Thread: Voip Service / Phone

Can anyone recommend a good voip provider and a decent phone that doesn't need a PC to be switched on and has an answer machine (Can you get wireless ones?? - can't say my knowledge of VOIP is great.).

Thank you

I went through the same process last week.

http://www.webhostchat.co.uk/hosting...ng-phones.html

Have chosen TrixBox and Gradwell. Phone-wise, looks like ill be picking up a few used Cisco 7961G/7941G voip phones

I read through that thread, but with it being in the hosts only section thought i'd ask pubically see if there where anymore suggestions.

[QUOTE=Ed;155534
decent phone that doesn't need a PC to be switched on and has an answer machine (Can you get wireless ones?? - can't say my knowledge of VOIP is great.).
[/QUOTE]

Get a sipura voip adapter (or the cisco/linksys ones- theyre the same inside the box), and your choice of dect cordlesphones/answering machine ...

Going to move to a asterisk now system I think shortly.

Beats paying BT for the 0800 and they want a small fortune for proper call management features.

I presume it's also possible to have the calls recorded ( yes they will be notified at beginning of the call)

Ed, I'm sure there must be some ready made hosted pbx companies about rather than running your own if you prefer.

We're using VOIPtalk (direct to/from our local IAX server) for all our incoming (one 0845, and five local numbers for DDI) & outgoing (one outbound) trunks.

Phone wise - connect to our local asterisk box with SIP. We've been having good results from the Linksys SPA941/942s (+ they ring like the phones in 24, so that's a plus!). Tried Grandstream GXP2000 when we started but they're uncomfortable to use and have a horrible ring tone!

We're trying out voipfone (hosted PBX/IVR) and it's quite powerful, but the number of quirks make it unviable...

linksys SPA942 and, now rolling out, Cisco 7960G phones for us... though I fancy a 7970G for more eyecandy!

I think I may have asked this before, but my main concern with moving to Voip is that I'm putting my phone number in the hands of SomeRandomSipGateway.com.

If I get a new number and give it to all my clients, then the provider closes or proves to be wildly unreliable, it seems that I'd have to get a new number with a new provider and give that out to all my clients again - last time I looked into it moving voip numbers between companies was difficult or impossible.

At least with a landline or mobile company they're so big that you know they're not going to shut up overnight and disappear with your number. I guess I worry that most voip providers haven't been around long enough to prove their long-term viability.

Do any of you do anything to mitigate the risk? Ie use a forwarding service from someone? Or is it like buying a domain - pick a company you think is reputable and cross your fingers?

Also, now want access to the host-only section, it looks like you have interesting conversations there. Will have to set up a hosting company to qualify for access.

Originally Posted by goscombtech

Cisco 7960G phones for us...

I was looking at them earlier, you can pick refurbished ones up for about £50. I also came accross the 7940G on ebay - which looked quite nice for about £40.

I have looked at the phones supplied by Gradwell but aren't overally keen on how they look.

Originally Posted by Ed

I was looking at them earlier, you can pick refurbished ones up for about £50. I also came accross the 7940G on ebay - which looked quite nice for about £40.

i prefer mine germ free when they're so near my ears... new is the best way, and they're not exactly expensive

Originally Posted by burble

I think I may have asked this before, but my main concern with moving to Voip is that I'm putting my phone number in the hands of SomeRandomSipGateway.com.

If I get a new number and give it to all my clients, then the provider closes or proves to be wildly unreliable, it seems that I'd have to get a new number with a new provider and give that out to all my clients again - last time I looked into it moving voip numbers between companies was difficult or impossible.

At least with a landline or mobile company they're so big that you know they're not going to shut up overnight and disappear with your number. I guess I worry that most voip providers haven't been around long enough to prove their long-term viability.

Do any of you do anything to mitigate the risk? Ie use a forwarding service from someone? Or is it like buying a domain - pick a company you think is reputable and cross your fingers?

Also, now want access to the host-only section, it looks like you have interesting conversations there. Will have to set up a hosting company to qualify for access.

I think that's pretty much the case. We've been with VOIPtalk/Telappliant for the last 5 years and not had any significant problems. Would suck to lose our numbers though, I agree but we've just grown to live with the risk.

Originally Posted by goscombtech

i prefer mine germ free when they're so near my ears... new is the best way, and they're not exactly expensive

lol, I can understand that and doubt i'll buy a re-furbished phone.. i've just spent a few hours looking at various models and pricing plans.

I'm probably going to get the following:

Cisco IP Phone 7940G - IP phone - silver, dark grey: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Anyone any experience with it?

Take a look at the Snom phones too, I've a 370 and it's great. Nice chunky numbers and good sound quality

Originally Posted by Ed

lol, I can understand that and doubt i'll buy a re-furbished phone.. i've just spent a few hours looking at various models and pricing plans.

I'm probably going to get the following:

Cisco IP Phone 7940G - IP phone - silver, dark grey: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Anyone any experience with it?

We've use them in a different office and they where great. Never had a problem with them (We didn't use SIP tho, we used the other Cisco protocol). One thing I did read somewhere was the 7940G SIP firmware didn't enable all the phones features (cant find the site that said it so I may be corrected). One reason why I was looking at the 7941G instead was because all the SIP features are all enabled but also have a higher res black and white screen for a little more B/W eye candy ha.

I was also tempted for for a 7970 but couldn't justify the cost