I've just been checking the call (not SMS) charges using SMSListo voip
software. www.smslisto.com
They are very good - BUT I see no mention of a CONNECTION charge where
most comanies are 5, 6 or 7p.
Is there a connection charge to UK landlines ???

Any comments on quality and reliability of SMSlisto.

Thanks.

default  wrote:
> I've just been checking the call (not SMS) charges using SMSListo voip
> software. www.smslisto.com
> They are very good - BUT I see no mention of a CONNECTION charge where
> most comanies are 5, 6 or 7p.
> Is there a connection charge to UK landlines ???

I haven't checked prices in the last few weeks (in general I noticed an
upward trend), but AFAIK there isn't.  The minimum call charge seems to be 1
cent if you're calling a chargeable number.  If you're on a Free Minutes
number the call is free.  Of course they can change these without telling
you, so keeping an eye on the costs page is a good idea.

> Any comments on quality and reliability of SMSlisto.

Pretty good.  Some calls are a bit broken up or a bit dalek-like, but
generally it's quite usable.  A few SMSs seem to disappear.

Theo

"default"  wrote in message
news:9vi09453uscd3s5auqeo6v4siicponon93@4ax.com...

> I've just been checking the call (not SMS) charges using SMSListo voip
> software. www.smslisto.com
> They are very good - BUT I see no mention of a CONNECTION charge where
> most comanies are 5, 6 or 7p.
> Is there a connection charge to UK landlines ???
>
> Any comments on quality and reliability of SMSlisto.

It's one of Finareas offering, I have used it and it works well, the only
thing is there seems to be no incoming number avalible for this service.

Regards,

wayne

"default"  wrote in message 
news:9vi09453uscd3s5auqeo6v4siicponon93@4ax.com...
> I've just been checking the call (not SMS) charges using SMSListo voip
> software. www.smslisto.com
> They are very good - BUT I see no mention of a CONNECTION charge where
> most comanies are 5, 6 or 7p.
> Is there a connection charge to UK landlines ???
>
> Any comments on quality and reliability of SMSlisto.
>
> Thanks.

It's the best of the Betamax bunch for me because I make mainly UK landline
and mobile calls.
UK Geographic calls are free for up to 300 min in any 7 consecutive days
I find this quite difficult to exceed.
There is also a 90 day limit on the free calls per 10 Euro top-up but
I find my credit expires at about 90 days because of the mobile calls we 
make,
so it's not an issue. Topping up restores the 90 days plus any carried over.

The chargeable calls are in 1 min steps so my mobile calls are 4.5 pence
for up to 1 min, 9 pence if you go into the next min.
There is no connection charge.

The only hidden charge is 75 euro-cents on top of your 10euros
"admin charge" when you pay by PayPal, I don't know if it applies to
other payment methods.

Don't forget to select a Euro-zone country when you sign up, otherwise
they won't charge you VAT [cough!]

Are you just intending to use their Softphone or have you got a
hardware alternative?
Plenty of users of this and other services over on uk.telecom.voip

-- 
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

On Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:58:37 +0100, "Graham"  wrote:

>
>
>"default"  wrote in message 
>news:9vi09453uscd3s5auqeo6v4siicponon93@4ax.com...
>> I've just been checking the call (not SMS) charges using SMSListo voip
>> software. www.smslisto.com
>> They are very good - BUT I see no mention of a CONNECTION charge where
>> most comanies are 5, 6 or 7p.
>> Is there a connection charge to UK landlines ???
>>
>> Any comments on quality and reliability of SMSlisto.
>>
>> Thanks.
>
>It's the best of the Betamax bunch for me because I make mainly UK landline
>and mobile calls.
>UK Geographic calls are free for up to 300 min in any 7 consecutive days
>I find this quite difficult to exceed.
>There is also a 90 day limit on the free calls per 10 Euro top-up but
>I find my credit expires at about 90 days because of the mobile calls we 
>make,
>so it's not an issue. Topping up restores the 90 days plus any carried over.
>
>The chargeable calls are in 1 min steps so my mobile calls are 4.5 pence
>for up to 1 min, 9 pence if you go into the next min.
>There is no connection charge.
>
>The only hidden charge is 75 euro-cents on top of your 10euros
>"admin charge" when you pay by PayPal, I don't know if it applies to
>other payment methods.
>
>Don't forget to select a Euro-zone country when you sign up, otherwise
>they won't charge you VAT [cough!]
>
>Are you just intending to use their Softphone or have you got a
>hardware alternative?
>Plenty of users of this and other services over on uk.telecom.voip

Thanks for the great explanations.
No connection change is great.
Not sure aabout signing up as in another country (re VAT) as I suspect
the credit card has to match the claimed country.

