Voice over IP providers
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What is Voice over IP?
Voice over IP allows users to perform basic communications functions such as voice calls, voice messaging and facsimile over the internet instead of the traditional telephone network.
Because VoIP utilises your existing broadband connection and does not use the traditional telephone network there is no need to have a second telephone line installed. When you sign up for a VoIP service you will receive a brand new VoIP number, this number follows the same format as conventional telephone numbers.
Voice over IP definitions
Free calls to users of the same service: If a VoIP user contacts another user who is subscribed to the same VoIP service (the same provider of VoIP), they can make free calls to that user.
Free calls to other locations: If a VoIP user tries to contact another user who is not subscribed to the same VoIP service or tries to call a user on a traditional phone number (i.e. non-VoIP) or a mobile number, they can make free calls to those users. (Basically calls to other VoIP providers and calls to non-VoIP numbers are free).
Emergency calls: A user subscribed to one of the VoIP services listed can make telephone calls to emergency service numbers such as 999.
| Supplier | Monthly rental cost | Signup costs | Daytime/ National call rate (pence) | Free calls to users of same services? | Emergency calls | Extras needed |
|---|
| VoIPCheap | £0.00 | £0.00 | 0.00 | Yes | No | Headphones & microphone or headset for PC operation |
| SIPGate | £0.00 | £0.00 | 1.19 | Yes* | No | Headphones & microphone or headset for PC operation |
| Wazatel | £0.00 | £0.00 | 1.32 | Yes | No | Internet phone available from Wazatel |
| SkyPE | £0.00 | £0.00 | 1.40 | Yes | No | Headphones & microphone or headset for PC operation |
| VoIPtalk Prepaid | £0.00 | £0.00 | 1.40 | Yes | No | Headphones & microphone or headset for PC operation |
| PlusTalk Pay-As-You-Go | £0.00 | £0.00 | 1.50 | Yes | No | Headphones & microphone or headset for PC operation |
| VoIP Unlimited | £0.00 | £0.00 | 2.00 | Yes | No | Analogue adaptor or IP handset available from VoIP Unlimited |
| GossipTel Free Gossip | £0.00 | £0.00 | 2.50 | Yes | No | Headphones & microphone or headset for PC operation |
| Freedom2Surf - Freedom2Phone | £0.00 | £0.00 | 2.70 | Yes | No | Headphones & microphone or headset for PC operation |
| BT Communicator | £0.00 | £0.00 | 3.00 | Yes | No | Headphones & microphone or headset for PC operation |
| BT Evening & Weekends | £0.00** | £0.00 | 3.00 | Yes | Yes | All equipment required is included in BT's welcome pack |
| Tesco VoIP | £0.00 | £14.97 | 0.00 | Yes | No | All equipment required is included in Tesco's startup pack |
| IPSpeak | £0.00 | £50.00*** | 2.20 | Yes | No | IPSpeak handset, software included |
| AQL | £2.35 | £0.00 | 1.50 | Yes | No | Headphones & microphones or headset for PC operation |
| VoIPtalk Prepay Silver | £2.99 | £0.00 | 1.00 | Yes | No | Headphones & microphones or headset for PC operation |
| PlusTalk Evenings and Weekends | £2.99 | £0.00 | 1.50 | Yes | No | Headphones & microphones or headset for PC operation |
| PipeCall | £2.99 | £14.99 | 1.25 | Yes | No | Headphones & microphones or headset for PC operation |
| BT Anytime Call Plan | £4.95**** | £0.00 | £0.00 | Yes | Yes | BT includes everything required in their Welcome Pack |
| 056me | £5.00 | £35.00 | 1.20 | Yes | No | Customers require an ethernet connection |
| Talk4Life | £5.87 | £41.13 | 1.20 | Yes | No | Customers require an ethernet connection |
| InterViVo Networks Ltd | £6.00 | £0.00 | 1.72 | Yes | No | Headphones & microphones or headset for PC operation |
| The Internet Phone Company | £6.00 | £0.00 | 1.72 | Yes | No | Headphones & microphones or headset for PC operation |
| Vonage | £7.99 | £9.99 | 0.00 | Yes | Yes | Customers require an ethernet connection |
| VoIPtalk Unlimited | £9.99 | £0.00 | 0.00 | Yes | No | Headphones & microphones or headset for PC operation |
| GossipTel World 500 | £9.99 | £0.00 | 1.50 | Yes | No | Headphones & microphone or headset for PC operation |
| Lixxus LixxTalk Home | £9.99 | £15.99 | 0.00 | Yes | No | Headphones & microphones or headset for PC operation |
| Orange Talk | £19.99***** | £0.00 | 2.50 | Yes | Yes | Orange broadband connection and livebox modem required |
* Includes calls to SIPGate partners
** BT Evenings and Weekends is free with BT Total Broadband, £2.99 otherwise
*** Annual fee
**** BT Anytime is £4.95 with BT Total Broadband, £7.99 otherwise
***** Includes the cost of Orange Broadband Unlimited
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