Freespeech 076 (VoIP) number termination from Sep 30th 2008

heathercat

Sad news:

"From the 30th of September 2008 freespeech will no longer be routing calls from the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) to VoIP phones using the 076 (VoIP) number range.

IMPORTANT Announcement - 076 (VoIP) number termination will no longer be supported from Sep 30th 2008

This means it will no longer be possible to call the 076 number you have on your VoIP phone from regular land lines or mobile phones.
This announcement is applicable to all freespeech users..

We have anticipated some of the questions customers may have about this change. Here is a list of questions and answers.

Q. How does this affect me ?
A. People will no longer be able to call your 076 VoIP number from a regular land line or mobile phone.
(Note: if you have a local number this is not affected)

Q. I still want to be able to receive calls from regular phones, what can I do ?
A. You can subscribe to a local geographic number. This is included in all 'unlimited' options or as an extra for the 'Pay As You Use' option.

Q. Why are you doing this ?
A. There are a number of reasons
- Demand and usage of the 076 range is very low, most user wanting to receive calls want a geographic number.
- Awareness of the 076 number range is poor.
- Even though the 076 range has been in place for some time there are still problems calling to 076 numbers from some locations.
- Geographic numbers have more flexibility for consumers as they can be moved (ported) from VoIP to traditional landlines (and visa-versa).
- The cost of keeping the 076 number range active is not justified. We are 'locked' to a vendor for the 076 numbers who will not provide competitive pricing, ultimately this cost needs to be paid by the customer (or canceled).

Q. Do I need to change my phones configuration ?
A. No, no changes are required. Your existing 076 number will still be your SIP username.

Q. Can I still call another freespeech user using their 076 number ?
A. Yes. You will also be able to dial using a 7 digit extension code created by dropping the 076 part.

Q. Will I still be able to dial all 076 numbers for free ?
A. All calls between freespeech 076 numbers will continue to be free. All VoIP to VoIP calls with other operators will remain free, HOWEVER all 076 numbers will be routed via the PSTN and CHARGED unless other VoIP providers specifically request us to peer with them, there is little co-ordination for routing of 076 numbers between VoIP operators in Ireland (as VoIP calls).
To ensure you get free calls when dialing other VoIP networks we recommend you dial using the SIP uri (like an email for VoIP numbers), for phones that do not have an alphanumeric keyboard the freespeech phonebook supports speed dialing with SIP uri's.

Q. Why are you still providing 076 numbers on your website ?
A. The provisioning of 076 numbers will shortly be stopped. We will be using 7 digit freespeech extensions instead.


Thank you for your understanding, apologies for any confusion or inconvenience this may cause."

Cabaal

Many of there reasons for stopping it are valid in my view, awful shame that more people/places are not aware of 076 numbers and that issues calling them haven't been ironed out

heathercat

Yes, sad.

Any idea where one can get a free VoiP number for Ireland? Or if not free, at least inexpensive?

amby666

heathercat wrote: »

Any idea where one can get a free VoiP number for Ireland? Or if not free, at least inexpensive?

Blueface Pay as You Go will give an 076 number. Just need a €5 to open the account.
http://www.blueface.ie/products/payasyougo.aspx

flodis79

Or €10 per month for a geographic number with Blueface.

harveykane

I'm currently in New Zealand and moving to Ireland in a few months time.

We will probably settle in Dublin, but not 100% sure. I liked the idea of an 076 number because I can (in theory) buy a number now, get my business cards etc printed, give out the number to potential employers before I leave New Zealand, and not have to worry about where we end up living in Ireland.

But reading the above has me worried. Should I be avoiding 076 altogether, and getting a Dublin local number instead?
Or should I go ahead and grab an 076 anyway from a different provider?

In other words, is this an isolated issue, or are other 076 providers likely to follow suit? Obviously no point getting an 076 if there's a chance I will be forced to change my phone number.

Any help appreciated. Thanks,

Harvey.

(also, not looking for free, looking for fairly priced and reliable)

guigui

hi harveykane,

076 numbers can still be purchased from Blueface, but keep in mind that you cannot call an 076 number from abroad, that's for Ireland only. If you'll need to receive calls from abroad, it's maybe better to get direclty a geo number.

Maybe take a look at this : http://www.blueface.ie/products/freedombasic.aspx

cheers
G.

svuhmed

and if the 076 number to allow others to call you was important to you and you have to move to another provider freespeech won't refund you the balance of your account.

Yes, they do say in their contract "no refunds" - but they don't say they are going to completely change the service they provide for something completely different - and if you don't like it screw you - we are keeping your money.