I think I'll start with software from the PC, then progress.
Can you recommend (or what are the most popular) wireless phones that
plug into PC and allow me to walk around the house. (note phone
plugged into PC, not a phone operating directly off a WiFi network).

Thanks

default  wrote:
> Thanks for the great explanations.
> No connection change is great.
> Not sure aabout signing up as in another country (re VAT) as I suspect
> the credit card has to match the claimed country.

It doesn't.  A friend lives in a country where credit cards don't exist, so
pays with someone else's card from another country.  When you come to pay,
the webpage fixes the country name for you, but you enter a billing address
like:

Joe Bloggs
1 High St
London
SW1A 1AA
Elbonia

and it goes through just fine.

But using it in this way wholly from the UK is, of course, tax evasion.

> I think I'll start with software from the PC, then progress.

Probably sensible.

> Can you recommend (or what are the most popular) wireless phones that
> plug into PC and allow me to walk around the house. (note phone
> plugged into PC, not a phone operating directly off a WiFi network).

You can get adaptor boxes that allow you to plug a normal phone into a PC to
use with Skype (90% of the 'phones' advertised for Skype require a PC to be
one when you make calls).  These should work with VOIP too assuming the
drivers for the number pad are good, so the can dial properly to programs
that aren't Skype. I think they're fairly cheap (15 quid or so).

Then plug in a normal DECT cordless phone.  If you ever want to switch to a
hardware VOIP solution, just ditch the Skype box and replace it with an ATA. 
You can keep the DECT phone, and if you don't like VOIP just use it on your
normal telephone line.  Or maybe you have a spare phone already.

Theo

Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
> You can get adaptor boxes that allow you to plug a normal phone into a PC to
> use with Skype (90% of the 'phones' advertised for Skype require a PC to be
> one when you make calls).  These should work with VOIP too assuming the
> drivers for the number pad are good, so the can dial properly to programs
> that aren't Skype. I think they're fairly cheap (15 quid or so).

Try something like this:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=47273&doy=1m8&C=SO&U=strat15
or this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/D-Link-DPH-50U-Skype-Phone-Adapter/dp/B000EW4XRA
(shockingly, that's 8x more expensive in the UK - if you buy from the US
site it's $10)

Theo

On 01 Aug 2008 13:50:32 +0100 (BST), Theo Markettos
<theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

>Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
>> You can get adaptor boxes that allow you to plug a normal phone into a PC to
>> use with Skype (90% of the 'phones' advertised for Skype require a PC to be
>> one when you make calls).  These should work with VOIP too assuming the
>> drivers for the number pad are good, so the can dial properly to programs
>> that aren't Skype. I think they're fairly cheap (15 quid or so).
>
>Try something like this:
>http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=47273&doy=1m8&C=SO&U=strat15
>or this:
>http://www.amazon.co.uk/D-Link-DPH-50U-Skype-Phone-Adapter/dp/B000EW4XRA
>(shockingly, that's 8x more expensive in the UK - if you buy from the US
>site it's $10)
>
>Theo

Very interesting.
Thanks

Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
> Of course they can change these without telling
> you, so keeping an eye on the costs page is a good idea.

Watch them like a hawk.  I've just spotted UK SMS costs are now 4cents
(+VAT) a minute.  Previously they were free and then 1c.  Now they're barely
cheaper than an existing operator.

I've just set up an email-when-webpage-changes site on their pricing pages.

http://backsla.sh/betamax
is useful too.

Theo

On 02 Aug 2008 18:29:40 +0100 (BST), Theo Markettos
<theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

>Theo Markettos <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
>> Of course they can change these without telling
>> you, so keeping an eye on the costs page is a good idea.
>
>Watch them like a hawk.  I've just spotted UK SMS costs are now 4cents
>(+VAT) a minute.  Previously they were free and then 1c.  Now they're barely
>cheaper than an existing operator.
>
>I've just set up an email-when-webpage-changes site on their pricing pages.
>
>http://backsla.sh/betamax
>is useful too.
>
>Theo

Interestingly still 1p at 1899.com (also Fineara).