€199 & then Free calls for Life to Irish landlines

Raoul

http://www.blueface.ie/residential/free.calls.aspx

I have already posted asking about this offer in the VoIP thread.

It seems like a deal that is too good to be true

CreepingDeath

> If a call exceeds 60 minutes you may be charged at out of package rates.

And since it's an IP call, like Skype, I imagine you'd still have to pay your internet provider.

podge3

Wouldn't be for me.

What if the company go bust next week or next month? Your €199 is gone.

Plus no incentive for the company to provide good service if they already have your money.

m4rkiz

Raoul wrote: »

http://www.blueface.ie/residential/free.calls.aspx

I have already posted asking about this offer in the VoIP thread.

It seems like a deal that is too good to be true

well, you need some broadband without usage limits too, and that is 25-40 euro per month

from the other side, if you have broadband and computer already you can call from skype for just 2.2 cents per minute (for e199 you will get 150 hours which gives you almost half an hour daily for whole year)

it may not be 'for life' but from the other side - no need to prepay e200, no risk that they will be out of business, etc.

kenyard

my sister has this (setup by her husband obviously) didnt know there was the one off fee..

anyway they have the housephone, which forwards calls onto each of their mobiles also or something.. all i know is its running through blueface, so anyone who has their house phone number even, their mobiles ring, and each of them sees the incoming call and if its say my mother, the sister can pick up, his mother, he can pick up etc...
or just answer on the housephone either..
very nice considering you can turn it off or on anyway.. just if you are expecting a call but have to rush out to pick someone up etc...
hes very happy with them anyway.
i only know the basics of it. not any idea, i believe they are paying per call though, not the one off fee... he said something like skype.. 5c per minute to france etc..

daytob

m4rkiz wrote: »

well, you need some broadband without usage limits too, and that is 25-40 euro per month

from the other side, if you have broadband and computer already you can call from skype for just 2.2 cents per minute (for e199 you will get 150 hours which gives you almost half an hour daily for whole year)

it may not be 'for life' but from the other side - no need to prepay e200, no risk that they will be out of business, etc.

not so with skype
http://www.skype.com/intl/en/prices/pay-monthly/?intcmp=ch1-sub#UnlimitedEurope

daveyjoe

it worries me that it's a once-off payment and yet the operating costs to Blueface are recurring. I wonder how sustainable this pricing structure is?

This could be a last chance effort to keep the company afloat by a getting a one-time cash injection. Pure speculation by me of course. Caveat Emptor though.

maglite

kenyard wrote: »

which forwards calls onto each of their mobiles

But mobiles are not included in this offer, nice idea and i'm sure its cheap enough

Do-more

daveyjoe wrote: »

it worries me that it's a once-off payment and yet the operating costs to Blueface are recurring. I wonder how sustainable this pricing structure is?

This could be a last chance effort to keep the company afloat by a getting a one-time cash injection. Pure speculation by me of course. Caveat Emptor though.

This package has been available for quite a while, well over a year I think.

For the large majority of cases the company will still get on-going revenue from customers calling mobiles, abroad, premium rate numbers etc.

I don't have that package myself, I have a pre-paid account with them which I occasionally top up with a fiver or a tenner. The call quality is excellent, far better than any other VoIP provider I have used. There have been very occasional outages but nothing mad.

I'm using it with a Linksys PAP2 that I got on ebay for €20 and a regular Dect cordless phone. As I am living in Sweden it is great as you get a free non-geo (076) Irish phone number when you open the pre-pay account so friends and family can call us at local call rates for them.

califano

How are you feeling about it now Raoul?

drBill

This offer has been around for some time and comes up in various threads from time to time. I've been with Blueface for a few years and have always found them great in terms of service and value. It's clearly stated in the ad that you need to use your broadband connection so you can hardly complain that the offer doesn't include internet costs.
It's not a bad offer but not brilliant mainly because of the 60 minute limit and, more importantly, the 'for life' applies to the handset rather than its owner, which was a bit sneaky of Blueface! However if you already have broadband, and most of your calls are to landlines, you could reasonably expect the e199 to cover nearly all your landline traffic costs for a good five years or so.
And I'm not connected with Blueface in any way but I can say that you'll find it hard to find better customer service anywhere.

daveyjoe

drBill wrote: »

The 'for life' applies to the handset rather than its owner

Could you explain what this means exactly from a practical point of view?

unkel

daveyjoe wrote: »

Could you explain what this means exactly from a practical point of view?

If the handset breaks (outside of warranty), the free calls end.

This is not a good offer at all, see the big thread about it in the VOIP forum. And that's coming from me, a Blueface customer for the last 6 years.

What is a good offer is the phone deal that comes with the max pack from UPC. Free anytime unlimited phone calls to land lines world wide* :eek:

*Ireland, the UK, most other (old) EU countries, US, Australia, pretty much anywhere in the civilised world

Raoul

rounders123 wrote: »

How are you feeling about it now Raoul?

