Todd Allcock <elecconnec@AmericaOnLine.com> wrote in
news:34TWj.103$xb2.91@fe103.usenetserver.com:
> Can Skype be trained to report your Skype-in number as the CID number
> on forwarded calls? If so, that could be your "Circle" number and
> they'd all be free.
>
>
One of Skype's GREATEST ASSETS is its inability to report your telephone
number you don't have to anyone...cops, Homeland Security, Council On
Foreign Relations, FBI, Illuminati, the spammers, whoever you call
including those goddamned 800 number bloodsuckers selling your
number....noone. Skype Out has no number and isn't hooked to Skype In
where the number you are given is in the SAME block of numbers as AOHell's
huge racks of dialup modems so the spammers don't waste their time dialing
modem after modem after modem selling nothing. Other than the errant,
irate British wifey calling me by error because my London phone number is
one digit off the number for the Hook And Nail Pub, which is more
entertaining than ANY computer software I own and wouldn't trade it for
anything, I've never gotten a single COLD CALL from even Experian wanting
to ask me about my credit rating....a great asset to the Skype system.
Nope....Skype in calls are forwarded through Skype Out so they all come up
with the number 000-123-4567, which I haven't tried to put into My Circle,
yet.
["Followup-To:" header set to alt.cellular.verizon.]
On 2008-05-15, Todd Allcock <elecconnec@AmericaOnLine.com> wrote:
>> You paid big money, and continue to pay big money, for an E911 SELLPHONE!
>
>> Why do you need more than that? That's crazy.
>
> Did you miss the "three kids ages four to ten" part?
Skype's right for him, so by extension it must be right for everyone else in
the world, too.
> > Can Skype be trained to report your Skype-in number as the CID number
> > on forwarded calls? If so, that could be your "Circle" number and
> > they'd all be free.
>
>
> One of Skype's GREATEST ASSETS is its inability to report your telephone
> number you don't have to anyone...cops, Homeland Security, Council On
> Foreign Relations, FBI, Illuminati, the spammers...
So, in a word, "No." I get that it's convenient to Be anonymous, but it'd
be equally convenient to have a choice. Grandcentral, for example allows
you to select whether you want the CID on forwarded calls to display the
caller being forwarded (if you want to know who's calling) or the GC number
itself (if you want those calls to be a "free" circle/fave.)
So, if you're willing to give up caller ID, you can make any circle/fave
plan an unlimited free incoming plan By simply giving out your GC number
instead of your cellphone number.
> Nope....Skype in calls are forwarded through Skype Out so they all come
up
> with the number 000-123-4567, which I haven't tried to put into My
Circle,
> yet.
T-Mo won't accept "000" as a valid area code as a "fave," so you get the
worst of both worlds forwarding Skype- you don't now who's calling AND you
can't leverage your circle/fave plan.
> Every Skyper has the same Caller ID...(c;
I knew that was the default behavior- I just wondered if you could override
it to your advantage...
On Thu, 15 May 2008 03:37:16 -0600, Todd Allcock
<elecconnec@AmericaOnLine.com> wrote:
>At 15 May 2008 00:57:36 -0400 The Ghost of General Lee wrote:
>
>> Which VOIP provider(s) would you recommend that uses a standard ATA
>> device and doesn't rely on a running computer or wi-fi?
>
>
>There's a ton of them, so I guess it dependswhat you're after- landline
>replacement,incoming only, outgoing only, long distance only, etc. In my
>case they're mostly used for travel and as a backup for cell service when
>WiFi is around (not to mention just to play with!)
Eventually, it will be a land line replacement, but for now, it's
going to be an additional line for incoming and outgoing calls. I'd
prefer something with long distance included (US only), but I really
don't make that many l/d calls. And for those I do make, cellular is
fine, although I may soon trim my cell plan back now that I'm no
longer under contract and about to jettison the heaviest user from my
family plan.
>I've been using Voicestick (www.voicestick.com) for awhile. Their VP hangs
>around the dslreports.com VoIP forums and is very candid about the biz.
>They have two basic plans: "unlimited" for $20/month, and a pay-as-you-go
>(that I use) that's $0.01/min incoming, $0.02/min outgoing (no junk/911 fees,
>
>but there is a $1 minimum monthly usage.
