I'm seeking some advice on good value VoIP plans please.
I'm not experienced with VoIP services but I did come across GoTalk which seems to be good value considering the included local/national/mobile/international calls. Other VoIP companies don't seem to have included calls, especially mobile.
e.g. goVoIP Aussie & World Pack - $24.90 per month
http://gotalk.com.au/Residential/VoIP/Pages/VoIPPlans.aspx
I have also heard of FreshTel, PennyTel and MyNetFone.
Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Is that the WhirlpoolSaver Plan? You make only 7 calls a month? The WhirlpoolSaver Plan seems to be the only special MNF "Whirlpool" plan. For those that make only a few calls a month that is a good plan (as is the plan's targeted user base).
Yes, the Whirlpool Saver..
I usually make less than 7 landline calls per month.. 3 or 4 at most, predominantly to 13 numbers (calls where I know I'll be on hold) and STD calls to my girlfriend.
Everything else is covered by my mobile Cap. Free calls to my girlfriend when she's in range and most regular calls to friends/family are short and sweet..
I have a Direct Inward Dial (DID) Number for $5/year that my mum uses to call me.
I'm also interested in this. I'm guessing Skype is a type of VOIP service and was wondering is that comparable to the services listed above?
Yes, Skype is a VSP (VoIP Service Provider). Skype's call rates are generally higher than the above listed VSP's.
Skype is a VoIP service that uses its own propriety protocol. In layman's terms, if you buy a modem/router that supports VoIP functionality, they probably won't work with Skype. If you already have hardware that is VoIP capable, this is something that you may want to think about before deciding which provider to go with.
Skype is also in difficulty.. their licence for the tech they use has expired and is not going to be renewed!
Skype is very similar but you need a computer (or special handset) to use Skype..
These VoIP plans use a VoIP modem or Analogue Telephone Adapter (ATA) to convert a perfectly normal old style phone into a VoIP phone.
VoIP phone use is identical to using a regular phone..
You can also use any normal handset with Skype using an adapter like this one (computer must also be on): http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2571
"Included minutes" and "capped plans" are all built on top of the idea of "overselling" (which those worked with web hosting should understand) — basically it is only economical if you use all or close to all the included minutes.
I think if you are indeed calling close to the included number of minutes (500 minutes for mobile) then GoTalk is indeed a good plan. I am pretty happy with PennyTel at 10c/minute mobile rate, and because I don't use it enough I ended up with a monthly bill way less than $25.
As of Skype, it's a great integrated video/voice calling + presence + text chat system but personally I found the quality of SkypeOut calls a bit lacking.
Are you on one of the timed or untimed PennyTel plans? If you are one of the untimed plans, then local/national calls are 0.08 cents/call. If you made 300 local/national calls a month with PennyTel you would already be at $24.00. That is only half of the local/national calls included in the $24.90 GoTalk plan (600 total). Then you take into account the included free mobile/international calls with GoTalk, and also a free traditional phone number ($5 extra with PennyTel) and you can see that you don't need to use anywhere near the included calls/minutes for it to be economical.
Just saw that the PennyTel Freedom plan includes 80 free calls
Also the PennyTel "Crazy Talk" plan has similar inclusions to the GoTalk plan for $18.88/month.
Yes I understand that if you use all the included call credit, GoTalk will be much cheaper. But that's the whole idea of overselling, because they believe majority of their customers will not use all the included call credit.
600 "free local calls" — do you really make 20 local calls/day for 30 days a month? If you do — go with GoTalk! I don't even make 20 local calls for the whole month, and if I joined GoTalk I would be subsidising other heavy users :) Skype also have unlimited local calls for 3.95 Euro/month (AUD$6.77) and I was tempted when I saw it. But after a bit of math I realised that it's not worth it with my low number of calls…
No, not 600 local calls. 300 local calls/month and 300 national calls/month are included in the plan. I agree with you that the majority of customers will not use all the included credit but that is not the point. If you only use near half and possibly even much less than half (depending on your mobile/international usage) of the included calls then the plan would be well worth the economics for users that also wish to make mobile and/or international calls and/or require a traditional phone number.
