Digital phone switchover

We have been advised by Zen that we will need to switch to Zen’s digital voice service (as we wish to retain a landline number) when the switchover comes.

I see that we can use either our current landline phone with an adapter, a DECT phone or a mobile phone via an app to connect to the supplied FritzBox.

Our current phone setup is the main phone with answerphone down stairs and a second handset in the bedroom on the same number/line.

Can I also use my mobile phone connected via the app to the Fritzbox as an additional handset overnight? If yes, can I also answer my home landline calls on my mobile phone when connected to wifi away from my home wifi network?

TIA

Hi,

In short, Yes and Yes.... I do this. I have an account with Sipgate to provide my VOIP number, and I can use a Fritz app on the mobile (Fon), or any of the many other voip apps available. This works at home, and anywhere else with an internet connection (either WiFi or 4G etc).

I am not sure about keeping the same number using Sipgate, others may know, wasn't an issue for me to keep as this house was FTTP only when I moved in, so I started from scratch with a new number.

Having had several emails from Zen about their digital voice I looked in to the possibility of changing.

We need to keep the landline number for incoming calls. All outgoing calls are made using our mobiles so we are currently paying £34.99 a month for Unlimited Fibre 2 and line rental (no calls package)

Looking at current offerings we'd be paying £34 for the Unlimited Fibre 2 (without a phone number) and £6 for digital voice with a calls package we don't need. And we'd loose the lifetime price. When I rang to check my conclusions I was told that they might be introducing a digital voice PAYG option.

I wish there was a way I could move just our phone number to A&A's service without losing the Zen price for the broadband!

In reply to a post by astanden:

We have been advised by Zen that we will need to switch to Zen’s digital voice service (as we wish to retain a landline number) when the switchover comes.

Just to cover all of the bases, that is not strictly correct. You can switch the landline number to a free-standing VOIP provider like Sipgate but that would cease your internet service with Zen. Even if you contract with Zen for a new service you may end up without internet (or VOIP phone) service for a few days while the changeover takes place. If you have a mobile phone signal where you are you can mitigate the temporary loss of phone service by putting a VOIP app onto your mobile so that will receive calls dialled to your old landline number.

Thanks all for the replies 🤗

Sorry to hijack the thread but could somone explain how digital voice would work for someone like me who has FTTC broadband from Zen (using an asus router which I guess would have to be replaced) but phone service from BT?

What is this all about ? I am a Zen customer and use my landline all the time as I just prefer the perfect signal from it. I just ignored the emails as I assumed it was an optional thing, so I will HAVE to change over soon ?? Any reason why given landlines are perfect as they are ? Doesn't both internet and phone travel down the same existing copper line anyway ?

More info here https://www.zen.co.uk/switchtodigital/

Basically you use an adapter to connect your phone to the Zen FritzBox router.

You will have to ask BT about your phone service.

Edited by astanden (Tue 28-Feb-23 17:01:11)

Doesn't both internet and phone travel down the same existing copper line anyway ?

Not for much longer.

https://www.zen.co.uk/switchtodigital/

Edited by astanden (Tue 28-Feb-23 16:59:38)

In reply to a post by jelv:

Looking at current offerings we'd be paying £34 for the Unlimited Fibre 2 (without a phone number) and £6 for digital voice with a calls package we don't need. And we'd loose the lifetime price. When I rang to check my conclusions I was told that they might be introducing a digital voice PAYG option.

Their FAQs say "If this is a direct move instigated by Zen we will move you to a like for like service with no change to your contract or billing." and "If you are eligible for the Price for Life guarantee, then this will be honoured." so if they introduced a digital voice PAYG option at 99p/mo you would end up paying the same.

I wish there was a way I could move just our phone number to A&A's service without losing the Zen price for the broadband!

As their FAQ also says "There will be no change to your contract or terms. You will retain your current end of contract date." I suppose you could migrate from line rental + FTTC to SOGEA + DV with Zen, even if it does temporarily cost more per month, then port your Zen DV number to AAISP as long as Zen confirm that the SOGEA + DV are independent and removing DV would not affect the SOGEA service.