VoIP, Skype, Firebox VoIP Cyberphone
So do you happen to live in a developing country like Pakistan? Do you know how much your relatives living in the US, UK and elsewhere have to pay just to dial country codes like +92 on their phone set?
The developer's of Kazaa, Sharman Networks are behind the "Gratis VoIP technology". This is the same technology that runs behind "Skype" (as in hype) and has made millions of users since it was launched last year.
I have been using Skype for nearly an year now and have been pretty amazed at the smooth streams of voice even on low bandwidth (now this goes to the lame ISPs of Pakistan, imagine that!). I have hardly got any "blurps" in the hours conversations I have done with my friends and relatives living abroad.
So thats plain ol too limited to PC-PC, right? Isnt that just too lame?
How about having a phone that "RINGS" and the same phone using which you can dial numbers in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, France and nearly 10 more countries at the rate of 1.7 cents per minute! Now thats only 2.8 rupees a minute, sitting right here in Pakistan (or any other country ofcourse)...
Nothing in life is free - or is it? With Skype's gratis voice-over-IP (VoIP)
software taking the world by storm, Firebox.com, a UK-based gadgets site, has
teamed up with the company and a small handset manufacturer to release the
Firebox VoIP Cyberphone.
At the same time, Worldcall Broadband has accelerated its campaign towards making their users get a free phone service advertised by the name "FreePhone". FreePhone has international calls to any country in the world at the rate of Rs.15/minute and also runs using VoIP. Well, since they are even charging for even calls on FreePhone to FreePhone (on VoIP) I call this plain crap! The normal calling rates are not less than those offered by GoCDMA and PTCL... However they do give call time worth Rs.200 free every month...
I'm gonna rush now and get that Firebox VoIP Cyberphone!
In the meanwhile check this... and this...
posted by yasirmemon at 2/19/2005 06:29:00 PM
4 Comments:
have you used any of the dsl voip services something like vonage in pakistan? or are you just a skype PC-PC user?
Thanks! I did know about virtual numbers but just couldnt figure out where to get one from...
Still the problem lies thats its only open to Vonage Customers... But i'm sure Pakistani hazraat with find plenty of social circles (or build) in the US and UK to get this feature...
Skype can not fit in here because its focussing a totally different market segment... Skype has a superb voice quality even at low bandwidth.
btw impressive, i might make a post on this soon...thanks!
I have probed into the Vonage deal and am heavily thinking in making the investment - requires a US billing address and about $19 a month (somewhere around that) I am already hooked onto a 128K DSL, so technically i am on the borderline of good speed for voice. thought someone around this part of the world (Pak) has used this and i can find their input on issues if any?
YOUWHO !!!! anyone used these Voip services in Pakistan and what about the no VoIp contract we signed when we rented out the DSL line
Well, I did the same study over Vonage... They have two packages
1) Virtual Number
2) Softphone...
I'd personally prefer the first one (It costs $5/month) and you get a US/UK/Canada/German/Aussi number in the country of your choice...
Exploring a little more I found out that the number would be forwarded to the fixed line number you provide and its only valid for around 10-15 countries listed... I wish it wasnt so...
Softphone is another option... im not too sure about this... So still I think the Skype's paid feature is excellent! You dont get a US phone number, but you can call as low as 2.3 cents a minute...
Btw, Desistore.com which is run by Xibercom has a VoIP line over a DSL connection hooked onto a US number... I'm not too sure what service they use...
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