[Merged] Dixons Freetalk

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Shaun

Send it back and use www.18866.co.uk

For £6.66 you can make 222 local/national calls in a month, if you don't then you save money.

Never have problems with engaged lines or bad quality calls.
:

Extremly good point !

Mike

[SMHarman]

Does require dialing lots of access digits first though.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Does require dialing lots of access digits first though.

Stick it on speed-dial

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Mike

Extremly good point !

Mike

AHHHHHHHHHH But with freetalk you do not pay line rental !

[etccarmageddon]

Originally Posted by Mike

I take it all back.................having problems now. Most of the local numbers are engaged via Freetalk but fine on a normal landland. I am not sure why this is and it's driving me a bid mad now.

Any ideas. Thanks Mike

try dialling the full code - e.g. 0161 nnnnnnnn instead of just the nnnnnnn bit.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by etccarmageddon

try dialling the full code - e.g. 0161 nnnnnnnn instead of just the nnnnnnn bit.

Tried that but have just spoke to CS in the states !!!

They say they are now on the case and hopefully there will be a fix.

Will let people know

Mike

[etccarmageddon]

be patient, this isn't the cutting edge... it's the bleeding edge!

new technology and all that. I knew when I got my voip it was also about the experience on being one of the first to adopt a new technology. just make sure if it's failing you return it within 14 days!

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

How can they tell? Your line will have a standard UK 01 or 02 phone number allocated to it.

I assumed the service was using the new 056 numbers being allocated to other VOIP lines

056 numbers are a special number block allocated for VoIP use by OFCOM the UK telecoms regulator.

These are designed to be location independent and at the same time be included in standard monthly call plans as if they were a UK geographic number.

https://store.hub.voxhub.net/phones/...undnumbers.jsp

[etccarmageddon]

Originally Posted by Shaun

I assumed the service was using the new 056 numbers being allocated to other VOIP lines

no, with vonage, freetalk, sipgate and all decent uk voip providers you get a proper 'normal' phone number.

www.freetalk.co.uk/Features_.aspx#2

"CHOOSE YOUR AREA CODE

Choose a phone number from any of the available UK rate centres, regardless of where your freetalk phone will be physically located. freetalk asks you to specify the "rate centre" (calling area or city name) that you would like to have assigned to your account. There can be many rate centres within one area code. With freetalk, you can request a rate centre that is local to those who call you the most. Rate centre selection does not affect your freetalk calling rates.

When you make calls from your freetalk account, all calls within the UK are included with your flat rate freetalk service. On all of our calling plans, calls between two freetalk subscribers are free and unlimited, anywhere in the world. Remember: freetalk is available to you even if we do not have your local area code or rate centre. Your freetalk area code and phone number is only used for inbound calls. If a more desirable rate centre later becomes available, freetalk will assign a new number to your account. This is a freetalk feature that is free of extra charge. "

[Shaun]

Makes it a little more attractive but I still cant see it beating 18866 for call costs.

[etccarmageddon]

I think 18866 are the same people who own/run www.voipcheap.co.uk/en/index.html which is voip but doesn't give you a phone number and has ****e support for technical issues.

vonage and freetalk etc are attractive as they are mass market toys aimed at passing trade and non techy people - they also allow you to connect your normal phone to it so it has the appeal of being an (almost) replacement for the BT line.
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the ideal solution would be something like sipgate for incoming calls (so you have a normal phone number) and voipcheap or 18866 etc for your outgoing calls.
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the £80 for a year upfront is a bloody good deal though - if it works! as it includes hardware which would cost you at least £20. my voip box cost me in the region of £50 to get up and running.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by etccarmageddon

the ideal solution would be something like sipgate for incoming calls (so you have a normal phone number) and voipcheap or 18866 etc for your outgoing calls.

I agree, I did mention this the other day, if you're willing to sit at your PC and use firefly then it would be a virtually free service (As voipcheap don't make any charge for uk calls, not even a connection fee).

I believe there are routers (Draytec is the one I've seen mentioned) that can handle this and allow you to plug your home phone in if you don't mind replacing your router.

[Stuart C]

Originally Posted by danielf

Bear in mind that if you have television from NTL you can only cancel your phone line if you cancel the tele as well. They're bundled...

Also bear in mind that you do really need a phone that can dial 999 in the event of an emergency. Nine times out of ten, a Mobile will be fine, but there's always then tenth where the battery is flat, or you don't have a good signal.

[Mike]

01235 local code has now been sorted so I am well happy !

Will leave it a couple of days then cancel ntl phone/tv. It's VOIP for me now.

I have been on a bit of a cost saving fews days because I am broke. Phoned ntl as I was paying 72.39 per month. TV / Phone / Talk unlimited / 3 MB BB.

Their response was : free TV for 6 months / cancelled Talk unlimited / half price BB at 3MB for 18.99 for six months. Just shows what happens if you ask nicely > Customers services

Mike

[etccarmageddon]

if you ring up to cancel your tv and phone I recon they'll offer you a deal to keep it - like half price tv service - I was offered that (a few years back) when I cancelled.