r_mervart wrote:
> "John Daragon" <john@argv.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:42de5c2b$0$31021$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...
>
>>r_mervart wrote:
>>
>>>I am trying to establish whether my son, who is setting up a (very)
>
> small
>
>>>business, could possibly save some
>>>money using VoIP compared to a standard BT landline but still have a
>>>reliable service with comparable voice quality and without getting
>
> bogged
>
>>>down with technicalities. I am assuming that he will have a BT broadband
>>>
>>>All he needs, at least to start with, is an equivalent to a single BT
>
> phone
>
>>>line with basic facilities, such as answerphone and call divert, a local
>>>(London) number and possibly 0845 or 0870 number. Purely software
>
> solution
>
>>>dependant on a constantly running PC would not be a good idea.
>>>The service needs to be reliable and with voice quality comparable to a
>>>standard BT or NTL line without blips* or other manifestations of
>
> problems
>
>>>with data activities on the broadband connection.
>>>*If it could be arranged that the voice comms takes priority over any
>
> other
>
>>>broadband activity (to suspend it) without the need for human
>>>intervention - that could be acceptable.
>>>
>>>Could anyone suggest suitable service but also required equipment. Or
>>>should he get a standard telephone line for the time being?
>>
>>Well, he'll need a standard PSTN line from BT before he can order ADSL
>>(I'm assuming that he's not in a position to install SDSL or a leased
>>line...), so any saving he makes will be on call costs.
>>
>
> If he needs PSTN line anyway then it probably will hardly be worth his
> trouble and expense on equipment. One can make quite cheap calls using
> various telecom services such as Call 18866 , Telediscount e.t.c. At least
> on NTL cable I can, I think, keep just the broadband connection and
> disconnect the phone which would then result in more significant savings.

If he can get a cable connection then he may well not need the BT line.
The BT analogue line is a requirement for ADSL, but not for all
types of IP connection...

I'm sorry, I know *nothing* about speeds and contention ratios for cable
connections.

jd