Our community VoIP to PSTN Service

Extension of free VoIP User services

It has always been our aim to develop innovative services to better serve our users and contributors.

All of the revenue generated by the use of our Inbound PSTN to VoIP numbers has been pooled to a central community "pot" for the benefit of this community. We have developed a backend software system running on our servers which allows this pot to be used by members, via our SIP server and PSTN gateway, to make outbound calls on their SIP phones (whether software or hardware).

You can use this to call most landlines, anywhere in the World.

At the same time we are allocating a new UK 0844 range of inbound numbers for which the caller is charged 3p/min based on BT call rates*

These numbers are issued to any member wishing to use our free VoIP outbound service.

All future revenues on the inbound numbers continues to be added to the pot. We have a live display of the current available number of minutes (based on an average call route cost, which will in reality vary depending on destinations called). This is updated on the server every 30 minutes or so based on call activity. It's a guide only.

You'll see it on the top right hand corner of our homepage and it looks like this:-



The objective is to create a system whereby anyone can try VoIP without having to spend any money, or give out any credit card details whatsoever. Free as in "free speech".

To sign up, click here.

There are a couple of points to note:-

1. We are required by Telco regulations to "know our end user" and to this end, we do require your name and address. We have to disclose this information to any Law Enforcement agencies which ask for it. Apart from that this information will not be disclosed further. We have a firm privicy policy on this online here.

2. There is a possibility at any given moment that we will actually run out of available minutes with which to route calls, which means you will not be able to make outbound calls until enough revenue has been generated back into the system. Inbound calls will always work, and are completely unaffected by this.

3. Due to current legislation on provision of service, we are not able to route emergency service numbers such as 999 and 911 (ridiculous though it may seem, we are unable to provide this due to regulation).

4. We don't offer any form of quality of service agreement or guarantee of provision of service. Use as is, without warranty. Having said that, our beta-testers have had outbound service for the last few months and, while we have had the odd problem, we've usually been able to resolve it fairly quickly and it's always been relatively minor as I'm sure any of them will confirm.

5. Being community funded, this service relies on people not being stingy by making hours of daily outbound calls to remote places on the planet. Please respect your fellow user. We have automated processes in place to track users who are blatantly abusing service in this way, but first and foremost this is operated on a basis of trust.

6. Outbound calls are restricted to destinations which we can route for 2.5p/min or less** and maximum call time per call is 10 minutes (calls just get cut with no audio 'pips' or warnings).

7. When dialling out, you need to use the full international code standard. For example, dialling a UK number of 01234 567890 you would dial 00 44 1234 567890.

Sign up and give it a go. You can download an X-Lite phone (setup for the X-Lite with our service is here) and use your PC if you don't already have a SIP phone.

That's enough talk. We want you to try VoIP.

Dean

* - all call rates mentioned on this website are based on BT rates. Other providers of PSTN services may charge more than these quoted rates to the caller. We are not in control of this, and it does not generate any additional revenue for this community where those providers are over-charging. Callers paying more than our quoted rates really should switch provider.

** - Countries which you can call using our free VoIP to PSTN services are listed in the VoIP Termination List here

Our PSTN/VoIP gateway currently supports the following codecs:-

SIP

G.711
G.729
G.723.1
GSM

IAX2 (Inbound PSTN to IAX2)

G.711
GSM
iLBC

Update : Outbound calls are currently capped to a maximum duration of 10 mins. This is just to help reduce the February defecit. We'll be upping it again as soon as we are able to.

Dean