Not sure really. Like as I said "too good to be true".

I like the sound of the prepaid phone calls as in top up your account. But still it would be difficult to be able to do away with the landline

Run_to_da_hills

Lol Blue face.

You will be blue in the face trying to get your €199 back when things go wallop.

Automan

My parents have this for the last few months (they were previously on the Blueface PAYG) and are happy with it. They changed from a UPC phone to Blueface as my mam could ring her sister in the states for feck all and ring the rest of her friends and family in Ireland for free.
Also both my sister and myself also have blueface PAYG set up and can ring each other for free as blueface to blueface is free.
As far as im aware you get a 2 year warranty and if the phone breaks outside the warranty all you have to do is purchase a new phone from bluface for 69 euros and they will transfer the deal to the new phone.

From there forum:

What happens if my phone breaks? do I have to pay another €199?

No. We’re confident that the phone supplied in the offer is of excellent quality. We could have sourced an unbranded lower quality handset but it is very important to us to be able to supply our customers with a reliable well known brand for this offer such as Siemens.
In the future, if you experience problems with your handset you will be able to purchase a standalone handset from Blueface as a replacement. You will not have to purchase the €199 offer again.

http://forums.blueface.ie/showthread.php?t=1885

http://blog.blueface.ie/index.php/microwave-handset/

drunkmonkey

I've been with blueface for about 2 years, The service has went down once or twice but in general i'm happy the call quality is good but the cost savings are huge for my business. Compared to having the same functionality from Eircom i've saved at least €3000 in 2years.
I'd have no hesitation in taking up this offer, it really is good the only bad things is you still have to pay line rental and your broadband connection. It's a very simple way to keep your landline calls under control for very little.

Anyone using mobile broaband and wanting a landline number for home this is a very cheap way of getting one.

Hopefully blueface will be around for a long time.

Snake Plisken

Do-more wrote: »

This package has been available for quite a while, well over a year I think.

For the large majority of cases the company will still get on-going revenue from customers calling mobiles, abroad, premium rate numbers etc.

I don't have that package myself, I have a pre-paid account with them which I occasionally top up with a fiver or a tenner. The call quality is excellent, far better than any other VoIP provider I have used. There have been very occasional outages but nothing mad.

I'm using it with a Linksys PAP2 that I got on ebay for €20 and a regular Dect cordless phone. As I am living in Sweden it is great as you get a free non-geo (076) Irish phone number when you open the pre-pay account so friends and family can call us at local call rates for them.

Yeah I'm the same never had any issue with Blueface they seem a stable enough company, I bought a couple of cheap PAP2's as well of ebay set my Parent's in Tipp up with one and my wife's Mum in spain with the other so it's free calls to both of them just dial their blueface extension. Only thing you need to watch is if your downloading torrents etc they can take their toll on call quality

PaulPinnacle

Raoul wrote: »

But still it would be difficult to be able to do away with the landline

I'd be interested to hear why you think this?

As long as you have a stable (and good quality) broadband connection that isn't tied into your landline (so cable/fixed wireless/etc.), it's fairly seamless to drop the landline.

As DM pointed out, even if you require the landline for your broadband and still pay the line rental, you can make significant savings using VoIP service providers for the actual calls (and with the right setup, can have calls fallback to PSTN/landline if your VoIP service is down).

Your biggest concern is to ensure you have relatively low downtime from both your ISP and your VoIP service provider (e.g. you've more points of failure [ISP, VSP, ESB], rather than just one with your existing landline). Having said that, the downtime I experienced with my VoIP setup in the last year is significantly less than that experienced by a number of family members with Eircom. If it wasn't for me spotting the very infrequent downtime on forums etc., I'm not sure I would had actually noticed it (more to do with the timing of the drops, which might have impacted others far more significantly).

Obviously you also need to ensure that your broadband connection is up to sustaining high quality connections. While your service might provide attractive bandwidth, it's the ping/latency/jitter that normally causes the problems with VoIP (e.g. I wouldn't like to depend on it with mobile broadband, it's far too inconsistent to work).

Most/many of the providers offer free calls/trial accounts to test out the services. IIRC the blueface free account comes with €1 credit to play around with (or simply call free to other SIP users using a softphone [software on your PC] to test it out).

As for "too good to be true"?

I'm not sure it's actually all that attractive tbh. Relative to Eircom, it's an absolute bargain. Relative to many other VoIP providers, it's not going to be attractive to many users. It really depends on your call patterns.

If you make a large majority of calls to Irish landlines and very few mobile/international calls, it could be a great option. If I was in that situation, I'd try out the free/payg option for a while though before making such a large investment.