10 local/national calls a day would not be unusual for a lot of households.
As I discovered yesterday the PennyTel Crazy Talk plan seems to be even better value than this GoTalk plan!
Here is an interesting VoIP usage/cost analysis I found (be it PennyTel):
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1154071&r…
Even for this very moderate VoIP user the analysis shows that the final monthly cost to the user is fairly similar across the plan range.
camelgrass, I would suggest that you ask the question "how much do I know about VoIP" before deciding on which providers to choose from. If you do not have hands-on knowledge about VoIP, I would personally go for a provider that provides good support for the general user. An example of such provider is MyNetFone. Yes, they may be a tad expensive, but the hassles would be minimal when something goes wrong. Bear in mind that VoIP technology is not perfect, and is very error-prone.
However if you know your VoIP well, then you may look at alternate providers, such as PennyTel, who offers very competitive rates. However, don't expect any super-duper support or anything when something breaks.
Also, I would suggest that you ask yourself "Do I make that many calls to warrant the $25 monthly fee?". Also, what type of calls will you mostly be making? Will you be making many short calls, or several long calls? Depending on your usage pattern, other providers may work out to be cheaper. As with the GoTalk plan, bear in mind that you have the following limitations, as set out in their terms and conditions:
goVoIP Aussie & World Pack : An access fee of $24.90 per month applies. Where your calls exceed any of the following:
o 300 local or
o 300 national calls or
o 100 calls or 500 minutes to Australian mobiles,
o 100 calls or 3,000 minutes to eligible international destinations
This offer is not as good as PennyTel's Crazy Talk plans, where local/STD calls are unlimited, and you get free 150 calls or 500mins (whichever comes first) to Australia Mobile every month for $18.88
Thanks pauly, that is valuable advice.
Here is an interesting VoIP usage/cost analysis I found (be it PennyTel):
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1154071&r…
For this light to moderate VoIP user the analysis shows that the final monthly cost to the user is fairly similar across the plan range.
Yes, the PennyTel Crazy Talk plan does look like it would be more attractive to most VoIP users (including myself). The GoTalk plan may be more attractive to those wishing to call certain international destinations (includes free calls to 36 international destinations).
Being new to VOIP may I suggest you do look at MNF - while not the cheapest you get the hardware shipped to you at a very low cost - ie you sign up for 6 months using a credit card debit system.
At present you can sign up for $14.95 with $10 of credit and you get a locked to MNF ATA box. (free shipping).
This $10 worth of credit gets topped up from your credit card when it drops to zero, or at the end of the month, so it goes back to the $10. If you dont use the box, then no charges are made. (BUT to get the no monthly charge account you do need to sign up at www.mynetfone.com.au/whirlpool and select the whirlpool saver account. (you also get 10c untimed calls vs the normal MNF 12c calls for the no monthly fee option)
The ATA box means you can talk without having your computer on, and you just plug in and go no configuring needed. You will need a handset that you plug into the box. You should have an ADSL1 or ADSL2 connection.
Once you are happy with VOIP you can add another service like Maxotel or Pennytel (The latter has been in for some criticism on whirlpool - although it seems like they are getting on top of the issues), these other providers dont supply the same subsidised hardware like MNF.
This way you become comfortable with VOIP . Personally compared to Telstra and Optus 10c or 12c or 8c for an untimed national call really isnt a big deciding factor unless you make tons of calls, so dont get too hung up on the differences, support and comfort probably is more important in the beginning
MyNetFone have cheap hardware, and OK call rates.. look at mynetfone.com.au/offers/whirlpool
Pennytel are the cheapest call rates
I have had accounts with both.. and experience with both has been fine..
MyNetFone customer service was pretty good when my MNF supplied Linksys ATA stopped working.. had a replacement shipped back within a week of returning my broken unit.
I barely make any calls though. Last month's "bill" was 70c!