Broadband and telephone solution

[unstoppable]

Hi,

I am looking for a broadband and phone solution for my business. So far I have not had broadband (been using home office) and for phone I've just been using mobile phone for outgoing calls and tamar for incoming calls which gives you a geographical number that you can redirect to mobile phone. However it will be nice to have a fixed landline number as it looks more professional for outgoing calls.

What are my options? I don't want a log term contract and would like to keep the number given to me by tamar otherwise I have to change the number everywhere I have marketed it plus notify all customers which will be almost impossible to achieve.

I want to spend as less as possible monthly.

Thanks.

 

[MBE2017]

I’m sure you will get plenty of suggestions from forum members involved in telecoms, I would just caution you get what you pay for in this market.

I am attempting to leave Plusnet fibre broadband at the moment, currently eight, yes, eight hours of phone calls and live chat, and I am still unsure if it is cancelled correctly.

I have just paid another months money after they cut my fibre by mistake, happy with speeds etc, made the mistake of resigning to get a better price, and they cut my fibre and put myself on adsl, even though they admit they have no clue why they did it. I will get the money back, but I will never get the eight hours of my life back.

 

[Alan]

Fo a 'fix' land line number, I recommend you go with a voice over IP phone, much cheaper than a 'landline' - I have been using Voipfone for years and very happy for the occasions use I have.

As for broadband, I know the above has had problems with Plusnet - but I have only had good experiences with Plusnet Business ( the above poster din't make it clear if they were using Plusnet domestic or Plusnet Business )

 

[unstoppable]

Thanks for your replies. I am mostly out and about and will need calls to be redirected to mobile once out. Will using the VoIP solution use a lot of data on the mobile? Does anyone have an idea how much data is required for say 300mins of phone calls daily in this scenario?

 

[cjd]

Thanks for your replies. I am mostly out and about and will need calls to be redirected to mobile once out. Will using the VoIP solution use a lot of data on the mobile? Does anyone have an idea how much data is required for say 300mins of phone calls daily in this scenario?

Diverting a call to a landline number to your mobile is normally done over the telephone network so no data is used. But there is often a divert charge per call (or it is included in a monthly package).

We can help with whatever it is you decided you need and we can tell you what your options are, give us a call.

 

[ffox]

Once you have your BB Skype numbers are very cost effective (don't know if you can keep an existing number though) -
https://secure.skype.com/my/skype-number/select/GB

With that you can answer calls on any device PC, laptop, tablet or mobile phone.

Might be worth a look.

 

[Paulsou]

I have used voipfone for several years now, never had a problem.

 

[Alan]

Will using the VoIP solution use a lot of data on the mobile?

If you redirect to mobile via the phone network uses no data, but could be expensive, typically 10p/minute => 300 minutes = £30, obviously some plans may be better.

You can also install a 'soft phone' on you phone - Zoiper is the most common, this will use data, creating an accurate number of data usage is hard, but an estimate for 300 minutes would be 150MB ( which is small ). The quality though varies depending on the data connection.

BB Skype numbers

When I first started I used a Skype number - it was actually awful, but that was years ago so things maybe better now.

A year or so ago I couldn't even run Skype Voice/Video on Linux ( Chat only would you believe), but recently the Linux client has been fully overhauled, so things has visibly improved.

 

[ffox]

When I first started I used a Skype number - it was actually awful, but that was years ago so things maybe better now.

Yep, it's much better now than it was 3 years ago. Originally, in most cases, I only used Skype for incoming calls, acknowledged the contact and then called back on a mobile or landline. These days, given a half decent BB connection it does the whole job. It's also good for video calls and desktop sharing if you want to demo something.

Good to hear the Linux version has improved.

 

[Alan]

Good to hear the Linux version has improved.

Yes, I used it actually for the first time in years as it was the only mechanism a university could use to share a screen with me to troubleshoot.

The screen was actually crystal clear on my Linux desktop. Sound was solid too.

 

[unstoppable]

I think I’m a little confused how voip works. So if I go for Voipfone and get a geographical number with it, can I use an app on the mobile phone to make and receive calls? I guess in that instance I don’t need to worry about diverting calls when I’m out and about because I’ll always have the mobile with me. I just need data on the mobile. Correct?

 

[ffox]

I think I’m a little confused how voip works. So if

Test the options for yourself. Download Skype for PC or Laptop (or use the browser version) it's all free. Download Skype for your mobile, it's also free. Create two Skype accounts and call from one to the other. Alternate calling from each account and test pickup on both computer and phone.

Take note of any issues in the test results. You will only incur costs when you buy a number.

Once you have a feel for the practice of making PC to PC and PC to mobile phone calls you can decide whether to buy a number or opt for a commercial VOiP alternative.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Personally I don't want anything to go wrong so I don't have the cheapest I have BT Broadband with Vonage Voip phones. At the end of the day when considering this little project it should not be a money saving exercise

 

[cjd]

I think I’m a little confused how voip works. So if I go for Voipfone and get a geographical number with it, can I use an app on the mobile phone to make and receive calls?

Yes. This is our app

https://www.voipfone.co.uk/softphone.php

I guess in that instance I don’t need to worry about diverting calls when I’m out and about because I’ll always have the mobile with me. I just need data on the mobile. Correct?

This is our app that also auto diverts

https://www.voipfone.co.uk/geodivert.php

Generally, it's better to use call divert than VoIP for incoming calls to your mobile beacuse it's far more reliable but if that doesn't matter to you, it's a good, cheap alternative.

To answer an earlier question, a VoIP call to a mobile uses very little bandwidth usually less that 50kbs.

 

[Stas Lawicki]

There are loads of options at various price points. Some you pay as you go (I am referring to voip services now), some you pay for bundles, most have apps, most will allow you to send calls to your IP ready smart phone (most modern phones are, although in my experience, the quality is a bit hit and miss at times). Most will have call handling and all sorts of other features as bolt-ons. It depends on the number of outgoing calls you make, but yes, there a plenty that will offer you what you want.

8x8, Soho66, Ringcentral, Vonage, there are loads of options.

Handsets are pretty cost effective these days too - google 'IP phones'.

Some with offer desktop calling through a windows programme, like 3CX. Just get a simple headset and plug it in and you are done.

The plusnet comments don't really factor into your question, but you will need a decent broadband connection. A call might use little bandwidth but you will no doubt have a load of other devices on the net and if like me, the moment someone starts streaming something, I get drop outs.

I was with Tamar and didn't think they offered me what I really wanted. I switched to Soho66 and have been happy with them.

I am currently working with an IP telecoms business but I have not included them or their business in the options above.

Good luck!