I need more information on VOIP before I decide what equipment to buy?

Question

I need more info on VOIP?

1. Does it need to plug into my router or is USB ok?

2. Where does the phone number come from for people to call into me?

3. Any other information that anybody can give me on services, charges or anything I might need to know.

4. Will my current bluetooth (cell phone bluetooht) work with a VOIP bluetooth USB adapter?

I am looking to make calls to mobile and land lines not to other VOIP users since I dont know any yet.

HELP so much information so cunfused.

Answer 1

There are many, many ways to get started with VoIP.

PC-to-Phone:

The easiest way to get started using VoIP is to use your PC.

Skype is one well known VoIP service that runs from your PC.  I have used Skype for years with good results.  Just purchase Skype pre-paid credits for outgoing calls, or $3/month for unlimited USA/Canada calling.  Purchase a SkypeIN phone number to receive phone calls to your Skype account.  Skype phone numbers are available in most USA area codes.  Just purchase an area code number of your choice.  People who live in that area code can call you from their regular phone for free.

I have also used Efonica with good results for long distance calling from my PC, too.

When VoIPing from your PC, you just need a good headset with built-in microphone.  No other hardware is required.

If you have a bluetooth adapter on your PC, any bluetooth headset should work with it as well.

If you have a little technical savvy, you can use User Configurable SoftPhones on your PC to connect to any VoIP services that allow BYOD (bring your own device).  

I use VoIP services like CallCentric, InPhonex, Les.net, and Voip.ms with my user configurable softphones on my PC.

Here are a few free user configurable softphones that I use to connect to my BYOD VoIP services:

- 3CX VoIP Client, from 3CX corp.

- WengoPhone from OpenWengo.org

- X-Lite from CounterPath Software

- ExpressTalk VoIP softphone from NCH Software

My personal favorite configurable softphone is the 3CX VoIP Clinet:

http://www.3cx.com/VOIP/voip-phone.html

Phone-to-Phone - ATA VoIP Adapters:

If you don't want to be tied to your PC, the ATA (analog telephone adapter) is how you do it.

An ATA will allow you to connect your regular telephone to your ATA for making phone-phone calls over the Internet.

The ATA then plugs into your NAT/Router.

I use the "user configurable" Linksys model PAP2T-NA (unlocked version) adapter.  I can configure it for use with any of the above mentioned BYOD VoIP services.  It is a 2-LIne ATA.  This means I can use it with two separate VoIP services of my choice, simultaneously.  

I use it with services like CallCentric and InPhonex.  

With these services, I can pick my area code phone numbers from anywhere in USA, Canada, or in many other major countries around the world.  The phone number I pick (also known as DID's) will ring to my telephone plugged into my Linksys ATA.

The trick to using a stand alone ATA with a NAT/Router with SIP-based VoIP services (which most BYOD VoIP services are) is that you need to be able to configure your Router to "Port Forward" ports 5060 - 5063, and specifically for the Linksys ATA's, forward ports 16384-16482.

Most problems that VoIP users have is related to "port blocking" caused by firewalls and routers.  The trick is to know how and which ports to allow through your firewalls.

I would recommend considering the Linksys SPA2102 VoIP ATA because it is a NAT/Router and 2-Line ATA in one box.  I believe it simplifies the issues of port forwarding for the VoIP ports.

Answer 2

MagicJack is the only way.

They provide your local number

The equipment is 39.00  the fee is 19.99 a year.

Check them out   I am 100.99% satisfied.

magicjack.com

Answer 3

Hi Emily,

First, MagicJack isn't the "only" way. In fact, MagicJack isn't really a good "VoIP" choice. Just Google "MagicJack Problems" and you'll see what I mean.

You can keep your existing number if you want. Or, you can choose your own.

For what you're talking about, you should be great with Phone Power - check out http://voip-reviewer.com -

They have all the info you need on VoIP services. I went with their #1 choice, and it's the best service I've ever had!

Good luck Emily!

:)