Skype instead of a landline?

kwerk

kwerk

kwerk

Wise Guy
Soldato
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23 May 2009
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I don't have a landline just a mobile but I need a proper office phone.

How good is the Skype phone service in terms of quality? Is there something better? I need to make international calls a lot. I suppose your computer has to be on 24/7 to answer calls?
 
I use sipgate. Signed up'd, grabbed a number, pay some money in and you're away. We also have a DECT telephone system / Router thingy that can receive IP calls and treat them like normal calls. This way we don't have to have any computer on all the time and it's like a normal phone system
 
I use a skype dual phone handset (well i did until a few weeks ago - it's broken) to suplement my office land line - skype calls and land line on same set. I use the skype one to setup conference calls and for international when the line is good enough and for more or less daily conversations with my business partner. It's good and the conference call side works well but the service is, in my experience, still just a little too patchy for me to give up the land line. Having the dual phone does mean one handset for both which makes it a bit more seamless.

If you are only going to have skype there is a version of dual phone which bypasses your computer and links directly with your router - that is what you would want. That way if your PC goes down you can still take calls / get messages. As I say it's not quite reliable enough for me to give up my landline yet but you may be happy with it. It is certainly good value making skype out calls. I also have fring setup on my mobile for skype which works quite well too.
 
I use Skype on a laptop just for video conferencing, which it does well, but I use Internetcalls.com, which can be used either with software from a comp., or as I use it, via a Siemens Gigaset C460 IP (dual phone handset), which I have connected to internet via router and the normal BT socket, also have a phone number from Internetcalls.com. I make just about all my calls via the internet and generally I find the quality as good as the oridinary landline or sometimes better.
 
I use Skype as my landline. I'm using a Binatone S1545 Skype-enabled cordless phone connected to my home server so it's always on. I have also purchased a 'Skype in' number so people can just call it like any other landline. Works well :)
 
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I use a SIP provider, works very well connects over Wifi in home and office and i have US and UK incoming numbers. When not in i just have it forwarded to voice mail.
 
Use skype to talk to people in other countries, quality is very good, no service interruptions for hours, very pleased with it. Dean, if your broadband is done via adsl you still have to pay for line rental as without it, you got no internet in the first place.
 
rsatd said:
Use skype to talk to people in other countries, quality is very good, no service interruptions for hours, very pleased with it. Dean, if your broadband is done via adsl you still have to pay for line rental as without it, you got no internet in the first place.
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We have Virgin Cable internet...Would we still have to pay for line rental?
 
If you get your internet via their cable, I would not imagine you would need a phone line. Best to call them up and confirm it that no phone line is required for their service.
 
I have VM cable and no phone service with them. They do try to push the phone service, but you can have just the Internet service alone, thus you don't need a landline for Skype.
 
DreXeL said:
I have VM cable and no phone service with them. They do try to push the phone service, but you can have just the Internet service alone, thus you don't need a landline for Skype.
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Ok cool, so the actual phone lines would not be used at all? Simply, the phones would need wireless or ethernet direct to the router?
 
Another vote here for sipgate.

I have virgin cable just for broadband. I use a little box that stays on all the time where I plug my telephone into, so no PC on 24/7.

I have a local swindon telephone number. The cost is low. No monthly fee from sipgate and useful features such as call id, online billing and voicemail. You can also chose majority of UK geographical numbers for you or local/national numbers.

I lose out as I can't get it to work with Sky +, so no remote record.

With VM, the cost goes down if you get Telephone and TV with them. I could save more money for the year by doing this. But as yet I haven't.
 
TheDean said:
Ok cool, so the actual phone lines would not be used at all? Simply, the phones would need wireless or ethernet direct to the router?
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Correct, the actual landline is not used at all, everthing is done via your VM Internet connection.

As for the phone, it depends on the phones you are using, if you are using USB type phones they need to be conneted to a PC running Skype. Alternatively you can buy WiFi handsets with Skype built in so no need for a PC to be on 24/7.
 
DreXeL said:
Correct, the actual landline is not used at all, everthing is done via your VM Internet connection.

As for the phone, it depends on the phones you are using, if you are using USB type phones they need to be conneted to a PC running Skype. Alternatively you can buy WiFi handsets with Skype built in so no need for a PC to be on 24/7.
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Excellent! Thank you. Any recomendations for WiFi handsets with Skype pre-loaded?
 
TheDean said:
Excellent! Thank you. Any recomendations for WiFi handsets with Skype pre-loaded?
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I don't have any experience with them I'm afraid so can't really recomment one in particular, I personally use a cordless Skype compatible USB phone ( the base unit/charger connects to a PC via USB). I have it plugged into my home server for 24/7 usage.
 
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