internet phone calls to uk?

the_jocky

need to make a few mobile and land calls to the uk and europe over xmas
i hear about some internet companys that are very inexpencive.
would anybody have used these .just need the basic info and is it a rip off etc?

amby666

These types of calls are called voip and can be very cheap to landlines, but not much room to move on mobiles.
Most assume you have a broadband connection and you will need the bandwidth for the call.
If it's only for a few calls, a softphone on your PC will do the job, but for more use an ATA will provide better quality.
There is info on the VOIP forum that should help. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=542

mikeruurds

For landline calls to Europe I would recommend using the acces numbers on www.telestunt.ie... you can call most numbers at the cost of a local call.

I don't work for them or anything

Moriarty

Moved to VOIP.

ikoonman

mikeruurds wrote:

you can call most numbers at the cost of a local call.

I hate to tell you this but you didn't do your homework properly. Blueface is even cheaper.

(And I don't work for them either ... )

Blaster99

Sure, but why go through the hassle of setting up VoIP when you can just lift the phone and dial 1890 943 123?

Blueface is great and all that, but the pre-pay approach is a bit mickey mouse to be honest.

Freddie59

Blaster99 wrote:

Sure, but why go through the hassle of setting up VoIP when you can just lift the phone and dial 1890 943 123?

Blueface is great and all that, but the pre-pay approach is a bit mickey mouse to be honest.

How so?

TinCool

I'm opting for the www.smart076.ie option. No subscription fees. My ATA got delivered this morning so am looking forward to messing about with it this evening.

Boggle

Have you looked into google talk? You both need a gmail account and ye can talk to eachother while online...

Haven't tried it myself yet though...

mikeruurds

My 0.02c worth... telestunt is the dogs if you're calling Oz, NZ, the USA, RSA or anywhere in Europe and you don't want to open accounts with anyone, buy prepaid cards etc.

I only make 4 calls a month to South Africa and the cost me under €4 for approximately 3 hours of talktime... all I have to do is pick up my phone and dial 1890 943 123 and then my destination number. No 3rd party bills etc... all on my normal phone bill.

Aside from using Skype for computer to computer calls I don't think there's a better deal out there. And I HAVE done my research as I have spent the last two years calling my fiancee in South Africa every day.(she's here with me now so that's no longer necessary )

seanpd

I would agree. For price and convenience TeleStunt is the way to go.

TempestSabre

mikeruurds wrote:

My 0.02c worth... telestunt is the dogs if you're calling Oz, NZ, the USA, RSA or anywhere in Europe and you don't want to open accounts with anyone, buy prepaid cards etc.

I only make 4 calls a month to South Africa and the cost me under €4 for approximately 3 hours of talktime... all I have to do is pick up my phone and dial 1890 943 123 and then my destination number. No 3rd party bills etc... all on my normal phone bill.

Aside from using Skype for computer to computer calls I don't think there's a better deal out there. And I HAVE done my research as I have spent the last two years calling my fiancee in South Africa every day.(she's here with me now so that's no longer necessary )

Do you still have to add line rental to that though?

paulm17781

Is Telestunt better value than Blueface? So many destinations for free or next to nothing. Is Telestunt better value than them?

Blaster99

Telestunt is a local call to most landline destinations. That's probably more expensive than Blueface during peak time but probably cheaper during off-peak.

If you have a phone line, it's not worth spending money and hassle on VoIP equipment. The quality of Telestunt varies a bit but it's better than Blueface in my experience (may not always be Blueface's fault of course). Blueface is good to Irish numbers but so far my experience with international numbers has been mixed.

TempestSabre

The cost of blueface is less than the line rental on your phone. For which you get no call value. I would have thought spending money on VOIP is cheaper when you spread the cost over the year. Assuming you don't spend much on the VOIP gear of course.

Blaster99

I get 180 minutes of local and national calls bundled in my line rental. While the line rental is a con, you're at least paying for a piece of maintained wire. You're paying Blueface line rental for what exactly? A UDP port?

We're using Blueface in the office and I think the savings increase substantially with more users/numbers on the account. While the setup has been a complete pain for a variety of reasons, it's still handy to be able to run everything over IP instead of having to deal with separate phone lines.

paulm17781

Blaster99 wrote:

You're paying Blueface line rental for what exactly? A UDP port?

In fairness you're only paying Blueface a tiny amount. They have to make money too. The miniscule amount you give them is surely worth the savings over paying line rental.

Blaster99

The Blueface line rental is €5 which is probably a bit on the pricey side for a UDP port. But I have no issue with Blueface making money. I would guess charging €5 for a UDP port is unsustainable but we'll see.

TempestSabre

Blaster99 wrote:

I get 180 minutes of local and national calls bundled in my line rental. While the line rental is a con, you're at least paying for a piece of maintained wire. You're paying Blueface line rental for what exactly? A UDP port?

We're using Blueface in the office and I think the savings increase substantially with more users/numbers on the account. While the setup has been a complete pain for a variety of reasons, it's still handy to be able to run everything over IP instead of having to deal with separate phone lines.

What package give you 180 mins included in line rental? Is this UTViP? My UTViP doesn't include line rental. Also since my line fails the line test, and theres no means or facility to get it fixed. I'd take issue with the "maintained wire" comment.

The only place I can't no value in Blueface is if you don't use the internet and your line rental + call charges is less than your net connection costs + VOIP costs. I'd assumed the cheapest total cost of (cable/phone rental + internet + call costs + TV package) cost is what makes sense.

For me, since I can only get broadband on NTL its cheaper to ditch my UTViP+Eircom rental.

amby666

You're paying Blueface line rental for what exactly? A UDP port?

