Here I am

Free phone service

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So who's done their taxes?

Sh!p Paper

Would any of you be interested in getting rid of your local and long distance company??



Here's the deal.



I am doing a project at work where we use Internet broadband access to make local and long distance calls. This is not like the free long distance you use with your computer (but there is a client for that). This is 100% better, and from early tests, the people I have called, cannot tell anything different from the regular phone system. You can plug your existing phone/fax machine into a box, and it will convert your existing phone equipment and convert your calls to work over this service. If you want, you could get a special phone with internet browing, but it is pricy. You only need one internet connection since the phone and PC plug into the same line. The neat feature is that if you plug the phone into any internet connection anywhere in the world, your local phone number follows you. This is a private network so no one would get your phone number unless you gave it to them (i. e... no solicitors) You have the ability to make and recieve phone calls just like your regular phone. You could make a call anywhere in the word to another person on the network for free by dialing a 4 digit extension :) For long distance calls off the network, you could use a phone card from Sams or use the service we provide for about the same cost.



Almost forgot. . 911 works with this system, so that wont be an issue.



Y'all be interested in something like this if we made it available?? Price would be comparable to what the phone companys charge for local service, if not a little less.
 
Yes I'm interested. I live nort of Hempstead Tx. Man I have to take a load of sunshine home with me in the afternoon, so I will have some in the morning. Best I can get is 26 kb. Is this just

in the city or will it work in the country?
 
ammm, same monthly chage doesn't equal free

At least in my book. Not saying this isn't a good idea or deal, but since you said, "price would be comparable to what the phone companys charge for local service, if not a little less," that doesn't add up to FREE by my math. Also, if I don't have cable or DSL (which means I have phone service already), I have to have a dial-up which means I STILL have to pay for phone service plus the monthly rate for your service.



Now, since I travel for work, will I have a number I can use anywhere to get access to my account or will I have to register for an ISP where I am for the week and pay that charge, plus yours? You said, "if you plug the phone into any internet connection anywhere in the world, your local phone number follows you. " Does that mean any CABLE system? And to do that, I have to change my network settings for the new network. Not all that difficult for me, but for some people it would just make their heads explode.



And, of course, if I call anyone off the system, I have to pay some sort of LD - either using the SAM's card or a 10-10 number? Would a 10-10 number be possilbe under this set up? ATT's already doing this. For I think $20 or $25 a month, I can call anyone else on ATT for however long, whenever and not pay a penny more. For me, that's almost 6 hours of yakking since I already have the . 07 plan.



Just some thoughts. Like I said, I'm not trying to shoot your project down, just looking at it with the practicality filter in place. (Disclaimer: everyone's practicality filter is going to be different and I know that)
 
Originally posted by JConley

It works on any internet connection. We will be testing this over a dial up line next week.



OK..... just how are you supposed to get to the internet?



Dial up=local phone bill. :confused:



If my phone doesn't work... ..... who should I call for service?



Where will my phone number come from?
 
Last edited:
Shovel



You are right. More than likely it would be cheaper to use Ma Bell if you have to have a dial up line. Here is one situation where it might come in handy. Lets say you load he software version of the phone on a multi-media laptop. You could take a laptop with you on the road. Call in to your ISP (most have local numbers around the U. S. ), and your local phone would be the laptop. You could carry your laptop around he country and have your home phone with you. All you need is an internet connection.



One neat feature is you can use the phone while the PC is still surfing the Internet. (we were doing this yesterday, downloading a CD over a VPN connection, and it didnt affect the voice quality)





I assume if your phone doesnt work at home right now you call the phone company by finding a phone that does work. In this case you would call us on a phone (land line or cell) or send E-Mail.



We give you a phone number, and it would be a 7 digit just like you have now.





Joel



Yup... I guess I should have worded the subject another way



We have many options regarding how we are going to setup the service, and one of them is to charge a flat rate with long distance included. Its just to early to tell. For phone to phone on the network, it costs the same regardless where the two phones are located. I have a neighbor with relatives in Hong Kong. If these two people had the phones, they could talk with no long distance charges.



And you are correct that dial up users might find this cost prohibitive. (see the example avove)



You bring up a good poing about the traveling users that are in a hotel and needs access. In theory, if we had a point of presence in the town you are stayng at, (or your local ISP has a number) you could dial into the local number, and your phone number would find you. If we didnt have a phone number, and the ISP didnt have a number, you would have to find another way of getting into the Internet. I am glad you brought this up. We will look into this. (believe me... we dont have all the answers yet)



Agreed that the network settings are beyond the reach of end users. The phone is programed to use the DHCP setting of the local ISP, and to look for a specific IP address of the server once connected.





Yes 10-10 numbers would work fine.



Thanks for the practicality filter. We have a lot of work to do
 
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