More VOIP Service Provider Capability
kb2dhk:
More, at least 4, VOIP Service Provider (VOIPSP) capability.
Many VOIP users have to communicate with people/companies that have different VOIPSP services, or, like myself they use different VOIPSP's depending on the price to where they call.
We use Skype with some corespondents that are English speaking.
We use Yahoo! Messenger (Y!M) for my wife's corespondents who use the many language interfaces Y!M has.
We have started a Google Voice account for Obi Hai compatibility. It also gives us a dedicated Fax number instead of having people call so we can connect the Fax machine to the phone line.
We have a LocalPhone account because the prices to Viet Nam are much better and the quality is excellent also.
I'm considering a VOIPWise account because the prices for PSTN are only a bit over USD21 per year per corespondent, and my wife has go a large family she likes to call every week. It's only a bit over USD53 per year to the family members who live where there are no phone lines yet and must use cellular phones. Thank goodness for automobile cellular repeaters and home made yagi antennas. Since mains electricity hasn't reached them either, they use solar panel charged batteries. 12vdc automobile cellular repeaters fit right in.
Having the Obi110+, or a more capable version, being able to handle at least four VOIPSP would eliminate the need to keep a computer running 24/7.
Stewart:
Quote from: kb2dhk on February 24, 2012, 09:21:27 pm
I'm considering a VOIPWise account because the prices for PSTN are only a bit over USD21 per year per corespondent, and my wife has go a large family she likes to call every week. It's only a bit over USD53 per year to the family members who live where there are no phone lines yet and must use cellular phones.
Does VoipWise offer "plans" with "unlimited" calling to one destination for the prices you mentioned? That would be an excellent value for many users here, but I couldn't find any info on their site. Could you please post a link?
Though I, too, would very much like to see more SPx slots and interoperation with other non-SIP providers, you may be able to find a decent (albeit more costly) solution with presently available products. Assuming that your OBi is set up for GV and Localphone, there is no problem adding VoipWise (or additional Betamax providers) to VGx slots. You might buy a used SPA3102 to provide Yahoo compatibility (though I don't know whether you can use SIP gateways when Line 1 is configured for Yahoo). You could connect it to the Line port of the OBi110 or, with two-line phones, you'd have some concurrent call capability. For Skype, you could use a Skype ATA, connected to the Line port of your OBi or SPA, or to a separate line on your phone system. Or, you might run siptosis on an old netbook or nettop. Such computers require only about 10 watts and should cost no more than $1/mo. to leave running 24/7.
kb2dhk:
Thanks Stewart. My telephone knowledge and experience is rudimentary. My Obi Hai knowledge and experience is almost non existent.
I don't understand, with Google Voice as SP1, how a second SIP provider (VOIPWise) can be added without removing the first provider SP2 (LocalPhone).
I've been doing research on the Cisco/Linksys SPA2102 and 3102 ATA/Routers but have not found the instructions for Yahoo! Messenger or Skype. Would Skype and Y!M be connected to a standard 12 DTMF tone phone? Can the SPA3102 handle Skype and Y!M protocols together?
I know there are Skype no-computer-needed adapters. I've considered them as a last resort. I understand that the Obi110 can handle Skype, but have not found the installation instructions yet.
I'm looking for the simplest (least complicated?) way to provide 24/7 incoming service from Viet Nam and a couple of other countries. Because the Obi110 only handles two VOIP providers, and presently can't handle Yahoo! Messenger, it looks like I'm going to have to have 3 systems, ObiHai, Skype and SPA2102/3102-Yahoo! Messenger and reinstall SP2a or SP2b as necessary. If the SPA310-2 can handle Skype and Y!M protocols one at a time, that would simplify the hardware costs.
Most of our non United States callers have dial up access. One, maybe two who have DSL access. Keeping Skype or Yahoo! Messenger is necessary to provide most of the non United states callers with incoming service to us in the US. Yahoo! Messenger is the preferred provider because of the many foreign language interfaces.
Our USA originated calls go via VOIP to PSTN. Right now, we use LocalPhone with a local access number which is inexpensive enough for us and provides us the time flexibility we want. Skype and Y!M soft phones with the adapters will provide our non USA callers with the time flexibility they would like. Three days worth of EMails to schedule a phone call can be a pain.
Thanks for your help. My Obi Hai, Skype and Y!M knowledge has increased by at least 50%.
Here are the links you asked about:
VOIPWise: WWW.VOIPWise.com (Offers unlimited free calls to many countries, see home page)
LocalPhone: WWW.localphone.com
Bob
KB2DHK
(I'm good in the call book.)
Stewart:
Can your Vietnam contacts make free or inexpensive calls to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh landlines? If so, you could set up Rebtel so your contact would dial a local number that would ring your OBi via a Localphone iNum. The setup is somewhat complex, but you can test using an iNum gateway (Ho Chi Mihn only). Get a free iNum from Localphone. Test it by dialing a US iNum gateway from your cell phone, e.g. 1-646-843-6969. At the prompt, enter the last 9 digits of the Localphone iNum and press #. Your Obi should ring. Once that's working, call your contact and have them call +84873054367. They then enter your iNum in the same way. After that's working, set up a Rebtel account and they won't need to do two-stage dialing.
The OBi has 8 "voice gateways" that can be used for additional providers. They work for outgoing calls only, but I assume that's all you need with VoipWise. See the OBi admin guide, starting on page 82.
Though I'm familiar with the "free days" offered by Betamax companies, I was intrigued by your mention of "the prices for PSTN are only a bit over USD21 per year per corespondent". What do you mean by per correspondent? I was guessing that they have some sort of unlimited plan, restricted to one number. Can you please explain?
QBZappy:
kb2dhk,
For the money you plan on spending on hardware have a look at this product. Grandstream GXV3140 with 3 sip accounts, builtin Skype, Google talk, Yahoo, MSN, Google voice. (plus many other features). This plus OBi's ability to bridge calls should cover all your bases.
Currently $169.50 (Price increased a little since I purchased, still best deal I could find. I think you can negotiate a little if you place the order by phone.
http://www.voipbaez.com/grandstream-gxv3140-ip-video-phone
I just receive 2 of these units a few weeks ago. I can vouch that the sip accounts and Skype work as expected. I have not tested the other methods of communication. This is basically a netbook in the form factor of a telephone. Did I mention the video is top rate. Puts my Nortel 1535 video phones to shame. (They are on the market, if anyone cares for 3 units)
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