Quote from: Stewart on May 27, 2012, 04:34:20 AM
I use a free PBXes account to route calls from IP phones and other SIP clients to the OBi. With proper setup, you can dial directly from your contact list, e.g. from CSipSimple. The OBi is set up as a sub-PBX on PBXes. A free PBXes account is limited to 2000 min/mo. and 60 min./call. If you will be exceeding those limits, you'll need a paid account or another solution.
It's also possible for a SIP client to dial through the OBi directly, though setup is tricky if the devices are not on the same LAN.
There may be an alternate good solution, using a commercial SIP provider. What country are you in? What do your local or national calls presently cost from your landline? Approximate minutes usage?
Hi I really really appreciate your input, first of all, 99% of the calls come from a LAN, and I do have a VPN on my router ( VPN server, using open WRT ) so my phone can ALWAYS be part of my LAN, so even if it's hard it rocks that I can get a sip client to dial through obi directly.
Now regarding a free PBX account, I think that's a viable option since most calls are 5-10min, and I estimate that 300 calls on average would fit, because most of the times costumers call, I do have to call back specially when everyone is busy, but I could use 2-3 free accounts and switch them when one is about to die
, of course, I plan to expand so this is an option that will be strongly considered to start, but as stated before the phones can always be on the LAN, so direct to obi will be the best option.
My country and costs... in USD
Country Costa Rica:
Landlines to Landlines < 0.001$
Landline to Cellphone = 0.04$ ( aproximately )
Cellphone to Landline = 0.05$ ( aproximately )
Cellphone to Cellphone = 0.05$ ( aproximately )
so the least expensive option is Landline to Landline, so when possible I do call to landline, however Landline to Cellphone is less expensive, around 1-2 us$ cents per call, and I use around 1500 minutes a month now, however that is rising quickly, so that's why I'm looking for this option, if it would be possible to save even 1cent per call it's worth it, and the unit will pay for itself rather fast.
Now of course I call a lot to my family, as well so maybe I will install another obi where my parents live so I could call them for free, and lower the bills even more, ( 45 per obi bucks if I can save 10$ a month 5 months the investment will get paied )
Anyhow all of this seem like viable solutions to a problem I need to fix !
I really appreciate your help, and I think I will order the obis today ! I think I saw a cupon somewhere so I'll look for that !
chuby.