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A friend of mine currently has no landline and is thinking of buying a
laptop.

I've suggested that she could get a broadband dongle to give her
internet access via the mobile phone network and also, potentially,
the ability to make VOIP calls.

What sort of bandwidth does making a VOIP call actually use and do the
suppliers allow you to use their service for VOIP?

Thanks

On Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:54:26 -0700 (PDT), Murmansk69
<> wrote:

>A friend of mine currently has no landline and is thinking of buying a
>laptop.
>
>I've suggested that she could get a broadband dongle to give her
>internet access via the mobile phone network and also, potentially,
>the ability to make VOIP calls.
I would think that the best way to do this would be to get a mobile
phone that would enable a softphone such as 'Fring' to be installed.
If the phone also does wifi then that might be used sometimes when
available.
Sitting at a laptop or attaching an adapter somehow to a laptop isn't
very elegant but it is possible. Can use softphones such as x-lite.
>
>What sort of bandwidth does making a VOIP call actually use
Varies according to codec. Look here:-
http://www.erlang.com/bandwidth.html#SimpleCalculation

>and do the suppliers allow you to use their service for VOIP?
I think that it varies. T-Mobile don't like it but I don't think that
'3' mind as they already let people make calls via Skype.




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Remove 'no_spam_' from email address.
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In article <>,
Brian A <> wrote:
>On Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:54:26 -0700 (PDT), Murmansk69
><> wrote:
>
>>A friend of mine currently has no landline and is thinking of buying a
>>laptop.
>>
>>I've suggested that she could get a broadband dongle to give her
>>internet access via the mobile phone network and also, potentially,
>>the ability to make VOIP calls.
>I would think that the best way to do this would be to get a mobile
>phone that would enable a softphone such as 'Fring' to be installed.
>If the phone also does wifi then that might be used sometimes when
>available.
>Sitting at a laptop or attaching an adapter somehow to a laptop isn't
>very elegant but it is possible. Can use softphones such as x-lite.

Alternatively, get a mobile phone, and rather than also get a dongle,
get a cable to use the phone as a 'modem' to the laptop.

then use the mobile phone to make calls on, as that's what it was
designed for.

>>What sort of bandwidth does making a VOIP call actually use
>Varies according to codec. Look here:-
>http://www.erlang.com/bandwidth.html#SimpleCalculation

A Standard call will use 64Kbps + an overhead of approx. 16Kbps. Using
the GSM codec will need about 13Kbps + the 16Kbps overhead - easilly
achievable, even with GPRS, let alone a "3g" connection.

HOWEVER... Latency is rather high on mobile data connections. I have
placd calls over them, and while usable, the actualy user experience
isn't that good.

>>and do the suppliers allow you to use their service for VOIP?
>I think that it varies. T-Mobile don't like it but I don't think that
>'3' mind as they already let people make calls via Skype.

AIUI - the Skype calls go over their "normal" voice network, and are
converted to/from skype at their HQ ...

So what I'm saying is: Keep It Simple, Stupid... Use a mobile phone for
making calls, and use the same mobile with a USB cable, or a data dongle
for Internet access, but don't mix them.

