Thanks, folks, for all the links on VoIP options. I have a "background task" going on, to improve my phone access. I have a Lingo VoIP account, 500 minutes/month, which is quoted at $14.95/month but bills at about $21/month after taxes, etc. get added. I also have a Tracfone prepaid cell that works out to $8.83/month for 600 minutes/YEAR, of which I typically use about 250 minutes/year.

I also have Qwest, but I'm presently in a big fight with them -- I took a "free trial" of their DSL service. It sucked, so I turned it back off within the free trial period, and sent back the modem. (I have a receipt from one of their reps.) They claim I never returned the modem, billed me for it, and shut off my landline service when I wouldn't pay for the modem. The local Utility Commission and Better Business Bureau are currently in the loop.

Anyway, after a couple of months of trying to sort out how VoIP works, I have come to the conclusion that the complexity is comparable to networking Linux. I now have two SIP boxes: a D-Link DVG-1402S and a Linksys SPA-3102, each for about $60.

I bought the 1402 because it had good reviews on the internet. I didn't notice that the date of the reviews was 2004 and 2005. This technology is changing fast! After I received it, I went looking for how to set it up. Figuring out how to "provision" them so they can make and receive calls has proved to be very complex. What is now a purely PC-based service used to be called SIPPhone and provided instructions, and firmware downloads for the 1402S. Unfortunately, the links to the downloads are now broken, and the bulletin board posts are frozen. Anyway, looking through the posts, I learned that if the owner of the box was not very careful (changing options and default passwords, etc.), a service provider could easily download their firmware into your box and "lock" it to their service. There is both http and ftp access to the box, but only the ftp access can download firmware, and there is no (documented) command for uploading, or backing up, a copy of the firmware. Even resetting the box to "factory conditions" does not reset the firmware!

When I initially signed up for Lingo (at least 6 years ago), I got a free box that connected to the internet and my computers and phone. At that time, I was given an ID and password that gave me access to the http setup pages. Recently, the ID and password stopped working. Even more recently, it stopped accepting http access from downstream (my computer), and stopped passing internet service through to my computers. I'm guessing a hacker found the box from the internet and took it over. (Privacy anyone?) My computers are protected by a firewall.

I had sent multiple emails about this to Lingo, and was ignored, so I escalated my complaint and talked to a live person in Tech Support. To their credit, they had a much more recent replacement box in the mail by overnight service that day. The box they sent is a Linksys SPA-2102. It came with ZERO instructions. Just plug it into the power, internet, phone and computers, I guess. Except that didn't work. They explained they were updating some server software. Try again in a few days, please! The link I just gave gets you to documentation, if your're interested. The unlocked box comes with both "User" and "Administrator" IDs, and empty passwords. The Lingo box has the Administrator pages password protected. Anyway, Lingo phone service is still available to me through the old box, with it now behind my router so that my computers can access the internet without going through it.

The Linksys SPA-3102 (unlocked) which I bought most recently, is a very interesting device, according to its specs. It has 5 connectors on the back: power, internet (WAN), downstream (Ethernet), phone and line. It came with a "Quick Install" manual, telling what to plug in where, and no other documentation. Again, manuals are available from the link. It can be "provisioned" with 4 different VoIP providers, and dialing a phone number preceded by "*" plus a numeric code lets you pick which provider you want to use. Also, if there is a power failure, the phone "falls over" to the line, so you continue having phone service without having to move any plugs if the power fails in your house. Smart, eh? This is an example of good fault-tolerant engineering. Just make sure you have a phone in your house that doesn't need power!

Anyway, among the references mentioned in this thread, Internetcalls.com is out of beta, has free calling to an amazing number of countries, and even has free SMS messaging. Since I have a son who uses SMS 100:1 over voice, that sounds like a winner! To top it off, they have instructions on how to configure the 3102 for their service!

Finally, I haven't used Asterisk yet (I have downloaded it), but from what I have learned, the challenges with it are to learn how to write Dial-Plan strings (how to tell the software to interpret *123 202 555 1212) and configuring both the software and a SIP box to talk to each other. Voxilla has detailed instructions on how to write Dial-Plan strings. It also has a Wizard that automates setting up the 3102 for Asterisk!

As you can see, it takes a lot of homework to get into really low-cost VoIP without getting burned. I expect that in a month or so I will be able to report on what actually works!

I am currently using PC-to-PC calls on Skype, and the quality is similar to that of a normal telephone. They have some unlimited call subscription packages that shouldn't be that expensive. You should try Skype VoIP PC-to-PC calling before investing in a paid package for PC-to-Phone calls.

I use Skype extensively (and use it for text more than calls) but still it is one of the better networks out there.

xboxrulz

How does it take for the account to be credited using IDEAL payment method. Just credited my account but this is not reflected in the account.

Hope will get advise as to what to do next.

-question by Fanny

I would say that Skype is one of the best VoIP calling software around. At the moment, I only use PC-to-PC calling which is free and does not cost anything except internet bandwidth fees for your Internet Service Provider. However, I know Skype has some calling packages that have unlimited calls (within limit) at a fixed price if you call a lot. If not, you can use their normal system of paying by the minute of the call, which isn't that high compared to traditional call rates, especially with international calls.