I work very in IT and networking and over the years I have had to install a number of large VoIP solutions for businesses and the quality is not as good unless you put the bucks in.

I haven't had much experience with the Internet based ones, but all I have heard are still not toll quality. IMO for $2 I can call the US with premium quality to any number which doesn't give me enough justification to need to resort to VoIP Internet services.

I believe it is a probable long term solution because of the marketing hype, but for a small business at present it is hard to justify the expense.

My 2c.

Aaron

For those that are interested, I have been looking at the iinet / Ozemail / iHug ADSL2+ services offering up to 24Mbps where available.

The cost is quite cheap per month, but they will only bundle it with their VoIP services.....

iiNet Website

I have been installing voip boxes into homes and businesses for quite some time. I worked for a long time for an actual VOIP provider seting up the damn boxes( pain in the arse soemtimes)

Theres no way u can get out of the Telstra line rental, u have to pay it!!.

U just request your won phone number and you get it, simple as that. The number looks more like a mobile number. Voip to voip is free, that's the real advantage. So if everyone u call has voip, your phone calls will be next to zero. A number of businesses do use voip, and I think this will continue to grow!! Alot of suppliers we dealt with had voip already!! One of the set backs is that it WILL slow your internet cnnection while u are using the voip system! and if you ADSL goes down, so does your voip phone line!(small problem)

Everyone that I know uses it, saves heaps, simple as that!!!

I have been installing voip boxes into homes and businesses for quite some time.  I worked for a long time for an actual VOIP provider seting up the damn boxes( pain in the arse soemtimes)

Theres no way u can get out of the Telstra line rental,  u have to pay it!!.

U just request your won phone number and you get it,  simple as that. The number looks more like a mobile number.  Voip to voip is free, that's the real advantage. So if everyone u call has voip,  your phone calls will be next to zero.  A number of businesses do use voip, and I think this will continue to grow!! Alot of suppliers we dealt with had voip already!! One of the set backs is that it WILL slow your internet cnnection while u are using the voip system! and if you ADSL goes down, so does your voip phone line!(small problem)

Everyone that I know uses it, saves heaps, simple as that!!!

Thanks

So what about if you have cable internet? Why would you still have line rental?

I have been installing voip boxes into homes and businesses for quite some time.  I worked for a long time for an actual VOIP provider seting up the damn boxes( pain in the arse soemtimes)

Theres no way u can get out of the Telstra line rental,  u have to pay it!!.

U just request your won phone number and you get it,  simple as that. The number looks more like a mobile number.  Voip to voip is free, that's the real advantage. So if everyone u call has voip,  your phone calls will be next to zero.  A number of businesses do use voip, and I think this will continue to grow!! Alot of suppliers we dealt with had voip already!! One of the set backs is that it WILL slow your internet cnnection while u are using the voip system! and if you ADSL goes down, so does your voip phone line!(small problem)

Everyone that I know uses it, saves heaps, simple as that!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks

So what about if you have cable internet? Why would you still have line rental?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yeah you wouldnt unless with Hel$tra, if you want heaps of info on anything computer/broadband/telecom related just go to whirlpool.net.au it is da bomb for all that stuff

Luke, If you have a cable modem, dont see why you need a phone line at all. With ADSL, you have to have the damn line for it.

Of course, Tel$tra being who thay are, maybe you cannot have cable broadband without their phone. Pr!cks.

You can certainly have your own phone number with Engin if you live in the 9 or 8 (Melb) area code.

Alan

I have been installing voip boxes into homes and businesses for quite some time.   I worked for a long time for an actual VOIP provider seting up the damn boxes( pain in the arse soemtimes)

Theres no way u can get out of the Telstra line rental,  u have to pay it!!.

U just request your won phone number and you get it,  simple as that. The number looks more like a mobile number.   Voip to voip is free, that's the real advantage. So if everyone u call has voip,   your phone calls will be next to zero.  A number of businesses do use voip, and I think this will continue to grow!! Alot of suppliers we dealt with had voip already!! One of the set backs is that it WILL slow your internet cnnection while u are using the voip system! and if you ADSL goes down, so does your voip phone line!(small problem)

Everyone that I know uses it, saves heaps, simple as that!!!

Thanks

So what about if you have cable internet? Why would you still have line rental?

yeah you wouldnt unless with Hel$tra, if you want heaps of info on anything computer/broadband/telecom related just go to whirlpool.net.au it is da bomb for all that stuff

Thanks for that. This one seems to be popular Faktortel

Hmmm, that looks like a firefly software package to me.

Mayeb they are reselling Freshtels S/W ??

I haven't got it as yet, but have my eyes set on the engin2. The main deciding factors where 10c fixed line calls (anywhere in Aus) and the fact that your normal phone line can run through it so you can use the same phone(s) for both your PSTN and VOIP calls.

But then the second point wouldn't appeal to you I guess!

I haven't used VOIP service yet that I'd be happy with, you will need really good bandwidth with bugger all ping response from the VOIP supplier.

I've used Faktortel etc. on 1500 ADSL & Cable & the success rate is dependant on internet traffic at the time.

There's no way I'd recommend it for small to medium business as the infrastructure required to get reliability is a huge.

PSTN/ISDN is far better than VOIP any day.

If you have ADSL you still need to pay line rental, if you have cable, wireless, satellite you can cancel the Copper wire rental etc.

Russ