Be careful signing up with this crowd of cowboys - once they have you in they may just decide to change reduce the service they provide yet again - and tough titty - "no refunds"

heathercat wrote: »

Sad news:

"From the 30th of September 2008 freespeech will no longer be routing calls from the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) to VoIP phones using the 076 (VoIP) number range.

IMPORTANT Announcement - 076 (VoIP) number termination will no longer be supported from Sep 30th 2008

This means it will no longer be possible to call the 076 number you have on your VoIP phone from regular land lines or mobile phones.
This announcement is applicable to all freespeech users..

We have anticipated some of the questions customers may have about this change. Here is a list of questions and answers.

Q. How does this affect me ?
A. People will no longer be able to call your 076 VoIP number from a regular land line or mobile phone.
(Note: if you have a local number this is not affected)

Q. I still want to be able to receive calls from regular phones, what can I do ?
A. You can subscribe to a local geographic number. This is included in all 'unlimited' options or as an extra for the 'Pay As You Use' option.

Q. Why are you doing this ?
A. There are a number of reasons
- Demand and usage of the 076 range is very low, most user wanting to receive calls want a geographic number.
- Awareness of the 076 number range is poor.
- Even though the 076 range has been in place for some time there are still problems calling to 076 numbers from some locations.
- Geographic numbers have more flexibility for consumers as they can be moved (ported) from VoIP to traditional landlines (and visa-versa).
- The cost of keeping the 076 number range active is not justified. We are 'locked' to a vendor for the 076 numbers who will not provide competitive pricing, ultimately this cost needs to be paid by the customer (or canceled).

Q. Do I need to change my phones configuration ?
A. No, no changes are required. Your existing 076 number will still be your SIP username.

Q. Can I still call another freespeech user using their 076 number ?
A. Yes. You will also be able to dial using a 7 digit extension code created by dropping the 076 part.

Q. Will I still be able to dial all 076 numbers for free ?
A. All calls between freespeech 076 numbers will continue to be free. All VoIP to VoIP calls with other operators will remain free, HOWEVER all 076 numbers will be routed via the PSTN and CHARGED unless other VoIP providers specifically request us to peer with them, there is little co-ordination for routing of 076 numbers between VoIP operators in Ireland (as VoIP calls).
To ensure you get free calls when dialing other VoIP networks we recommend you dial using the SIP uri (like an email for VoIP numbers), for phones that do not have an alphanumeric keyboard the freespeech phonebook supports speed dialing with SIP uri's.

Q. Why are you still providing 076 numbers on your website ?
A. The provisioning of 076 numbers will shortly be stopped. We will be using 7 digit freespeech extensions instead.


Thank you for your understanding, apologies for any confusion or inconvenience this may cause."

paddybudg

Perhaps im missing something but im with Blueface on the pay-as-you go service. I only have an 076 number and apart from payphones in spain ive had no issues in receiving calls from abroad. (+35376 ....) Do admit i havent tried many but from US, Aus and Uk no issues back to my 076 number. Only from a spanish coin payphone did it have an issue. Even calling from a foreign mobile (local Belgian handset with mobistar) all worked fine. Have been with Blueface for some time now and for me, service and support rock and im only a pay as you go customer!:)

Should also say that on a roaming irish vodafone and local cell phone also, I had no issues calling back to 076 from Spain on the local coin payphone!

Cheeble

I signed up for freespeech.ie yesterday, 6th December 2008, having read the following, prominent statement (third in the list of Frequently Asked Questions) on their support site:

"When can I use my 076 number ?

SolutionYou should be able to dial your new number from landline or mobile straight away. If you get an announcement saying the phone number does not exist then contact your landline/mobile provider (As this is a new number range some areas/providers may not have opened access)
"

I also signed up, and made a payment, for a PAYG account and geographical number.

Well, guess what? I tried dialling my new number straight away and it didn't work, so I went looking for help and that's when I found this thread, and subsequently the news release on the Freespeech.ie site saying that 076 numbers are no longer supported.

Ok, maybe it's partly my fault for not researching thoroughly enough, after all, the freespeech website does point this out elsewhere but having found that it would work "straight away" I stopped looking into it.

If it's no longer supported, why do they continue to say that I can dial it straight away?

Cheeble,
Older and wiser every day?

SimpleSam06

svuhmed wrote: »

Be careful signing up with this crowd of cowboys - once they have you in they may just decide to change reduce the service they provide yet again - and tough titty - "no refunds"

In fairness though, blueface did the exact same thing to my 1850 number with no warning, started levying a charge for the hell of it. I think communications regulations need to be a lot tighter in this country.