[Chris Aguilo]

I currently have a Welltech ATA-171 VoIP phone adaptor which I would like to use, but am having trouble finding a VoIP service provider which I can configure that particular model to work with that particular provider. I called Vonage and 1 rep. said NO you must use their Adaptor. I called again and 2 rep stated that you could plug internet into their adaptor and then plug my welltech adaptor into the vonage adapter, but that just does'nt make any sense to me. Can you give me some advise in finding a service provider (VoIP) where I don't have to purchase their Adaptor?

Sincerely,
Chris

[hwittenb]

Just glancing thru the Welltech ATA-171 user guide, it looks pretty standard for any sip VoIP provider who allows you to "bring your own device" (byod). It looks like Welltech is a Taiwanese company and their adapters are not that commonly used in the U.S. so you will probably be on your own when it comes to the actual configuration, but I imagine you can get it to work because sip is a standard protocol and the adapter is built to that standard.

As you found, the larger VoIP providers like to control their environment and support costs by controlling the adapters that may be used. The larger providers do block you from using adapters other than the ones they provide and generally prohibit you from altering the adapter configurations.

Not sure what you want in a provider. I would suggest you start with a pay-as-you-go provider for a $5 or $10 credit to startup and then pay by the minute for for your calls. You can start with outgoing calls first. You will gain experience and begin to understand the technology.

Three byod providers that I would look at to start with would include callwithus, future-nine, and callcentric. Configurations for those three are fairly standard. GizmoProject is another. VoiceStick is also a good company. If you are making a lot of international calls, there are always the absolutely-no-support, very cheap European Betamax sister companies (VoIPBuster, VoIPStunt, etc).