Help With VOIP

Hello everyone,

I am hoping someone can help me out with something that I have NO idea on..

It's a 2 part question/problem.

Part 1: Does BT Internet via the BT Home Hub 2.0 (http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/12612/c/1243) allow users to use a separate VOIP provider? - Such as SIPGate.

Part 2: Assuming it's a Yes to Part 1, how do I go about getting started with VOIP? What provider would someone recommend? Is it better to get a VOIP handset? - Let me explain a bit more on this.

I am wanting to set up a number anyone can call that "diverts" to either a VOIP line or another number. It would need to have around 3-4 end users. Ideally it would also enable us to have an IVR menu to select who the call should be directed to. The only number that would be given out and called would be the divert/voip number. Any one calling someone back, would be withholding their own number for privacy.

I hope that all makes sense, if anyone needs more info please let me know.

Thanks

CJT
1. Yes, you can use a softphone on a PC, you should also be able to set up a sip phone to work. This may/will involve setting up a VPN for the phone.

2. Messy question

a. The numbers that connect to an IVR box are a business service that is irrelevent to question 1.
b. The connect to numbers from the IVR box can usually be to any number, so can be to the Softphone / SIP phone in question 1. ( Or to an answer service that will e-mail you the message!).

a and b could be from the same or different providers!

You normally pay a fee for the diverted part of each call, (but not to the answer service).

I don't know details about SIP providers or if they provide IVR facilities, these can be brought from the bigger telephone providers that are good at this. BT, KCOM, C&W, etc. but there is no reason why SIP providers couldn't provide the same service.

Thanks kitcat...

Looks like I need to look into this a bit more..

How would I set up a VPN for the phone out of interest? Has anyone looking at this done that?

Thanks in advance.

you can download a free softphone and set up a free SIPGate account, I would give it a go and see what happens !

Thanks yarwell,

I may give that a go.. I just need to work out how I can go about this..

perhaps I need to add more info, to give a better picture to those offering advice

Do you mean like this? http://www.voipfone.co.uk/PB_Virtual_Switchboard_IVR...

Thanks BatBoy,

That's exactly the type of thing I need..

Basically a menu to give Press 1 for X, 2 for X, and then that sends the call to the person required, or to a recorded message.

I just need to see how "cheaply" I can get it for.. without being a penny pincher.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/495271/setup-an-i...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv0paVu7u9Q

I believe you could do it yourself via VoIP using Draytek IPPBX router,
but they do cost £300+.
I would suggest that you look up www.gradwell.com/phoneservices
they may well be able to provide the service at reasonable cost.
Regards,
Martin

Many thanks BatBoy for the links,

I shall look into those in more detail

Thanks Martin,

Ironically I was just looking at Gradwell only a few moments ago.. I shall look into them in more detail as well

www.poseidon.uk.com

Hi
I successfully used Voiptalk and .connexin.- both worked great for me. I used to use Snom hardware, very good but expensive, I recently changed to Yealink T38, which was much cheaper and performs very well.
hope this helps
Key

3CX do an IP PBX with all the usual phone features and it is free to download and fully functional with a limited number of simultaneous outgoing calls unless you buy one of the many licenses. It will run on virtually any Windows platform and has a very simple User Interface. It also allows you to set up a VoIP Trunk using SIP with any providers.

www.3cx.com if you are at all interested?

Thanks I will check them out

We install large numbers of VoIP systems and find the Yealink T38's not up to the job, although this is our own view and ymmv.

We used to use a lot of the Snom devices but since firmware version 8 they seem to hang and crash more than ever before. Again, our own view and ymmv.

The main devices we're installing these days is Cisco Small Business (Linksys really) SPA devices. The SPA303 performs brilliantly and costs peanuts.

Whilst 3CX are good, it costs for a lot of things.

Trixbox CE (www.trixbox.com) will do more than you ever dreamed possible for completely free. For stability, stick with Asterisk 1.4 as my personal opinion is that Asterisk 1.6 isn't quite production software.

/me dons fireproof coat for that statement!

As such, Trixbox 2.6.2.3 would be ideal and is easy to setup and configure. Just make sure that you reduce your attack surface area by only allowing permitted IPs SIP access through your firewall and also, whilst not as much use these days, installing fail2ban is a good idea.

thanks for both the comments, and ideas..

so are you suggesting "hosting" the voip service myself? I have a mate who can donate a PC running XP on it, which I am sure I can do something with.. and I have Broadband, but it's not overly fast..

so suggestions on how I could run it would be most welcome

am a bit lost now

You don't want to be running any important services on Windows, so if you get that computer and want to host it yourself you'll need to install something like PBX in a Flash. Not used it myself but it seems to be well regarded even if it's using Asterisk instead of FreeSwitch.

There are lots of hosted solutions around, but most of them charge for various features. I just came across a new one today that's currently in beta but it might do what you want if you can get an invitation and it looks like it's free for up to 5 seats. Kazoo from 2600hz.

Thanks I will also check them out..

Am still a bit confused about how to do this.. seemed like a good idea at the time

and in part it still does

Hi everyone,

I work for Dialect Telecom where we provide lines and calls at cost effective solutions.
If we can offer any advice on VOIP, traditional handsets, moving premises, porting numbers, types of services etc we are very happy to help and give you some advise.

We would be very willing to help you CJT, we are a BT service provider and have great VOIP systems that allow you many features and an online portal which you can control and customise.

Kind Regards,

Emily

Thank you Emily.

I will send you a direct message.

I am not sure that the forum moderators will be happy with advertising, or if they will regard this as advertising.

apologises to the moderators if my post was seen as advertising, our main priority is helping people resolve their problems.

We are watching closely

Dialect Telecom,

I have sent you a message for further information.

Mr Saffron

Are they allowed to have their website address in their profile?

FLOSS Weekly interviewed the developers of Kazoo this week. I haven't watched it yet, but it might give a good look at the features if you haven't settled on a product yet.

Post deleted by billford