GV missed calls - when answered by home machine?
RonR:
Every toll-free number I call through Google Voice that I would expect to answer at this hour (for example, 800-555-1212 and 800-347-2683) answers.
The number you PM'd me rings endlessly using Google Voice, IdeaSIP, Ribbit, Alcazar Networks, and SIP Broker. I can't see how this can be an OBi problem.
Stewart:
Set up a Callcentric account on SP2. For these purposes, a free account will be fine.
My own OBi is far away and I don't want to risk losing control of it by testing some digit map changes, so I'll leave those up to RonR. However, I'm fairly confident of speed dial setups, so I'll post those without testing them.
If you set e.g. Speed Dial 2 to SP2(**275*18005551212), then dialing 2# should place the call via Callcentric's "free" route.
Set Speed Dial 3 to SP2(18005551212@sip.tollfreegateway.com), then dialing 3# should place the call via Tollfreegateway.
You can compare these for setup time and voice quality. There are also several other free toll-free termination providers.
Once you are satisfied, you can modify the digit map to route 800/888/877/866/855 automatically.
Early Media refers to audio played before a call is "answered". Common examples are announcements that a number is not in service or has been changed, that a cellular customer is out of range, etc. The idea behind "not answering" is that the caller is not charged minutes for hearing the message.
In the case of toll-free (where it's the callee that's paying), big users have a lot of clout with the carriers and can negotiate contracts, where they don't have to pay minutes until the call is transferred to a human. In the old (pre-1990) days, the only way to delay the start of billing was to not "answer" the call. Although there have been better solutions for 22 years, some of these clowns are still doing that. Bell-shaped heads often move very slowly. Combined with the turkeys at Google who don't seem to realize that Early Media is important, the result is systems that don't work properly! Sorry for the rant.
offroad:
Quote from: RonR on January 14, 2012, 09:34:21 pm
Every toll-free number I call through Google Voice that I would expect to answer at this hour (for example, 800-555-1212 and 800-347-2683) answers.
The number you PM'd me rings endlessly using Google Voice, IdeaSIP, Ribbit, Alcazar Networks, and SIP Broker. I can't see how this can be an OBi problem.
Yes, the numbers you list dial fine for me as well.
The one I sent you via PM is one of several I have to dial every day for work. I just need a solution that lets my wife dial 800 numbers like normal, and one that also lets me dial these apparently "Early Media" numbers as well without being charged for the connection as sometimes I'm on them quite a bit.
I'll try setting up a Call Centric account like Stewart suggests, but may need some help as I'm a complete VoIP and OBi newbie. So far I'm loving the price of the unit and the call quality, just need to get things like this ironed out before I drop my POTS.
Regarding Call Centric, I see an option to sign up for Free then a Pay Per Call.
I want to fix this 800 number issue and also have 911, I don't mind paying the $1.50 per month or so for 911 but don't want to pay per minute dialing 800 numbers. Which should I sign up for?
Thanks for the help both of you are providing, it's very much appreciated.
Stewart:
You need a paid account to order 911 service, to make outbound calls to PSTN numbers (including toll-free numbers if dialed directly, which cost $0.008/min.), or to order DIDs (other than iNum) from Callcentric. If you have a paid account, 911 service is required, unless you state that you will be using Callcentric from outside the US or Canada.
There is quite a bit that you can do with a free account. You can call 1777 numbers, SIPBroker numbers including US toll-free, iNums, and SIP URIs. You can receive calls via SIP URI, iNum, and SIPBroker. You can have voicemail and receive faxes. The ability to receive via SIP URI allows you to use free (IPKall, UKDDI, etc.) or paid DIDs from other providers; having an iNum lets you get free calls via iNum gateways, indirectly via Localphone and Rebtel access numbers, or from any provider offering iNum calling.
offroad:
Am I understanding correctly?
With a free account I would need to dial **2 (SP2/CallCentric) then dial a SIPBroker number, wait for its message, dial my 800 number (the one I'm having problems with) and wait to be connected.
I could also set a Speed Dial for the SIPBroker number, but would still have the same delay being connected I got when I tried your temporary workaround?
With a paid account, I'll have 911 service.
I could dial **2 (SP2/CallCentric) and just dial the 800 number with no delay's but I'll pay $0.0088 per minute. For all normal 800 numbers since SP1/GV is primary I would just dial the number directly.
I could also dial a SIPBroker number first to avoid paying anything for the call.
Sounds like this would allow my wife to dial just like a POTS unless she runs into a number like my work 800 numbers and could dial **2 and the number if she did.
I'm currently testing the OBi110 with a GV number and would also do so for CallCentric. If I later port my POTS number to GV do I just update my profile with CallCentric so the new number works correctly with 911?
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