an Alternative that has worked for me....

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Recently, reading through the different threads about broadband/phone service nightmares....it occurred to me, that THAT sort of problem is in the past where I'm concerned. I dont wish to advertise....just bring a suggestion...a 'ray' of hope if you will...
Does anyone on here have an opinion about VOIP? I pay one flat fee including sales tax each month, which is promptly taken from my debit account on the same date every month. I can make as many calls as I want at any time of day....I can even (not sure if this is a UK option) choose my own area code. I can monitor all my calls online and have my voice messages transferred to my email acct if I wish. I can make intl calls (on my plan) and it does not cost me any more ....those calls are treated as local calls and I have unlimited calls. If for some reason, you need to contact customer service, and i've had to....but not for complaints (havent had any ;) )...the worst problem Ive had, is trying to understand the Indian accent...but everyone is extremely friendly and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop (i've been told I'm cynical and negative)...I have to honestly say the only regret that I have, is that I didnt have the service sooner. You hook it up yourself...you can even buy all the hardware/software now (sold at Walmart here) and save a few bucks. All you need is a cable connection and a computer...you can use your own phone. Anyone have any negative feedback? :)
 
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My boss has the BT Home Hub. This is a wireless broadband modem and VOIP phone in one.

You still have a standard phone line, which works in the normal way, but you also get a VOIP cordless phone, with its own number.

The phone number is allocated and the area code is still determined by the provider and your location.

Being VOIP, the calls are much cheaper than BT's standard phone service (i think you get inclusive minutes), and you effectively have 2 phone lines but only one line rental and bill.

8 Megabit BB and 2 phone lines - all this down 2 copper wires! All those years that we just had a phone! What were we missing out on!!! :eek:

Its a good solution if you make plenty of phone calls, but I have a mobile phone with 200 free minutes every month, and its all i need.
 
You are dependent on good connections. When I worked for a telecomms company several years ago, we found we could get good VOIP results on our private network, but not across the wwweb.

This is because you have a connectionless service. Packets arrive with vary ing d ela ys, maybe in the order wrong , some may arive twice twice, some may not at all. Error correction is no use, because if you have lost a bit of speech, it's no good having it re-sent later a bit. The more legs you go through the worse it is. later a bit.

Luckily the human brain can ac om da ttte quii a l t of lost anf gar led led led data in spe ch so you ca get bby but it is ver an oyi g.

Luckily it is getting better all the time, but some cheap providers do it by buying poor-quality services, and spreading them thin.
 
With the area code thing, I believe it is possible to have any area code in the UK, apparently sipgate offer this free but you need to be UK resident (UK recognition didn't work with AOL - when I tried only 0845/0870 or a German number was available :( ).
 
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I have suggested....but right now it is not available, to have an "area" code in the UK...as my second line...that way it is a local call for someone living in the UK to call me without the costs. I happen to have the "V" company and even with my poor service provider....it works very well...plus now I am wireless. I just like having dependable service, friendly and helpful customer service and a price that never fluctuates...I wish all my utilities were this easy ;)
 
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