On Tue, 30 May 2006 10:15:01 +1200 Ben Bodley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hi Guys, > > I'm just re-evaluating communications at my house, which I also work > from daily, and was interested in thoughts regarding any cost savings > and improvements. > > Requirements: > > Phone in/out > Fax in/out > Interweb [10Gb min] > 2 x mobile phone > > Current setup [costs monthly]: > > Phoneline (Telecom) $45 > Faxability/CallerID $6 > JetStream (Telecom) $70 > VOIP (Slingshot) ~$25 (1) > 2 x Mobiles (Vodafone) $120 > > Total $266 month > > 1. VOIP is just SIP phones hooked to Asterisk, then using Slingshot as > provider, local calls go out PSTN. > > Things I wouldn't mind trying: > > 1. Dropping landline altogether > > Telstra now offering _just_ broadband at $59.95 p/m [10gb cap]. Now > local calling gets expensive. Slingshot VOIP currently gives me a free > Auckland dial-in... Possible savings: $45 + $6 + $10 cheaper internet, > Problems: Fax in/out, local calls? Asterisk converts faxes to pdf and emails them, no problem. I'd run * myself, then you can use 'real' phones, with pci card, and connect to your mates running asterisk for free. I also connect to an asterisk installation in the UK and have a pots presence there for GBP3/month and 1p/min calls in the uk, but then I'm a pom. However, the same applies to a lot of other countries. Still looking for a decent voip app for my mobile, then free calls from starbucks. However the cap is a real problem here. Voip is useless if running torrents with the massive 128k upstream bandwidth. Capped it'll just be useless. > > 2. Go mobile > > Drop the landline, move phone plans to talkzonezero [49.95], get a > shitter B/T mobile and jury rig VOIP via. 3rd mobile using asterisk. > Possible savings: $45 + $6 + $10 cheaper internet + $20 mobile plans, > Problems: VOIP delay? Still locals dialing in, Fax?.. I'd wait for the next gen 3G before doing this. Google for T-Mobiles plans for the US. > > 3. Wireless > > Live near the hill, could try Yobbo. No knowledge there re. savings, > VOIP. Lag over wireless? No internet connection? > > 4. Wait for Helen to fix the industry > > Zzzzzz. > > Interested in feedback. What is everyone else using? > > Ben > > We could do with a combined presentation sometime so everyone currently using * show the bit they know about. Or combine it all on the wiki??? Steve
