Hi I'm New, have a few question about PSTN and SIP

Greeting,

I have spend lot of times and reading faqs and many threads.
But some questions I am still unclear on if it is really free:

1) When I decide to "Click here to request a new number -My PSTN Inbound Numbers-" with the prefix: 0870, 0844 is "FREE"?
If it is so, then how many number is max you can "freely request".

2) If I use my local USA phone OR the voipuser account to call the following echo number test: 0870 068 5775, 0844 986 ECHO (3246) is "FREE"?

3) I saw on the "prefix number request" it say 0844 isn't that the same number that was 1st assign to me default on my SIP account? Also it say forwarding to local landline capability, does it mean I don't get charge but the caller does and make it raise rating?

4) I read the "term of service of request number it said, "14.1 you do not make use of your number for a continuous period of 3 months" What would happen if I don't?

5) I am assuming Local landline USA call to my 1st assign (SIP account's PSTN 0844933 ****) number won't work right?

6) I am assuming sip's PSTN number calling/receiving to a FWD number/other SIP user is FREE anywhere in the world since it's IP to IP right?

7) If I communicate with other's different service provider of sip/FWD assuming free of charge regardless of location, then my rating will "not" go down?

8] If I want to raise +1 rating how much would I need to donate?

9) This is the year 2007. but the term of service listing is 2005, so I am not sure if the cut off minute is 10 min or 15 minutes?


Thank you in advance,
- Jack

Hi,

First we must point out Voipuser is NOT a commercial service, it is intended as a system to allow you (and us) to test and tryout a raft of facilities related to VoIP.
Although a few of our members do use the system in relation to their businesses, we do not offer service guarantees and there are restrictions they may prove problematic

But to answer your questions
1/ All the numbers shown in My Numbers are free and you may select up to one from each. Bear in mind that not all number prefixes are available to be called from all countries though.

2/ Calling the test numbers is free when dialing through your Voipuser account.
Dialing from any other number will be charged at the appropriate rate on your phone bill. Also note to call the test numbers from a US telephone you will need to dial the International code +44 870 or +44 844 etc

3/ The 0844 numbers available from My Numbers are from a different number bank and are charged on a slightly different tarrif to your main Voipuser number.

4/ Telephone numbers are precious when we run out of them and some cost money to maintain. We reserve the right to be able to reclaim numbers that are not being used. Three months is a reasonable cut off point.

5/ It does depend on the carrier whether they permit access to our 0844 numbers. Also note it is a UK number you are dialing, so it must be prefixed with the international dial code i.e. 0044 844 xxx

6/ Yes, provided you add the relevant prefix for the SIP provider. Check sipbroker.org if stuck

7/ Correct

8/ The rating scale varies by usage and the state of the pot, but in general £1 a point is probably about right. If donating in anything but pounds stirling, please bare in mind conversion charges hit us hard, so donations of £5 or more (or equivalent) are appreciated and that as time passes your rating will be affected whether you use the 'donation' or not.
It is a lot simpler for everybody if you can get people to use your Voipuser number

9/ Currently the cut off is set at 10 minutes

Thank you for the quick reply,

Most of the questions has become clear now.
I am still not clear on a few things:

"3/ The 0844 numbers available from My Numbers are from a different number bank and are charged on a slightly different tarrif to your main Voipuser number."

-A) So what is the rates of the 0844 default assign number in "SIP account"?

-B) I have read somewhere on the thread that this default assigned 0844 PSTN number will not be re-claim since it's an alias to the username.voipuser?

-C) I am not familar with the term "different number bank". Does that mean inbound call to the prefix number 0870 will not bennefit much to the pot which "raise rating" as it would be if the caller called to the default assign PSTN numbers in the SIP account?


Thank you,
- Jack

a/ In the UK on a phone line operated by British Telecom, a call to your Voipuser number is charged at about 3p/min. The 0844 numbers from My Numbers are charged at 5p/min.
Other carriers charge differently to suit their whim.

b/ We have had to recover numbers in the past, but those accounts had been canceled, or unused for well over a year and were done with all due warning.
At present we have plenty of numbers and no intention of canceling any active accounts, but we do need to retain the right to be able to do so.

c/ Different number prefixes come from different number banks or ranges. They are charged at different rates and offer different contributions to the pot (and account rating), which is why the calling destination varies. We have to make enough money from the call to cover the cost of routing to the destination in the first place.
0870 numbers are an awkward one as the rules regarding the charges are changing in the near future, but in general the higher the tarrif, the larger the contribution.