If you make a lot of international/mobile calls, there are many cheaper providers than Blueface. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Blueface customer (number ported to them, all incoming calls through Blueface, some outgoing calls through them) and delighted with their service/customer service/etc, always a pleasure to deal with, just that they have serious competition in the market (e.g. if calling a UK mobile, I'd use VoipGain as it's considerably cheaper).

Is it too good to be true? No.
Is it a bargain to be snapped up? Depending on your call pattern/needs/wants, maybe. For me, no. For others, possibly.
Do Blueface provide an excellent service and great customer service? Without question. If you are considering taking up the "Free for life" offer, I'd strongly suggest having a chat with them. I did on a number of occasions before becoming a customer, never getting a hard sell and always getting helpful advice.

Do-more

PaulPinnacle wrote: »

While your service might provide attractive bandwidth, it's the ping/latency/jitter that normally causes the problems with VoIP (e.g. I wouldn't like to depend on it with mobile broadband, it's far too inconsistent to work).

You can check the quality of your broadband connection on sites like Irish ISP test or Pingtest.net and they will give you a rating as to whether your broadband is suitable for VoIP, I'd recommend that you do multiple tests particularly at times when there is heavy internet usage such as evening times before you decide to ditch your landline.

One good point is that the phone supplied with this package allows the use of up to 6 different VoIP providers so that you can use Blueface for calls to Irish landlines but use say Voipgain for calls to Irish mobiles 5 cent p.m. or UK mobiles 3.5 cent p.m. I'm not sure how this set does it but it is normally something like dialling #1 or #2 etc. to select the alternative VoIP provider prior to dialling the call.

Anyone with a small business with significant telephone usage should look at setting up an Asterisk PBX system on a PC or a get a Trixbox to manage your telephone traffic so that it will automatically choose the lowest cost solution depending on what number is dialled.

Dummy

I have been using Blueface for a number of years now and my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner than I did. I haven't tried any of the other VOIP providers as I have never needed to - am very happy with Blueface. The advantages for me are:

1. No line rental.

2. I pay approx. €200 / year for all of my landline calls to Ireland, UK and North America.

3. I can manage my account online.

4. I have my voicemail setup (by bouncing off my Meteor email address) that if I receive a voicemail, I receive it by text (and email) to my mobile. They come in as WAV files.

5. They have a GoMobile service that allows me to make international calls from my mobile and I only pay the price of a local call (but I have local number setup as a buddy and can call it FOC).

6. I also have a the facility to make calls from my laptop using a program called X-Lite. This is handy if I am away from home (even abroad) and have an internet connection.

7. Call quality for me is excellent. I work off a 3MB up and 3MB down internet connection at home.

I do not use it for calling mobiles. If I want to call a mobile in Ireland, it is cheaper to use my mobile. I don't call mobiles abroad - I call landlines only.

As for support from Blueface support, I have used it once or twice and they know their stuff. Support is offered from their forum - post a question and it is answered within minutes.

Before anyone asks, no I do not work for Blueface or have any connection with them other than using their service. I like these guys and love the service. As I said, my only regret is that I didn't make the move sooner.


Rgds.

D.

Automan

Dummy wrote: »

4. I have my voicemail setup (by bouncing off my Meteor email address) that if I receive a voicemail, I receive it by text (and email) to my mobile. They come in as WAV files.

6. I also have a the facility to make calls from my laptop using a program called X-Lite. This is handy if I am away from home (even abroad) and have an internet connection.

You can also setup blueface on smartphones and some nokia phones, I have set blueface up on a Nokia N95 and my current HTC desire with no problems, the sound quality is very good (better on the N95) it works grand over 3G but better over wifi.
Again parents and anyone else on blueface can get me on my mobile for free. My gf also has a HTC and I have set sipdroid up on her phone and can ring from mobile to mobile free (good if your on a data package).

sipdroid setup:
http://forums.blueface.ie/showthread.php?t=1616

N95 setup:
http://www.blueface.ie/helpandadvice/configuration/n95.aspx

iphone and other mobiles:
http://forums.blueface.ie/forumdisplay.php?f=26

Dummy wrote: »

Before anyone asks, no I do not work for Blueface or have any connection with them other than using their service. I like these guys and love the service. As I said, my only regret is that I didn't make the move sooner.


Rgds.

D.

I would also agree with this, they are very knowledgeable and helpful, unfortunately most people think there must be some sort of catch with anything that is too good to be true, you cant blame people for being suspicious as too many companies and reps have lied to people in the past to sell them there services.

Automan

It took me agees to get my dad to switch over as he could not belive that there was no strings attached with regards to the overall package and could not get his head around how it works. Now he recons that he has saved a fortune as my mam loves to chat and is very happy with them.
One of the best things about them is that you can block numbers (ie 1550, mobiles, etc) in the settings on your account and you wont be charged, unlike UPC who charge you to block numbers.
You can also set up extensions with little fuse.

seamus

podge3 wrote: »

What if the company go bust next week or next month? Your €199 is gone.