I think I had previously checked them out, but dismissed them because
they didn't offer simultaneous/sequential ringing of alternate
numbers. As I have my home phone set up now, if someone calls me, it
rings 4 times here, then rolls over to my cell (Call Forward No
Answer). It also rings over instantly if my land line is busy (Call
Forward Busy Line). I'm not a fan of call waiting. I also have
anonymous call reject on my land line, which VS doesn't appear to
provide. It keeps a lot of "unknown" numbers from ringing my cell.
This way, I have a single number for people to contact me. I *HATE*
giving out my cell number to anyone, because they'd invariably call
both numbers, leaving me duplicate messages. I'd like to find a
provider that offers both ACR and alternate number ringing.
>If you want cheap VoIP to play with, you can sign up with Gizmo5.com, and
>get a free incoming number in the Nevada 775 area code. I use them for my
>cellphone "iPhone-style" Visual Voicemail. Unanswered cell calls are
>forwarded to the 775 number and notifications plus a .wav file of any left
>message are pushed to my phone instantly.
As with VS, I didn't see where Gizmo offers alternate number ringing
or ACR. I could probably learn to live without ACR, but the alternate
number ringing is a 'must have'. Simple call forwarding just won't
cut it.
>For a free incoming number in your area code, you can use GrandCentral.com
>and forward it to either the 775 number, or directly forward it to the
>Gizmo SIP URI without an actual POTS number assigned to your Gizmo account
>(GC and Gizmo have an arrangement that allows that.)
I already have a GC number, but it's being used for another purpose at
this time, in conjunction with a MagicJack number I have. And as you
may know, GC is still in beta, and they have temporarily stopped
accepting new subscribers. They even removed the invitation button
from the account management area. And we don't know yet when GC will
come out of beta or what their terms will be once they do.
>While Gizmo really pushes their software on their website so you can use
>their Skype-like features (video calling, etc.,) unlike Skype they're
>perfectly SIP/ATA-compatible as well.
>
Other than the alternate number ringing and ACR, I could give a rat's
ass about stuff like video calling. No one I communicate with does
it, so it's a non-issue with me. The only provider I've found thus
far with all the features I need is Vonage. But to paraphrase what
someone (possibly you) recently wrote, Vonage isn't a low cost land
line replacement as much as they are a high cost VOIP provider.
At 15 May 2008 14:53:50 -0400 The Ghost of General Lee wrote:
> >I've been using Voicestick (www.voicestick.com) for awhile. Their VP
hangs
> >around the dslreports.com VoIP forums and is very candid about the
biz...
> I think I had previously checked them out, but dismissed them because
> they didn't offer simultaneous/sequential ringing of alternate
> numbers. As I have my home phone set up now, if someone calls me, it
> rings 4 times here, then rolls over to my cell (Call Forward No
> Answer). It also rings over instantly if my land line is busy (Call
> Forward Busy Line). I'm not a fan of call waiting. I also have
> anonymous call reject on my land line, which VS doesn't appear to
> provide. It keeps a lot of "unknown" numbers from ringing my cell.
> This way, I have a single number for people to contact me. I *HATE*
> giving out my cell number to anyone, because they'd invariably call
> both numbers, leaving me duplicate messages. I'd like to find a
> provider that offers both ACR and alternate number ringing.
Voicestick is actually upgrading their servers and software. You might
want to go to the VoIP tech chat forum at dslreports.com and ask Bruce
Nicklin (the VS VP) if they'll be implementing those features- he's been
asking users there what features they want to see added to the new system.
If you can't find a suitable thread to ask in, just create a thread with
his name in it (i.e. "a few questions for Bruce") and he'll be sure to see
it. Either way, the gang over there at dslreports is pretty knowledgable
and might be able to steer you to a provider with all the features you
need.
> I already have a GC number, but it's being used for another purpose at
> this time, in conjunction with a MagicJack number I have. And as you
> may know, GC is still in beta, and they have temporarily stopped
> accepting new subscribers. They even removed the invitation button
> from the account management area. And we don't know yet when GC will
> come out of beta or what their terms will be once they do.
True. I'd forgotten they removed the invite button (I was going to offer
you one if you needed it- my sole invite I've every used was to another
frequent poster here!)
> Other than the alternate number ringing and ACR, I could give a rat's
> ass about stuff like video calling. No one I communicate with does
> it, so it's a non-issue with me.
Agreed- I don't have the Gizmo software installed on any of my PCs.
> The only provider I've found thus
> far with all the features I need is Vonage. But to paraphrase what
> someone (possibly you) recently wrote, Vonage isn't a low cost land
> line replacement as much as they are a high cost VOIP provider.
