DID number for Lahore - Braintel alternative

[dvyne]

Hi All,

I don't have pakistani ID and looks like that's a requirement to get brain's number. I am looking for alternatives.

Can someone suggest an alternative for braintel. Do you guys know of any other companies which offer lahore DID numbers? I understand that people are using callpakistandirect etc but generally they aren't very happy with it. I registered on voxbone's website and it seems as if they only sell DID numbers in bulk. I also checked DIDww and they are charging whopping $20 per month.

Please advise,
Thanks

[rizsher]

Try www.callwithus.com or CallCentric.com , a Lahore DID would cost in the region of 15-20 US$.

[dvyne]

Thanks Riz. While digging for an affordable solution to contact family in pk, I stumbled across pakphonenumber.com and found that they are offering two day trial period. I signed up with them and got a shared DID number. I was able to route it to my cell and got couple of calls on it. First call had some echo but second call was very clear.

If I pay around 20 bucks per month for DID line, and use any betamax service for outbound, its still more expensive than getting a brain number. Do you guys think that brain is the cheapest solution out there? If that's the case then I can ask my family to get a brain number and let me use it.

Need your input.

Regards

[rizsher]

At approx 4$/month, Brain is most certainly the cheapest VoIP setup for Pakistan, however, the quality they offer is variable, sometimes really good, sometimes really bad.

I have generally used Brain as a backup, I have an incoming DID from another provider, so I get most of my relatives to call me, so outgoing calls are minimal, sorta makes the 22$/month I pay for the DID economical.

Also, I do keep remining people, if you;re based in Western Europe, USA, Canada etc, calls from Pakistani mobile phones (and PTCL I'm quite sure as well) to these destinations cost less than 3rs/minute. This really makes incoming DIDs more of a convenience than cost effective.

[dvyne]

Thanks again,
Do you mind sharing which providers you use for inbound/outbound calls. I am based in north america. From what my understanding is, PTCL calls Rs 2 for a three minute call. Are their rates different when they dial local brain number? Even if it is Rs3/- per minute, if they call for 20 minutes it's still less than dollar and much better than stupid scratch cards which are the whole reason of my exploring all these other options.

[zer0net]

also checkout voip.ms

[dvyne]

Well, I found CallWithUs to be the cheapest among didww, callcentric, voip.ms, pakphonenumber etc. There was $11 setup fee and $13 per month for 3000 incoming minutes. I have not actually tested the voice quality yet. Will let you guys know. I know that PTCL have changed their rates recently and I saw on their website that PTCL - PTCL calls are free from 11pm to 6am. Do you guys know if these DID numbers are routed through PTCL's exchanges? If that's the case then its better to have your family call after 11pm to avoid local PTCL charges as well.

Thoughts, Suggestions?

Thanks

[zowavoip]

Originally Posted by dvyne

Well, I found CallWithUs to be the cheapest among didww, callcentric, voip.ms, pakphonenumber etc. There was $11 setup fee and $13 per month for 3000 incoming minutes. I have not actually tested the voice quality yet. Will let you guys know. I know that PTCL have changed their rates recently and I saw on their website that PTCL - PTCL calls are free from 11pm to 6am. Do you guys know if these DID numbers are routed through PTCL's exchanges? If that's the case then its better to have your family call after 11pm to avoid local PTCL charges as well.

Thoughts, Suggestions?

Thanks

No at all, offered DIDs of Pakistan by any company not belongs to PTCL , mostly Worldcall's DIDs and there is no free call from 11pm to 6am for DIDs.
somebody chq these DIDs call from any worldcall's CDMA maybe its a free call caz worldcall offer all day free call worldcall to worldcall, if its free pls. do tell me too thx

[rizsher]

As I said before, direct dial calls to the western world from mobiles, PTCL are dirt cheap anyway, I checked from a Mobilink JAZZ phone, the charges were less than 3rs/min when I called a UK landline number.

For a 20 min call, thats less than a dollar - there really isn't too much of a case for having Local DID numbers from Pakistan when folks can call international destinations for close to F all anyway..

[zowavoip]

even somebody can payless if they call from WARID Mobile to CANADA,USA & UK DIDs , its Total=Rs.1.60/mint and no server down prob anytime like PAK DIDs.
The best thing is that CANADA,USA & UK DIDs are free offered by many VOIP companies.