Blueface doesn't charge "line" rental. You subscribe to the calls package you want and away you go. Similar to the bundled Eircon offering but a lot cheaper. Blueface bundle phone no's with this.
Or don't subscribe and just use pay as you go. No calls, no charge. Don't think Eircon have a comparable...

To be fair, it's hard to beat Blueface on call costs, but that's not the whole picture. There is line rental and convenience. If you have a broadband product that allows you to replace the Eircon line (cable, wireless..), then the line rental comes out of the equation you just look at Blueface call costs against anyone else + line rental.

For people who have switched to Blueface, most will make calls through proper phones, so it's no real difference, except for cost.

If you're still stuck with Eircon and using a softphone on a PC to call, then telestunt etc wins on convenience.

TempestSabre

I thought I read on the boards that you can unbundle your phone cable so its only for data (broadband). Then you don't pay rental on the line. Perhaps there were some limitations to that though...

amby666

I thought I read on the boards that you can unbundle your phone cable so its only for data (broadband).

BT business broadband as far as I remember.

Blaster99

Eircom gives me 180 min per month as part of line rental or very close to it (might cost another euro or so, can't remember for sure). I never make international calls with anything other than Telestunt, so all they're getting from me is line rental + 1890 calls + mobile calls.

Blueface charges €5 for a phone number, whatever you may think. If you're doing pay-as-you-go, you get no phone number. There's at least another Irish VoIP provider that'll give you a phone number for free.

amby666

Horses for courses.

I get a phone number and 300 minutes (anytime) for 9.99 a month. Ireland, Uk or about 20 other destinations.
And free calls to any Voip number. That's it. No line rental.

It's not a 'mine's bigger than yours' contest. It's what suits you best.

TempestSabre

Blaster99 wrote:

Eircom gives me 180 min per month as part of line rental ....

Which eircon package is that?

Blaster99

I'm only stating the facts, as it happens. If you multiply 300 by Blueface's standard landline rate I think you'll see what I mean. And if you ask them for another number, they'll charge you €5. So you're paying €5 in line rental, or should I say UDP port rental. I suppose they're clever in their marketing or product definition as most people don't seem to realise this, but there you go.

The Eircom package is on their web site somewhere. I can't remember what it's called. They have the package that I'm on and then there's some crazy one where you pay another €20 a month for unlimited calls.

TempestSabre

Your not really comparing like with like. A standard rate against a special package. Why not pick a Blueface special rate, like 99 for 6 months? Perhaps your package suit your usage, my own experience is no matter what eircom do, it always ends up costing me more money in the end.

How much does another number cost from eircom?

amby666

If you multiply 300 by Blueface's standard landline rate I think you'll see what I mean

Aah, I understand now. Out of the 9.99 per month, €5 goes for "line rental".
So the other €4.99 most give me 300 minutes. Even better value than I thought!:D

So, let me do the sums.
I signed up and got an 01 number and an 076 number.
Then I got an 056 number in the UK for the friends to call at local rate.
Then I ported my old Eircon number to Blueface for free.
And it's still only 9.99 per month??

God, I'm going to have to move back to Eircom!:eek: Blueface will never make money like this..


.

Blaster99

TempestSabre wrote:

Your not really comparing like with like. A standard rate against a special package. Why not pick a Blueface special rate, like 99 for 6 months? Perhaps your package suit your usage, my own experience is no matter what eircom do, it always ends up costing me more money in the end.

How much does another number cost from eircom?

I am not comparing anything with anything. I have a phone line. I have to have a phone line. Why would I spend more money on VoIP equipment and Blueface when I would save nothing and get lower call quality? If I needed another number, then perhaps it would be worth doing. If I didn't have a phone line and got BB some other way, then it would be worth looking at VoIP.

I'd say you have Eircom to thank for that €5, as you have been conditioned to believe that €5 is cheap for a UDP port.

And when comparing like with like, I think you need to consider that the BB product you need to get VoIP isn't free either.

MrPudding

Blaster99 wrote:

And when comparing like with like, I think you need to consider that the BB product you need to get VoIP isn't free either.

So to compare. It is either:

line rental + broadband charge + calls

or

broadband charge + Blueface subscription.

I moved to blueface a few months ago. I have one of the more expensive packages which is slightly cheaper than what the line rental was. I no have no call charges and so am saving close to €100 per month.

Like was said, different packages for different people. Blueface suits me. Plus there is another benefit. How can you put a price on telling €ircon to stuff thier line rental up their arse?

MrP

TempestSabre

Blaster99 wrote:

I am not comparing anything with anything. I have a phone line. I have to have a phone line. Why would I spend more money on VoIP equipment and Blueface when I would save nothing and get lower call quality? If I needed another number, then perhaps it would be worth doing. If I didn't have a phone line and got BB some other way, then it would be worth looking at VoIP. I'd say you have Eircom to thank for that €5, as you have been conditioned to believe that €5 is cheap for a UDP port.

And when comparing like with like, I think you need to consider that the BB product you need to get VoIP isn't free either.

You don't need a phone line. (IE the copper) You just need to make calls. If you had a mobile phone that was lower cost than a land line you'd use that. Ditto BB. If you could use Wifi for that, you wouldn't need a line for that either. Ditto TV. IF you only watch Satellite then you wouldn't need a NTL cable.

The point about getting another number was compare eircom price for another number to bluefaces. I dunno why you are fixating on the UDP port. You should only look at the total cost of all the services combined. TV/BB/Phone. How the price is structured is irrelevent, line rental, UDP port, Cable, Set top box, Sat dish etc if the net combined cost is cheaper.

Like I said earlier my best and only solution for BB is NTL. So it makes sense to put as many services through that same line (think of it as infrastucture) as possible.

Obviously NTL BB isn't that common.