Plus no incentive for the company to provide good service if they already have your money.

Just to ease any worries on this - blueface aren't a new or fly-by-night company, they're one of the largest (if not *the* largest) VoIP provider in Ireland, and they've been operating very successfully for a number of years now.

VoIP is the future of fixed-line telephony, and unless the owners in Blueface do something monumentally stupid, then they're not going anywhere.

In terms of "no incentive", the nature of their technology means that in general their service provision isn't on a one-to-one basis. That is, you don't have a physical line from them, you connect into their systems, so by and large if you're having difficulties, then everyone is having difficulties, so a subscriber won't be rated in terms of how much they pay.

You will also obviously have ongoing costs if you want to make calls to mobiles and other non-landline numbers, which is the whole reason they want to get you as a customer.

m4rkiz wrote: »

well, you need some broadband without usage limits too, and that is 25-40 euro per month

The data usage of VoIP is functionally negligible when compared to normal web browsing, you don't need a special broadband package to use VoIP. Though if you have a particularly slow connection (< 512Kbps) you may experience quality issues if the connection is in use while you're on a call.

For reference, if you're on eircom's lowest package with a download allowance of 10GB, you'd need to make 250 hours of calls (10.5 days) per month to use up your allowance.

Zab

6. Free calls for life and the Siemens Gigaset A580 IP phone. Please dont ask about connecting other devices, or substituting the phone with other devices. We’ve designed the plan to work with this handset so please adhere to the regulations of the offer.

7. In the future, devices may change and IP technology may need to adapt. There may be a case that you have to upgrade to a new device (but not in the near future!). It happened to the cassette, to VHS, to dial-up to broadband. It may happen to IP, but rest assured we’ll have a device available at a reasonable price for you to upgrade to with us.

They're a little unclear as to whether you'll just have to pay for the new phone when they mothball the A580 service, or if your free calls will, in practice, expire due to it only being available on the A580 as stated in term 6.

Automan

Zab wrote: »

They're a little unclear as to whether you'll just have to pay for the new phone when they mothball the A580 service, or if your free calls will, in practice, expire due to it only being available on the A580 as stated in term 6.

Best thing to do would be to give them a ring tomorrow and ask.

pat1981

I telephoned the girl at sales blueface on Tuesday, and asked if they brought out a new phone would I need to upgrade (€199 free calls for life offer). She said no, I could still use my existing phone, kinda goes against the terms and conditions that you displayed.

keithclancy

Blueface has been around years very reliable.

I use JustVoip though, standard SIP just like Justvoip, plus they'll give you a landline number and its 1 euro to do you for 180 days of Unlimited landline calls

www.justvoip.com

Also you can get a linksys pap adapter to use your existing cordless phone, cost around 20 euros these days.

http://www.justvoip.com/en/sipp.html

whowantstwoknow

keithclancy wrote: »

Blueface has been around years very reliable.

I use JustVoip though, standard SIP just like Justvoip, plus they'll give you a landline number and its 1 euro to do you for 180 days of Unlimited landline calls

www.justvoip.com

Also you can get a linksys pap adapter to use your existing cordless phone, cost around 20 euros these days.

http://www.justvoip.com/en/sipp.html

Had a look at that website but is it just like blueface, ie the better half just picks up a phone and dials? unless I'm mistaken you need to start the call via the app/pc?

W.

try

PaulPinnacle wrote: »

I'd be interested to hear why you think this?



If you make a lot of international/mobile calls, there are many cheaper providers than Blueface. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Blueface customer (number ported to them, all incoming calls through Blueface, some outgoing calls through them) and delighted with their service/customer service/etc, always a pleasure to deal with, just that they have serious competition in the market (e.g. if calling a UK mobile, I'd use VoipGain as it's considerably cheaper).

.

I'd like to get your comments on voipgain. Topping up is subject to 15% VAT plus an admin fee. I made a 22 sec test call to mobile and 8 c was deducted ~ 22 c/min + VAT. So I'd love to know where they get the 5 c / min thing?

PaulPinnacle

try wrote: »

I made a 22 sec test call to mobile and 8 c was deducted ~ 22 c/min + VAT. So I'd love to know where they get the 5 c / min thing?

There's a connection fee for all 'non free' calls (as with many betamax providers) which skews the 'rate' for very short calls like that.

22 seconds = 4c setup + 4c for 1 minute = 8 cent
22 minutes = 4c setup + 88c for 22 minutes = 92 cent
(*figures rounded slightly - but you get the idea)

If you check out the bottom of the rate page, along with a general FUP they do mention it...

All Non-Free VoipGain calls are subject to a 0.039 EURO connection fee.