroughly confused. I'm worried about Voip and the impact it has on my data package, not to mention the battery life on my phone. Up until today, I didn't even realise that there was PAYG option, although thinking about it, I'm pretty sure that the last guy I spoke to last night, did tag it on the end of the conversation, but at that point my brain was only saying 'gimme chocolate and vodka, not necessarily in that order.'

If you just divert the VoIP to your phone then there will be no impact on data or much on battery life as it will just be another incoming call, there will be a cost to pay the VoIP provider to transfer the call.

If you use a VoIP provider and an app on your phone there will be an impact on data and battery life, there however will be no cost to pay to the VoIP provider as the call is not being transferred.

So it your choice which way you go, the latter is only available if if your mobile provider supports / allows VoIP and you are in an Edge or 3G or 4G (if your phone supports 4G) area .

Knightsuntold

Inner_Zone wrote: »

If you just divert the VoIP to your phone then there will be no impact on data or much on battery life as it will just be another incoming call, there will be a cost to pay the VoIP provider to transfer the call.

If you use a VoIP provider and an app on your phone there will be an impact on data and battery life, there however will be no cost to pay to the VoIP provider as the call is not being transferred.

So it your choice which way you go, the latter is only available if if your mobile provider supports / allows VoIP and you are in an Edge or 3G or 4G (if your phone supports 4G) area .

And that is the perfect response - exactly what I was looking for the first conversation I had. I think I've got snarled up in people trying to sell me a full system, even though I've just asked for the simple divert option. At one point I thought I was going to need enough equipment to set up a call centre for 20.

Thank you - I really do appreciate your help.

tronator

Another vote for Sipgate. I have a router where you can set up the SIP account and use a normal and DECT phones with it. I also had to move quite a lot some time ago and I never had to worry about taking the current number with me.

I only wish they had the same services like they have in Germany. There you can port in any telephone number from any provider. I guess they have other regulations there (OFCOM, are you listening?).

They also have a product called Simquadrat, which is basically a virtual mobile network provider and which gives you a normal landline number as well as a mobile network number. Also, calls from Sipgate to Simquadrat are free as it is the same company.

Knightsuntold

tronator wrote: »

Another vote for Sipgate. I have a router where you can set up the SIP account and use a normal and DECT phones with it. I also had to move quite a lot some time ago and I never had to worry about taking the current number with me.

I only wish they had the same services like they have in Germany. There you can port in any telephone number from any provider. I guess they have other regulations there (OFCOM, are you listening?).

They also have a product called Simquadrat, which is basically a virtual mobile network provider and which gives you a normal landline number as well as a mobile network number. Also, calls from Sipgate to Simquadrat are free as it is the same company.

Thank you for your response - I'm definitely liking the look of Sipgate. Can you remember how much you were charged for each move? I've had a good nose around their website, but as soon as I my brain realises that it's anything to do with Voip, it's doing the brain equivalent of putting its fingers in its ears and singing 'lalalalalalalalalalalala...'

Ypaymore

Another couple of options

1. http://www.tamartelecommunications.co.uk/telephone-numbers/numbers/geographic-numbers/

They give you a 01/02 number from your preferred exchange and point it at your mobile number,and 1000 minutes of incoming calls to your mobile.

£4.99 a month no hidden charges

2. https://www.flextel.com A prepaid payg service. Buy your local 01/02 number from £1 depending on availability, you point it direct at your mobile, and just pay for the diverted call. No hidden charges. No Line Rental Etc. Free Voicemail.

Loads of features included. Including https://www.flextel.com/features/Call+Gateway/ where you can dial out from your mobile and give the impression your calling from your 01/02 number.

tronator

Knightsuntold wrote: »

Can you remember how much you were charged for each move?

They don't charge you anything for moving. And why would they? It is a service somewhere on the Internet. You can access it from anywhere in the world. I doesn't matter to them where you are.

You only should change your address in your account so they can share this information in case you dial an emergency number.