UKVoIPTalk.com

I have a VOIP question.
I live in the UK and want to make business calls to companies in the
USA from home in the evenings (probably West Coast to take best
advantage of time difference).
I now have Orange Broadband, which comes with a Livebox and Orange
Talk. As I'm on their Unlimited broadband package I get free VOIP
calls to many international countries, including the USA. So this is
fine for making my outbound calls.
However I want to have a USA number to give to customers so they can
call me back at acceptable rates rather than them having to dial a UK
number from the USA.
What's the best and most cost effective way of getting a USA phone
number which I can then divert back to my UK number?
I know companies like Vonage allow you to get international numbers,
but I don't want to subscribe to another call provider's system if I
can help it.
I've seen that Skype In could get me a USA number but I'd have to pay
for it and if I divert calls from there to my UK Orange VOIP line I'll
pay for the re-routing.
Any suggestions?

"01steven" <01steven@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:1187860221.201537.282900@r23g2000prd.googlegroups.com
: : I have a VOIP question.
: : I live in the UK and want to make business calls to
: : companies in the USA from home in the evenings
: : (probably West Coast to take best advantage of time
: : difference).
: : I now have Orange Broadband, which comes with a Livebox
: : and Orange Talk. As I'm on their Unlimited broadband
: : package I get free VOIP calls to many international
: : countries, including the USA. So this is fine for
: : making my outbound calls.
: : However I want to have a USA number to give to
: : customers so they can call me back at acceptable rates
: : rather than them having to dial a UK number from the
: : USA.
: : What's the best and most cost effective way of getting
: : a USA phone number which I can then divert back to my
: : UK number?

Try [url]www.ipkall.com[/url] - they offer free numbers which you can divert to most
SIP addresses (but be aware some VoIP providers don't allow this, not sure
about the Livebox).

The numbers are 360 area code (Washington state) which is west coast so
that will fit with your requirements.

Try it and see, it's totally free so won't cost you anything if it doesn't
work.


Ivor

Thanks for your reply.
Excuse the ignorance- how would I know if Livebox allow this?
If I speak to them myself to check, what exactly would I be asking
them?
Steven

On 23 Aug, 11:08, "Ivor Jones" <i...@despammed.invalid> wrote:[color=blue]
> "01steven" <01ste...@googlemail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1187860221.201537.282900@r23g2000prd.googlegroups.com
> : : I have a VOIP question.
> : : I live in the UK and want to make business calls to
> : : companies in the USA from home in the evenings
> : : (probably West Coast to take best advantage of time
> : : difference).
> : : I now have Orange Broadband, which comes with a Livebox
> : : and Orange Talk. As I'm on their Unlimited broadband
> : : package I get free VOIP calls to many international
> : : countries, including the USA. So this is fine for
> : : making my outbound calls.
> : : However I want to have a USA number to give to
> : : customers so they can call me back at acceptable rates
> : : rather than them having to dial a UK number from the
> : : USA.
> : : What's the best and most cost effective way of getting
> : : a USA phone number which I can then divert back to my
> : : UK number?
>
> Trywww.ipkall.com- they offer free numbers which you can divert to most
> SIP addresses (but be aware some VoIP providers don't allow this, not sure
> about the Livebox).
>
> The numbers are 360 area code (Washington state) which is west coast so
> that will fit with your requirements.
>
> Try it and see, it's totally free so won't cost you anything if it doesn't
> work.
>
> Ivor[/color]

In article <1187866576.757289.224210@m37g2000prh.googlegroups.com>,
01steven <01steven@googlemail.com> wrote:[color=blue]
>Thanks for your reply.
>Excuse the ignorance- how would I know if Livebox allow this?
>If I speak to them myself to check, what exactly would I be asking
>them?[/color]

I've successfully used SIP devices behind LiveBox units connecting to
various 3rd party VoIP providers, so unlike the BT HomeHub, it seems
that the Orange LiveBox box doesn't hinder other VoIP traffic.

You could probably use a phone which has multiple SIP accounts - one
going to your Orange account, another going to a service that terminates
US numbers (Such as Ivors suggestion, below).

