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[Varche]

Quite a few years back my brother bought us three F107 phones and connected himself, my dad and us onto the 3 network. We have enjoyed free Skype International calls for years. 3 was the first operator to offer the service. PAYG service and we just top it up periodically.

Skype(owned now by Microsoft) ended this a few days ago, presumably to get users paying something for their calls.

But what to do? Mrs V is in Scotland with a very ill Aunt and our phone bill is horrendous.

We don't need a new phone but if needs must so be it. Calls maybe £20 worth a year ,Skype calls maybe 20 a year (under normal circumstances.) only when we go back to the UK. Hope I have explained it all right. If we have to start again we don't need anything flash, no camera needed for selfies, no video on Skype, no anticipated usage of Internet on phone.

Any suggestions from technophiles welcome.

[chrisgixer]

We use FaceTime over wifi. Free. Also 3G capable but that involves costs. Provided you have a crApple device of course.

But where FaceTime sits in the list of suitable options I'm not sure. No experience of others tbh.

[Gaffers]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_VoIP_software

Skype to Skype is still free though?  Not had free international calls ever on Skype and I use it a lot for business.

Maybe you just had it too good for too long?

[Sir Tigger KC]

Can't you use it computer to computer? 

[Varche]

Probably right , we have had it too good for too long. The offer was free Skype forever from 3.

Just to clarify, the phone is only used when we have to go visiting elderly relatives =mainly when they are ill, who aren't on the Internet. Phone can then be used for local contact -normal dialled calls, anyone can get hold of us and free Skype from Uk back to the lucky one of us who got to stay at home.

All the mobile devices that Skype(Microsoft list) support seem to be fully featured and cost a lot.Windows phone, iphone, android,NokiaX,Blackberry and Amazon fire phone

I am investigating VOIPcheap in the meantime.

[zirk]

Probably right , we have had it too good for too long. The offer was free Skype forever from 3.

Just to clarify, the phone is only used when we have to go visiting elderly relatives =mainly when they are ill, who aren't on the Internet. Phone can then be used for local contact -normal dialled calls, anyone can get hold of us and free Skype from Uk back to the lucky one of us who got to stay at home.

All the mobile devices that Skype(Microsoft list) support seem to be fully featured and cost a lot.Windows phone, iphone, android,NokiaX,Blackberry and Amazon fire phone

I am investigating VOIPcheap in the meantime.

If its just International Voice calls your after have a look into Rebtel, been using them for years, they give you a 0203 DDI Number (Mobile Friendly if you get loads of mins) for each of your contacts, plus Free or Local Rate if your Overseas, plus the do a call back back service to generate a free call to both parties or you can use Mobile to Skype or otherway around etc, just set up an account and away you go.

You need to get head around how it all works, but we use it about 20 calls a year and I doubt whether it costs more than a fiver per year.

[TheBoy]

Having relatives in Canada, I use VoIP a fair bit, although I've started using it more and more for UK as well.  By VoIP provider is Sipgate, who offer free Sipgate to Sipgate calls.  Without a VoIP adapter, you will need to use a softphone on a PC or smartphone etc.

HTH

[Varche]

Having relatives in Canada, I use VoIP a fair bit, although I've started using it more and more for UK as well.  By VoIP provider is Sipgate, who offer free Sipgate to Sipgate calls.  Without a VoIP adapter, you will need to use a softphone on a PC or smartphone etc.

HTH

Speak English man!


    SIP ATA (Analogue Telephone Adapter)?
    SIP Router?
    xDSL Modem?


Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

I have a Linksys 1200 router. No port on there for an analogue telephone.

Could you or anyone give me the simplest options for connecting using an analogue telephone or a special phone?. Don't mind having it plugged into router or buying a PCI card for the PC. Link to UK Ebay would be nice

I have made about 15 UK calls since getting Voipcheap yesterday- all free.  Other end users report echo. I presume that is my separate mike and speakers. I am thinking a headset with mike would reduce that or a proper Voip phone?.

[TheBoy]

Varche - for Sipgate, rather than PC base handsfree, use either a PC headset (and tune it), or a dedicated SIP phone that just plugs in the router.  SIP is an industry standard, unlike the weird protocols that Skype uses (one of my big complaints with Skype).

In the UK, Sipgate give you a normal PSTN number, so BT users can just call that (ie, in my case, 01280 xxxxxx).

However, SIP does require a *GOOD* internet connection, so if you try it, I'd recommend using a softphone (they provide a preconfigured X-Lite one) with a good headset to see how it works for you.  Also, not sure if its available in your area.

I also have a SIP app on my phone, so when I'm abroad, I can call friends and family back in the UK for UK rates.  I suspect if I did this too much, they may start to look if I'm a UK resident (T&Cs say you have to reside in the country you sign up in).

www.sipgate.co.uk

[TheBoy]

In addition, there are some clever devices that allow you to plug your analogue phone into a unit, which connects both to landline and your router, and calls out on either landline or SIP based on call routing rules. These need a reasonable understanding of SIP to set up, so I wouldn't go down that line initially.  Avoid the Cisco/Linksys/Sipura ones (all the same, different badges depending on age), as you can never truly get rid of the echo on PSTN.