"Shane Carpenter" <news@shanes_replace_nospam_with_org.nospam> wrote in
message news:DKeDe.162031$Vo6.104419@fe3.news.blueyonder.c o.uk...
> Hello peeps, I've got Telewest broadband and thought it was time to
> ditch
> the line rental and go for voip. I've signed up with sipgate for a free
> local number and have tested it with a soft phone and it seems to be ok.
> Reading on here though a few people have question marks with sipgate.
> The
> answer phone is a bit naff and there's no divert. Vonage is a possible
> alternative though I doubt I would make £9.99 a month worth of calls
> they do
> seem to be a more professional outfit. They have no minimum contract but
> does that mean the Linksys router is yours or theirs if you cancel after
> a
> month?
>
> Basic questions I know but I'm just trying to get my head around this at
> the
> moment.
>
> Thanks, Shane

I know some people on here will tell you I'm biased, but from my own
personal experience Sipgate is fine for personal use. I would hesitate
about recommending it for business at the moment, but it's fine with me. I
don't really need divert, although I agree it is useful for some. I have
it on my Telewest line but I can count on the fingers of one hand the
number of times I've used it.

I'd be wary at the moment of ditching a landline completely, there may be
occasions when you'll need it, if there's a power failure for example, and
don't forget 999 calls aren't possible on most systems, although I believe
Vonage do have the facility.

I would try a normal phone with an ATA rather than a softphone to get the
best quality, softphones tend to be a bit naff if you're doing anything
else on a PC, plus of course you need to have it on all the time. I have 2
Sipgate lines routed into a small PABX along with the landline so all of
them can be accessed from any phone in the house. Overkill to some maybe
but it works for me..!

Email me directly with your Sipgate ID if you want to do any tests
anytime.

--
Ivor

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