Gordon
[color=blue]
>Steven
>
>On 23 Aug, 11:08, "Ivor Jones" <i...@despammed.invalid> wrote:[color=green]
>> "01steven" <01ste...@googlemail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:1187860221.201537.282900@r23g2000prd.googlegroups.com
>> : : I have a VOIP question.
>> : : I live in the UK and want to make business calls to
>> : : companies in the USA from home in the evenings
>> : : (probably West Coast to take best advantage of time
>> : : difference).
>> : : I now have Orange Broadband, which comes with a Livebox
>> : : and Orange Talk. As I'm on their Unlimited broadband
>> : : package I get free VOIP calls to many international
>> : : countries, including the USA. So this is fine for
>> : : making my outbound calls.
>> : : However I want to have a USA number to give to
>> : : customers so they can call me back at acceptable rates
>> : : rather than them having to dial a UK number from the
>> : : USA.
>> : : What's the best and most cost effective way of getting
>> : : a USA phone number which I can then divert back to my
>> : : UK number?
>>
>> Trywww.ipkall.com- they offer free numbers which you can divert to most
>> SIP addresses (but be aware some VoIP providers don't allow this, not sure
>> about the Livebox).
>>
>> The numbers are 360 area code (Washington state) which is west coast so
>> that will fit with your requirements.
>>
>> Try it and see, it's totally free so won't cost you anything if it doesn't
>> work.
>>
>> Ivor[/color]
>
>[/color]

Thanks again for help, but am a complete VOIP novice. Can you point me
to anything like a 'dummy's guide' to setting up another SIP device
behind a Livebox? (I don't even know what SIP is!)

On 23 Aug, 12:14, Gordon Henderson <gordon+use...@drogon.net> wrote:[color=blue]
> In article <1187866576.757289.224...@m37g2000prh.googlegroups.com>,
>
> 01steven <01ste...@googlemail.com> wrote:[color=green]
> >Thanks for your reply.
> >Excuse the ignorance- how would I know if Livebox allow this?
> >If I speak to them myself to check, what exactly would I be asking
> >them?[/color]
>
> I've successfully used SIP devices behind LiveBox units connecting to
> various 3rd party VoIP providers, so unlike the BT HomeHub, it seems
> that the Orange LiveBox box doesn't hinder other VoIP traffic.
>
> You could probably use a phone which has multiple SIP accounts - one
> going to your Orange account, another going to a service that terminates
> US numbers (Such as Ivors suggestion, below).
>
> Gordon
>[color=green]
> >Steven[/color]
>[color=green]
> >On 23 Aug, 11:08, "Ivor Jones" <i...@despammed.invalid> wrote:[color=darkred]
> >> "01steven" <01ste...@googlemail.com> wrote in message[/color][/color]
>[color=green][color=darkred]
> >>news:1187860221.201537.282900@r23g2000prd.googlegroups.com
> >> : : I have a VOIP question.
> >> : : I live in the UK and want to make business calls to
> >> : : companies in the USA from home in the evenings
> >> : : (probably West Coast to take best advantage of time
> >> : : difference).
> >> : : I now have Orange Broadband, which comes with a Livebox
> >> : : and Orange Talk. As I'm on their Unlimited broadband
> >> : : package I get free VOIP calls to many international
> >> : : countries, including the USA. So this is fine for
> >> : : making my outbound calls.
> >> : : However I want to have a USA number to give to
> >> : : customers so they can call me back at acceptable rates
> >> : : rather than them having to dial a UK number from the
> >> : : USA.
> >> : : What's the best and most cost effective way of getting
> >> : : a USA phone number which I can then divert back to my
> >> : : UK number?[/color][/color]
>[color=green][color=darkred]
> >> Trywww.ipkall.com-they offer free numbers which you can divert to most
> >> SIP addresses (but be aware some VoIP providers don't allow this, not sure
> >> about the Livebox).[/color][/color]
>[color=green][color=darkred]
> >> The numbers are 360 area code (Washington state) which is west coast so
> >> that will fit with your requirements.[/color][/color]
>[color=green][color=darkred]
> >> Try it and see, it's totally free so won't cost you anything if it doesn't
> >> work.[/color][/color]
>[color=green][color=darkred]
> >> Ivor[/color][/color][/color]

>> >On 23 Aug, 11:08, "Ivor Jones" <i...@despammed.invalid> wrote:[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>> >> "01steven" <01ste...@googlemail.com> wrote in message[/color]
>>[color=darkred]
>> >>news:1187860221.201537.282900@r23g2000prd.googlegroups.com
>> >> : : I have a VOIP question.
>> >> : : I live in the UK and want to make business calls to
>> >> : : companies in the USA from home in the evenings
>> >> : : (probably West Coast to take best advantage of time
>> >> : : difference).
>> >> : : However I want to have a USA number to give to
>> >> : : customers so they can call me back at acceptable rates
>> >> : : rather than them having to dial a UK number from the
>> >> : : USA.[/color][/color][/color]


Is it possible for you to just get a toll free number? Seems to me that
would be the simple solution.

