Cheap VOIP

[dennis m]

I saw this advertised in the Sunday Times yesterday. It appears to be cheaper than Skype and you can ring landlines for free. Does anyone know of any downsides to this new programme?

[LazyGun]

Please post some more details of the service you have seen dennis... As far as I was aware, no VoIP system currently available is able to offer free calls to landlines.

With existing VoIP systems, it is possible to make use of a VoIP handset which plugs into your computer.... it will then act as a regular handset, ie ring when a call comes through, and so therefore this would be a free call over the internet... are you sure its not this that is being advertised?

[dennis m]

The website address is www.voipcheap.co.uk/en/instructions.html

You are able to ring landlines for free from your computer. Each call however only last 60 seconds unless you put �10 credit on your account. Is that the catch? You give this firm a tenner up front and your calls are then "free"?

[dodgyshirt]

I joined it some time ago and the requirement then was only �5 to make calls to landlines free.This money sits in your personal account and can be used against international calls.

The only drawback is that the software is still at Beta stage and is being constantly updated.

[Oneeyedvic]

I use it without a problem - and you can even call Australia for free (to the suprise of a mate).

The only trouble is when I joined you only needed to pay �1.00 and as you say landlines calls are free - this means that I still have 70p in my account (dialed a 0845 number). I have just received an email telling me that i need to top up with �10.00 to continue with the service. To be honest I doubt I will bother.

The reason I won't bother is two reasons: (1) I like to be able to walk around when I am on the phone - hence I have a cordless home phone and (2) I subscribe to 1899 and so landline calls are 'free' only costing me 3p connection anyway. For 3p I would rather have a normal' telephone call.

The only way I would carry on using voipcheap is if they had a pda/smartphone version so I could use it when on the move.

[WoWo]

The thing with VOIP is you pretty much need a broadband connection, which has to be connected to a phone line which you will be paying for.

So you get free calls for which you pay a phone line rental and a broadband connection.

I think my landline bill was less than �10 for the last month (more to do with the fact I don't use my home phone that much).

Oneeyedvic - Skype are currently working on a mobile VOIP for the MS Smartphone, but again pointless because you would have to pay GPRS usage fee's (unless you have a phone like mine which is WiFi enabled)

[WoWo]

When I say pointless I mean that from a Free call point of view.

[Oneeyedvic]

wowo - yes my phone is wi-fi which is great!. Not a great deal of going to skype though as I don't know anyone who has it (billy no mates). voipcheap didn't matter as all calls free.

If skype works out at 1p a minute, would still rather use a landline as my max call cost would be 3p.

[WoWo]

Same here - we used to have skype at work to call our indian office which was worth while, but there seems little point using it at home because it doesn't seem any less expensive than a normal call to a land line.

[harrywellskin]

Check VoIP reviews here. http://www.pbx101.com.