[necrossis]

Hi Everyone!
I live in South Florida. I've been researching (at least trying to) ways to lower my phone bill. I currently have DSL through Bellsouth which, they force you to also have they phone line through them (bastards!) so, I think VoIP wouldn't make sense for me, since I would still have to pay for the basic phone line for the DSL to work (right?). I dont install cable because it costs about $60 + $20 the voip service. Right now i'm paying $30 for DSL and $24 for the phone service. I only make calls to my Mom in South Carolina and my wife calls her family in Jacksonville. I have a skype account which, i put money in to be able to call my mom (only .026 cents a minute). I read the article in Voxilla about the spa-1001 that you can configure two diff services using the same phone device. I was wondering: could I configure this device to have a virtual number in south caroline through sipphone for my mom to call me locally and configure skype to make outbound calls?
Just a thought.
Is there another alternative ways that I can take advantage of my DSL connection?
Can somebody help me here in 'basic terms' since I'm not very literate in this matter. (VoIP that is).

thank you

[rizsher]

Try Broadvoice.com , for 20$, you can unlimieted natyionwide+internatioanl dialling to Most of western europe, or www.vonage.com (more expensive)

[digi]

You might also want to consider going with a free SIP service.

Where you arent' tied down by a monthly fee, and are on a pay as you go structure for sip calling.

http://www.sipphone.com has a $0 a month fee, and rates as low as 1.9cents a minute in make calls to pstn numbers in the U.S.

Oh and did I mention all calls over the internet are terminated for FREE. No need to buy a monthly plan, just signup.

[bshulam]

I have a simmilar situation as you:

I chose to setup a free world dialup number so anyone with the free xlite software can call me and it rings my phone. My computer doesnot have to be on. THen I use TerraCall for my long distance. Hope this helps I use a SPA3K

[mberlant]

You cover a lot of ground in a short time. I'm going to jump around a little bit, trying to cover all of your points.

First of all, you will not be able to integrate Skype into any solution because they are a closed system that relies on everybody using their proprietary client in order to ensure that each user contributes resources to their network fabric. One thing you could do is to reduce your POTS line to Lifeline Service.



Then, about DSL+POTS vs. Cable internet+Cable TV, the argument is about the same. DSL was invented as a cheap way to provide internet service to the home because it rides on unused "space" on the copper wire that brings your POTS Dial Tone into your home. Were you to cancel your POTS service you would no longer have that wire upon which to carry a DSL signal.

Having a local phone number for your mother to call is a good idea, since you still have your POTS line to receive Florida calls. When you are looking for a number don't be misled by companies who only offer choices by Area Code. This only works in communities where the entire Area Code is a local call for all users. You need to make sure that te service you choose has a number in a Rate Center that is local to your mother.

Good luck to you.

[necrossis]

Thank you all for your replies regarding my situation.
Two things:
1) The xlite/Terracall setup sounds like a good idea. I'm going to get one of thouse spa3k and try it out.
would this work with the spa1001? (since its cheaper). thanks bshulam

2) I was wondering what the Rate Center meant when I went to the packet8 site to check if they had a South Carolina are code. They dont have Rate Center in Lancaster (where my mom lives). Thanks mberlant. Question, remember I said i'm not very 'literate' in the subject? I know what POTS means but, what is Lifeline service?

Thanks again

[mberlant]

1) The -3000 and -1001 are different prices because they have different features and functions. The -3000 has both an FXS channel (for connecting a telephone set to a VoIP service provider, etc.) and an FXO channel (for connecting your POTS service to a VoIP service provider.

The -1001 has two FXS channels under the hood, with only one telephone connection that chooses between the two services. You can more reasonably compare the -1001 to the -1000, which has one FXS channel, and the -2000, which has two independent FXS channels connecting to two separate telephone sets.

Lifeline service is the cheapest telephone service you can get from the phone company. It includes no features and very few, if any, local minutes.

[necrossis]

Ok. After "crunching" the numbers and reading through the forums in order to find a way to cut my bills here's what I've come up with (so far):
Currently I'm paying:
DSL $30
PhoneLine $25
Total $55
After 6 months my DSL will go up to $45, wich will total $70

If I change to Cable Internet @$60, I could eliminate my phone line completely and add Broadvoice In-State unlimited plan for $9.95 and use TerraCall for my Out-of-State calls @$.0194/min. This will also total $70 + any out-of-state minutues used; which estimating we could say $5 a month, which is about 257 minutes.

Now, the question is:
Which adapter would be the best suited as well as the best value to configure in order to make Broadvoice and Terracall work for this setup? That is: for using Broadvoice for the in-state calling and Terracall for the out-of-state calling.
Can this even be done?

Any suggestions?

[mberlant]

Based upon what you just said, my recommendation is for either the SPA-1001 or the SPA-2000, depending upon your preferences and calling habits. Both devices will connect you to both BroadVoice and Terracall. The difference is that the SPA-1001 connects both VoIP service providers to a single telephone wire in your house and the SPA-2000 connects each service provider to its own telephone wire. With the -1001 you are limited to one person using the system at any one time. With the -2000 someone can be on a BroadVoice call at the same time someone else is on a Terracall call.

If you buy your SPA from Voxilla it will come with a BroadVoice coupon waiving your startup fee and your first month's charges. Based upon this, I would recommend that you sign up for BroadVoice's Unlimited World Plus plan ($25 per month for 35 countries) for the first month and see if you end up using enough service to justify staying with one of their fatter plans come the end of the free month or shifting down to the In-State plan that you are currently favoring.

[voipman1]

for your LDU. usage?