Testy

--
Become more Balanced [url]www.shapeyourworld.ca[/url]

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from [url]http://www.teranews.com[/url]

In article <1187877643.609030.171480@q4g2000prc.googlegroups.com>,
01steven <01steven@googlemail.com> wrote:[color=blue]
>Thanks again for help, but am a complete VOIP novice. Can you point me
>to anything like a 'dummy's guide' to setting up another SIP device
>behind a Livebox? (I don't even know what SIP is!)[/color]

SIP is the most commonly protocol used for VoIP.

How are you currently connecting via your LiveBox? You said you have
free VoIP calls - how are you making these VoIP calls?

Gordon
[color=blue]
>
>On 23 Aug, 12:14, Gordon Henderson <gordon+use...@drogon.net> wrote:[color=green]
>> In article <1187866576.757289.224...@m37g2000prh.googlegroups.com>,
>>
>> 01steven <01ste...@googlemail.com> wrote:[color=darkred]
>> >Thanks for your reply.
>> >Excuse the ignorance- how would I know if Livebox allow this?
>> >If I speak to them myself to check, what exactly would I be asking
>> >them?[/color]
>>
>> I've successfully used SIP devices behind LiveBox units connecting to
>> various 3rd party VoIP providers, so unlike the BT HomeHub, it seems
>> that the Orange LiveBox box doesn't hinder other VoIP traffic.
>>
>> You could probably use a phone which has multiple SIP accounts - one
>> going to your Orange account, another going to a service that terminates
>> US numbers (Such as Ivors suggestion, below).
>>
>> Gordon
>>[color=darkred]
>> >Steven[/color]
>>[color=darkred]
>> >On 23 Aug, 11:08, "Ivor Jones" <i...@despammed.invalid> wrote:
>> >> "01steven" <01ste...@googlemail.com> wrote in message[/color]
>>[color=darkred]
>> >>news:1187860221.201537.282900@r23g2000prd.googlegroups.com
>> >> : : I have a VOIP question.
>> >> : : I live in the UK and want to make business calls to
>> >> : : companies in the USA from home in the evenings
>> >> : : (probably West Coast to take best advantage of time
>> >> : : difference).
>> >> : : I now have Orange Broadband, which comes with a Livebox
>> >> : : and Orange Talk. As I'm on their Unlimited broadband
>> >> : : package I get free VOIP calls to many international
>> >> : : countries, including the USA. So this is fine for
>> >> : : making my outbound calls.
>> >> : : However I want to have a USA number to give to
>> >> : : customers so they can call me back at acceptable rates
>> >> : : rather than them having to dial a UK number from the
>> >> : : USA.
>> >> : : What's the best and most cost effective way of getting
>> >> : : a USA phone number which I can then divert back to my
>> >> : : UK number?[/color]
>>[color=darkred]
>> >> Trywww.ipkall.com-they offer free numbers which you can divert to most
>> >> SIP addresses (but be aware some VoIP providers don't allow this, not sure
>> >> about the Livebox).[/color]
>>[color=darkred]
>> >> The numbers are 360 area code (Washington state) which is west coast so
>> >> that will fit with your requirements.[/color]
>>[color=darkred]
>> >> Try it and see, it's totally free so won't cost you anything if it doesn't
>> >> work.[/color]
>>[color=darkred]
>> >> Ivor[/color][/color]
>
>[/color]

On 23 Aug 2007 18:00:58 GMT, Gordon Henderson
<gordon+usenet@drogon.net> mused:
[color=blue]
>In article <1187877643.609030.171480@q4g2000prc.googlegroups.com>,
>01steven <01steven@googlemail.com> wrote:[color=green]
>>Thanks again for help, but am a complete VOIP novice. Can you point me
>>to anything like a 'dummy's guide' to setting up another SIP device
>>behind a Livebox? (I don't even know what SIP is!)[/color]
>
>SIP is the most commonly protocol used for VoIP.
>
>How are you currently connecting via your LiveBox? You said you have
>free VoIP calls - how are you making these VoIP calls?
>[/color]
I'm guessing the OP is using the built in VoIP functions on the
Livebox, which is just a number and a POTS phone port, all
preconfigured. I don't think you can obtain the SIP address from the
box, or from Orange AFAIAA, but the box is IME a bit crap anyway so
for serious use of VoIP I'd bin it and get a decent VoIP router.

