Using OBi and GV Outside the USA
James:
Noob here.
Sending a new OBi100 to family in DUBAI (UAE). All we need is to call each other using our OBi numbers (OBi to OBi call). What steps do I need to take here in the States before I send the device to Dubai? Thanks for your help.
QBZappy:
James,
Quote from: James on July 11, 2012, 07:17:23 am
Noob here.
Sending a new OBi100 to family in DUBAI (UAE). All we need is to call each other using our OBi numbers (OBi to OBi call). What steps do I need to take here in the States before I send the device to Dubai? Thanks for your help.
I would not send an OBi overseas without setting it up with a second (backup) voip service. Consider setting up a free sip2sip acct as well. https://mdns.sipthor.net/register_sip_account.phtml
Before sending it you should test it at a friend's house to simulate calling over the internet. By the way, are there any internet restrictions in DUBAI (UAE) which might impede a voip call?
James:
Quote from: QBZappy on July 11, 2012, 07:47:49 am
James,
I would not send an OBi overseas without setting it up with a second (backup) voip service. Consider setting up a free sip2sip acct as well. https://mdns.sipthor.net/register_sip_account.phtml
Before sending it you should test it at a friend's house to simulate calling over the internet. By the way, are there any internet restrictions in DUBAI (UAE) which might impede a voip call?
I may not be able to explain this properly, but services like Skype are blocked in UAE from what I understand. I currently use Localphone to call and it eats up my money real fast.
As I explained, I am super Noob when it comes to VoIP - but since I have a OBi100 (connected to Google Voice) my thought I could send a OBi100 to my family in UAE and just use their OBi to OBi free call feature. Will this work?
I am sorry I know you are trying to help, but I have no clue about the a "second (backup) voip service" and a "sip2sip acct" - why do I need these?
Thanks again.
QBZappy:
James,
Quote from: James on July 11, 2012, 12:30:08 pm
but services like Skype are blocked in UAE from what I understand.
but since I have a OBi100 (connected to Google Voice) my thought I could send a OBi100 to my family in UAE and just use their OBi to OBi free call feature. Will this work?
but I have no clue about the a "second (backup) voip service" and a "sip2sip acct" - why do I need these?
I was pretty certain that UAE was blocking communication via the internet in some fashion.
I believe I remember someone else asking questions on how to setup an OBi in the UAE. You may have to search the forum here and/or ask the question over at another popular international (mostly N. America) voip forum. I know there are OBi users who might be able to confirm if people have set it up in that region.
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/voip
You may also ask the OBi support people directly by sending them an email. They know where every OBi is physically located on the planet.
As for "second (backup) voip service", you have now mentioned that you have setup Google Voice. That already is a backup voip channel just in case the OBiTALK service is down or blocked. Since the OBi has 2 Service Provider accts you should set them up and use them while the unit is in your hands. Once it is away it may be more difficult to trouble shoot. Although there are ways to configure the OBi remotely.
Just a side note. You may want to setup the units to use the G729 Codec in advance. It is the most efficient voice codec in terms of bandwidth that the OBi supports. I have sent one OBi overseas myself. This setting fixed my voice quality problem.
Stewart:
Quote from: James on July 11, 2012, 07:17:23 am
What steps do I need to take here in the States before I send the device to Dubai?
Before sending any hardware, confirm that the desired protocol(s) will work there, by testing with a softphone (or a smartphone app connected to their LAN by Wi-Fi).
For OBiTalk, they can use OBiAPP + X-Lite on a PC, or OBiON for iPhone or Android.
For Google Voice, they can use Gmail.
For a SIP provider, I recommend Callcentric; try the softphone they supply.
I suggest you setting up the accounts they will be using and testing the softphone or smartphone app at a US friend's, to confirm that the setup is correct. Of course, those apps should be shut down at your friend's before trying to run them in UAE.
If, after getting all of the above working in US, none of them work in UAE, you might try a VPN connection, either one that you set up or one offered by a provider, e.g. CallWithUs or PBXes.
Please note that the above advice is purely from the technical standpoint of establishing communication. Some or all of it may be illegal in UAE, so check before possibly getting someone in trouble.
If all else fails, you could likely save ~15% over Localphone, by using Voxbeam, LP's wholesale brand. Rates to UAE are about 7% lower, and their 1-second billing should save you another 5 to 10%. You get $1 credit at signup, so you can test without making a payment.
http://www.voxbeam.com/rates/asia/united_arab_emirates
Even less expensive, though IMO lower quality and more hassle, is Betamax, with rates as low as 0.096/0.11 (landline/mobile). http://backsla.sh/betamax .
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