Yeah, but perhaps that's their niche- offerALL the possible features at one
(high) price point! ;-)
On Thu, 15 May 2008 14:45:26 -0600, Todd Allcock
<elecconnec@AmericaOnLine.com> wrote:
>Voicestick is actually upgrading their servers and software. You might
>want to go to the VoIP tech chat forum at dslreports.com and ask Bruce
>Nicklin (the VS VP) if they'll be implementing those features- he's been
>asking users there what features they want to see added to the new system.
>If you can't find a suitable thread to ask in, just create a thread with
>his name in it (i.e. "a few questions for Bruce") and he'll be sure to see
>it. Either way, the gang over there at dslreports is pretty knowledgable
>and might be able to steer you to a provider with all the features you
>need.
Todd Allcock <elecconnec@AmericaOnLine.com> wrote in
news:tr%Wj.162$qQ5.159@fe091.usenetserver.com:
> I knew that was the default behavior- I just wondered if you could
> override it to your advantage.
I guess not. I've still not figured out what all the free toys will do.
I'm just curious and this isn't any kind of jab, but why are you so anti-
Skype, which is 95% free? You come across as really hating it for some
reason. I always find it hard to trash free stuff....
> I'm just curious and this isn't any kind of jab, but why are you so anti-
> Skype, which is 95% free? You come across as really hating it for some
> reason. I always find it hard to trash free stuff....
I'm not anti-Skype. As I've said, I use it for certain things- video calls
to the kids when I or my wife travel, for VoIP calls on "VoIP-hostile" WiFi
networks (due to it's ability o sniff out open ports) etc.
I _AM_, however, anti-Fanboy. Replace "Skype" with "iPhone" an your posts
read just like Oxford's or Vic's. Skype is a useful enough tool, but
you've "suggested" it many times where it simply doesn't apply to the
situation. If someone asks about a cheap cellphone plan, you suggest Skype
on a portable device- if someone specifically asks about a competing service,
you suggest they use Skype instead. I swear if someone posted they were
hungry, you'd suggest they grab two slices of bread with a thick slab of
Skype in the middle.
You're so very quick to point out the flaws in "sellphone" plans, or tell
all of us how overpriced something is- until it's Skype. If someone points
out that the they're the ONLY VoIP with a "connection fee," you'll tell us
it's "only four cents" and wander off into a Cute Story (tm) about how you
and a goat-herding friend in Outer Mongolia chatted for two hours yesterday
for free. If a cellphone company added a four-cent connection fee to any
calls, however, you'd be calling for the CEO's head on a pike!
Point out that international calls are 40-50% higher on Skype vs. other
VoIPs, you'll say how cheap they are vs. AT&T, yet when someone ELSE points
out Vonage or whoever is cheaper than AT&T you'll tell them how Skype is
only $x/month vs. Vonage's $y.
So, do I hate Skype? Not at all- on the plus side, Skype's free services
are fine, and the software works well, and their unlimited plans are
reasonably priced.
On the downside, their international rates are higher than their competitors,
often higher than just using a calling card or dial-around service. Their
system is non-standard, requiring either a PC to run, a proprietary phone,
or their software to be installed on a portable device. They aren't E911-
compliant (and I STILL haven't figured out how they offer US phone numbers
without being forced to be E911 compliant.)
So, for example, when I said Skype is unsuitable (for me) for landline
replacement because it can't run on my RJ-11 jacks without a PC running
24/7 and because it lacked E911, you gave the typical Oxford-like Fanboy
response- shove your favorite product/service down my throat anyway, and
tell me to ignore it's shortcomings I specifically objected to (i.e. don't
use my home wiring/home phones, and who needs 911 anyway when you already
have cellphones, etc.)
Does that answer your question?
Well, time for breakfast. Should I have my Skype poached, fried or
scrambled, Lar?
On 2008-05-16, Todd Allcock <elecconnec@AmericaOnLine.com> wrote:
> or their software to be installed on a portable device. They aren't E911-
> compliant (and I STILL haven't figured out how they offer US phone numbers
> without being forced to be E911 compliant.)
I haven't figured that out either, but I it is somehow related to
them not allowing the US phone numbers to be used for caller ID
on outbound calls even though they're fine with you instead using
any overseas SkypeIn number you have for caller ID on calls to US
phones.
analog sunset & 911 access
Linear Mode