However, setting up another VoIP device behind a Livebox should work
fine.
--
Regards,
Stuart.

"Ivor Jones" <ivor@despammed.invalid> wrote in message
news:5j54l1F3orh0tU1@mid.individual.net...[color=blue]
>
>
> "01steven" <01steven@googlemail.com> wrote in message
> news:1187860221.201537.282900@r23g2000prd.googlegroups.com
> : : I have a VOIP question.
> : : I live in the UK and want to make business calls to
> : : companies in the USA from home in the evenings
> : : (probably West Coast to take best advantage of time
> : : difference).
> : : I now have Orange Broadband, which comes with a Livebox
> : : and Orange Talk. As I'm on their Unlimited broadband
> : : package I get free VOIP calls to many international
> : : countries, including the USA. So this is fine for
> : : making my outbound calls.
> : : However I want to have a USA number to give to
> : : customers so they can call me back at acceptable rates
> : : rather than them having to dial a UK number from the
> : : USA.
> : : What's the best and most cost effective way of getting
> : : a USA phone number which I can then divert back to my
> : : UK number?
>
> Try [url]www.ipkall.com[/url] - they offer free numbers which you can divert to most
> SIP addresses (but be aware some VoIP providers don't allow this, not sure
> about the Livebox).
>
> The numbers are 360 area code (Washington state) which is west coast so
> that will fit with your requirements.
>
> Try it and see, it's totally free so won't cost you anything if it doesn't
> work.
>
>
> Ivor[/color]

This would be the simplest way technically speaking, but Orange will
probably not release your sip address as they are likely to regard this as a
potential revenue loser. If they do give it to you, Orange may still block
calls to them from another party .

However Orange only act as a middleman when a call is set up over the
internet and there is also a possibility of guessing your local sip address
if you have a domain registered for your IP address at home. Your SIP
address may then be as simple as <Orange ID>@yourdomain.com. The same
applies if Orange have given you a static IP (e.g. <Orange
ID>@111.111.111.111).

If this last paragraph is all gobbledegook to you, then I would recommend
sticking with an out-of-the-box provider. Vonage would be a good choice for
what you want to do, but I guess you may be in contract, and not want to pay
the extra dosh for this. Also, running two different boxes with two
different providers can pose its own difficulties.

Essentially with voip, there are two basic groups of provider, those that
are user friendly but also locked and more expensive (Orange, Vonage, BT
HomeHub, etc...) and those that are more technical but unlocked but more
flexible and cheap.

"Lurch" <myrealname@sjwelectrical.co.uk> wrote in message
news:p5jrc3hrbgu6ud9s8rkfpmbq7dfehkelu2@4ax.com
: : On 23 Aug 2007 18:00:58 GMT, Gordon Henderson
: : <gordon+usenet@drogon.net> mused:
: :
: : : In article
: : : <1187877643.609030.171480@q4g2000prc.googlegroups.com>,
: : : 01steven <01steven@googlemail.com> wrote:
: : : : Thanks again for help, but am a complete VOIP
: : : : novice. Can you point me to anything like a
: : : : 'dummy's guide' to setting up another SIP device
: : : : behind a Livebox? (I don't even know what SIP is!)
: : :
: : : SIP is the most commonly protocol used for VoIP.
: : :
: : : How are you currently connecting via your LiveBox?
: : : You said you have free VoIP calls - how are you
: : : making these VoIP calls?
: : :
: : I'm guessing the OP is using the built in VoIP
: : functions on the Livebox, which is just a number and a
: : POTS phone port, all preconfigured. I don't think you
: : can obtain the SIP address from the box, or from Orange
: : AFAIAA, but the box is IME a bit crap anyway so for
: : serious use of VoIP I'd bin it and get a decent VoIP
: : router.
: :
: : However, setting up another VoIP device behind a
: : Livebox should work fine.

I've just set up a Livebox for a friend, if I'd have been asked beforehand
I'd have advised her against getting one, but she did a deal with Dixons
or whatever they're called these days and got a "free" Packard Bell laptop
in exchange for an 18 month contract. Not a deal I'd have done but ok for
a non-techie person who just wants a laptop and a broadband connection.

I don't think she knows the Livebox has a VoIP port on it, as she wasn't
there when I set it up yesterday. But it does have an 0845 number, which
is a downer. Anyone know if there is a SIP address I can try..?

Ivor