Hi all, just got a new Obi200 and now researching what the options are for a Canadian.
Assuming:
- I currently have a Bell number to port in
- I want to be able to make and receive calls using that number ported in
- I want to take advantage of additional features/functionality provided by VOIP that Bell and others can't offer
Here is what I think I know, having investigated Freephoneline and
voip.ms, and having configured GoogleVoice already:
- GV lets me call out for free to north american numbers
- GV cannot be used to port my canadian number or to get a US number because I live in Canada and don't have a US- address / phone for confirmation
- FPL would cost $90 + $25 for an unlock key and to port my number - then free after that for numbers in their cities list
-
voip.ms would be ~$5-10/month plus $0.005/min for outgoing calls - incoming calls are free
- it appears that
voip.ms might have more features in their platform than FPL does
- FPL charges $35 per E911 call, but it appears no cost otherwise unless you need to use it
-
voip.ms charges $1.50/mo for E911
-
voip.ms provides support, FPL support is via user forums
Questions:
- if I go with FPL, and I dial a non-free number, do they let you know with a recording or something? could I then just use a ** code on the Obi to switch to calling out with GV to make the call for free?
- is there as much a difference as there seems to be on available features between FPL and
voip.ms?
- is there a way to define the CallerID that people see when I call them with GV? I think now it says "Private Caller"
- if I go with
voip.ms, can I use it for free incoming calls on my ported number and use GV for free outgoing calls? (without having to ** code numbers before dialing?)
- while there are different services available that provide a soft phone to make/receive calls from, the only way to receive calls to a ported number is to pay some voip provider service and port the number to them, correct?
Thanks in advance, just want to make sure I understand the landscape before I choose options and pay for services.