Sipgate Basic / Starter free sub plans - now withdrawn

As I just read a thread over at ISPreview fora, the “free” Basic (lately renamed Starter) plans that we’ve enjoyed for many years will be with us no longer.

They are being withdrawn to be replaced by plans with a monthly subscription. It’s not clear yet what the new charges will be.

I’ve personally happily used Sipgate since 2012, over a wide variety of broadband and mobile internet connections, and indeed my wife and I have several Basic accounts with geographic numbers with them and have also ported numbers in as well.

Frankly given the present economic turmoil it wasn’t exactly a complete shock that the free service would have to end - but it does leave pause for thought as to whether to stick or jump now. I guess the new pricing regime will need to be revealed.

Edited by Pheasant (Sat 10-Sep-22 11:52:33)

Recently, I have had trouble with my Gigaset N300 not staying registered with Sipgate via my Plusnet FTTC connection. I have had this particular service for nearly 7 years, The N300 registration with A&A remains constant. I pay £1.20 (inc VAT) for the A&A service though I hardly use it.

I think it’s coincidence. Not noticed any breaks in registration/ connection - admittedly though I am now mainly using Sipgate via the Acrobits proxy servers. So not a direct link for registrations

Am I correct in assuming that you can have the VoIP service from AAISP if you don't get your broadband from them?

In reply to a post by sjr:

Am I correct in assuming that you can have the VoIP service from AAISP if you don't get your broadband from them?

Correct, I'm an AAISP VoIP user for 3 years now, my broadband is with Virgin Media. I also use the Acrobits app on my iPhone, so I may be on home WiFi or might be out and about on a mobile network.

If Sipgate add a nominal monthly charge like some others then most people even though they may not use it for outgoing call may swallow the cost but if they are going to expect people to pay a minimum of £9.95 then I wouldnt be surprised if people switch to an alternative VOIP provider like AAISP.

Not sure what they'll offer yet. They haven't actually been in touch.

It wouldn't make sense for me to stay at near 10 quid a month, just to keep one line. I'd move to A&A in all likelihood if that was the case.

All you need to know about Sipgate can be learnt from trying to contact their telephone support, as I could fit in trying to contact them between other work I spent days phoning 10 or more times per day, never did get through to anyone, it was at this point I decided not to port my number or buy a package from them but just continue to use the free service, if they want paying I'm out.

I moved to AAISP when Sipgate announced the closure of Sipgate Basic nearly eight years ago. They backtracked then (or it was a mistake) but the risk of losing my ported number made me jump ship just in case.

AAISP's VOIP service, as with the other products, has been rock solid.

Thanks for the link