VOIP Softphones

[maxine]

Just wondering what everyone uses and gets on best with?

I like the x-lite but on the lookout for alternatives. Preferrably something that does not take up too much memory (small netbooks cannot cope!)

Can I just download anything from any website and then configure with voip details?

Am a bit confused as to if I have to use the softphones provided by my supplier or not.

thank you :)

[Dominic Taylor]

I used to use X-lite, very handy little software. Ran on an old PC and possibly a netbook no problems.

[cjd]

Zoiper is probably the best of the free bunch at the moment

http://www.voipfoneuserforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3040

[maxine]

Thanks :)
I tried zoiper but couldn't really get on with it... why do you say its the best of the free bunch? I don't mind paying for something else as not necessarily after a free one :)

[cjd]

Softphones come and go - especially the free ones. Have you tried the SJPhone?

Here's a review of 39 of them :-)

http://www.venturevoip.com/news.php?rssid=2188

There's not much difference between the paid for and free softphones except features that few people use.

We regard the softphone as a toys really, if you use VoIP a lot, you need to get a harware phone. (Having said that, we have many call centres using nothing but softphones; so long as you use a headset and don't expect too much from them they're ok.

[matt.chatterley]

Zoiper is probably the best of the free bunch at the moment

http://www.voipfoneuserforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3040


We use Zoiper at present. Had a couple of glitches (install, reboot, crash, reboot) but since then it's been fine!

You'll almost certainly want to edit the settings to improve sound quality but thats about it. :)

[Brightpearl]

Hey Maxine
We use Zoiper Communicator (the paid one) which works well for seeing who else is online in the office, transferring calls, and best of all you can pop up a URL when someone rings in, so that you can connect it to your web based CRM system, if you have one. It's well priced, and although it can be a bit fiddly to get the settings right, it gives you good access to a load of advanced options.
Chris

[maxine]

Thanks Colin, Matt, Chris

I am trying to move away from using the hard phones that we have which have been OK up to now. And I need a softfone that can work with mac too... (just to be picky!) lol

Not sure why the softphones would be seen as "toys" really when they should in theory be a lot more practical and link to things such as address books and crm systems etc and work better with remote workers. They would all be used with headsets for comfort but I am loathe to spend too much on headsets as they get broken easily... same with phones really but you cant drop a softphone :)

I shall have to have a proper investigate and trial :)

[cjd]

Not sure why the softphones would be seen as "toys" really when they should in theory be a lot more practical and link to things such as address books and crm systems etc and work better with remote workers.

In theory is the correct phrase; in practice the phone has to compete for resources with everything else the PC is trying to do (run CRM, look up addresses, link to other things etc). And often it comes off badly.

But if you wish to use a softphone you really must use a headset - a £10 mono one from Tesco is fine - shouting at a PC is for students and provides a really bad experience for the other party.

[maxine]

lol... I am in a small office with desks quite close together so shouting at the pc's not going to happen :) It's bad enough when we are all talking at the same time! (and some of us are louder than others!)

I understand what you say about pc's competing with resources. I might have to have a look at voip handsets then for the main office... but still need to have softphones for remote workers

We only use voip for inbound at the moment and landlines for outbound... partly because of call quality (95% outbound, 5% inbound) and strain on internet connection. Today I had someone making calls with a mobile temporarily... what a pain! I would rather they were making outbound calls with voip instead.

[cjd]

If you have several people in the office trying to use phones and use the internet simultaneously you can't really expect a VoIP phonecall to work properly - it has to compete with all the other stuff being squirted up the same DSL connection.

Generally, for reliable use in those circumstances you need two DSL connections, one for web browsing, email and other internet stuff and the other dedicated to voice. There's more info here:

https://www.voipfoneuserforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=3867

[maxine]

Thank you ... have read all of that and it really hurt my brain but really useful :)