Gordon

On Aug 25, 9:54*pm, Gordon Henderson <gordon+use...@drogon.net> wrote:
> In article <d706b4pk7lna5dv2o5onumgc6hgj6i6...@4ax.com>,
> Brian A *<no_spam_bca1...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >On Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:54:26 -0700 (PDT), Murmansk69
> ><stainb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>A friend of mine currently has no landline and is thinking of buying a
> >>laptop.
>
> >>I've suggested that she could get a broadband dongle to give her
> >>internet access via the mobile phone network and also, potentially,
> >>the ability to make VOIP calls.
> >I would think that the best way to do this would be to get a mobile
> >phone that would enable a softphone such as 'Fring' to be installed.
> >If the phone also does wifi then that might be used sometimes when
> >available.
> >Sitting at a laptop or attaching an adapter somehow to a laptop isn't
> >very elegant but it is possible. Can use softphones such as x-lite.
>
> Alternatively, get a mobile phone, and rather than also get a dongle,
> get a cable to use the phone as a 'modem' to the laptop.
>
> then use the mobile phone to make calls on, as that's what it was
> designed for.
>
> >>What sort of bandwidth does making a VOIP call actually use
> >Varies according to codec. Look here:-
> >http://www.erlang.com/bandwidth.html#SimpleCalculation
>
> A Standard call will use 64Kbps + an overhead of approx. 16Kbps. Using
> the GSM codec will need about 13Kbps + the 16Kbps overhead - easilly
> achievable, even with GPRS, let alone a "3g" connection.
>
> HOWEVER... Latency is rather high on mobile data connections. I have
> placd calls over them, and while usable, the actualy user experience
> isn't that good.
>
> >>and do the suppliers allow you to use their service for VOIP?
> >I think that it varies. T-Mobile don't like it but I don't think that
> >'3' mind as they already let people make calls via Skype.
>
> AIUI - the Skype calls go over their "normal" voice network, and are
> converted to/from skype at their HQ ...
>
> So what I'm saying is: Keep It Simple, Stupid... Use a mobile phone for
> making calls, and use the same mobile with a USB cable, or a data dongle
> for Internet access, but don't mix them.
>
> Gordon

Thanks for those replies.

I failed to mention that most of the phone calls will be to Malaysia,
Canada and Hong Kong - current cost is huge on a pay as you go mobile
but on Sipgate it would be a max of 2.5p per minute to landlines or,
of course, free to another VOIP user

On Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:53:49 UTC, Murmansk69 <>
wrote:

> I failed to mention that most of the phone calls will be to Malaysia,
> Canada and Hong Kong - current cost is huge on a pay as you go mobile
> but on Sipgate it would be a max of 2.5p per minute to landlines or,
> of course, free to another VOIP user

Go via an 084* number and Canada is 0.5p - No idea how mobiles charge
for 084* numbers though.

--
Regards
Dave Saville

NB Remove nospam. for good email address

Dave Saville <> wrote:
> Go via an 084* number and Canada is 0.5p - No idea how mobiles charge
> for 084* numbers though.

Minimum 15p/min I imagine, possibly more like 30p/min.

What I've done is set up an Asterisk ringback system: ring 01xxx xxxxxx (a
Sipgate number) from my mobile, it's engaged. Asterisk then rings me back,
asks for a password and the number I want to dial. It then connects me.
Both the inbound call to my mobile and the outbound international call are
at cheap VOIP rates. Sadly it's usual that the mobile bit of the call costs
more than the international bit But it's better than mobile rates.

My Asterisk code is too rough and ready to release as yet, but perhaps you
can find/code a similar system? It requires a machine on the internet
somewhere - I use my wireless router (runs Linux and asterisk).

Theo

In article <15D*>,
Theo Markettos <theom+> wrote:
>Dave Saville <> wrote:
>> Go via an 084* number and Canada is 0.5p - No idea how mobiles charge
>> for 084* numbers though.
>
>Minimum 15p/min I imagine, possibly more like 30p/min.
>
>What I've done is set up an Asterisk ringback system: ring 01xxx xxxxxx (a
>Sipgate number) from my mobile, it's engaged. Asterisk then rings me back,
>asks for a password and the number I want to dial. It then connects me.
>Both the inbound call to my mobile and the outbound international call are
>at cheap VOIP rates. Sadly it's usual that the mobile bit of the call costs
>more than the international bit But it's better than mobile rates.

Why not dial into your asterisk box from mobile and have it answer,
prompt for a PIN, then call DISA() ? (To get a dial-tone which you can
then dial-out from)

Then you'll dial-through to the target number, rather than pay for a
sipgate call back to your mobile? (The call from the mobile to the 01x
number being free/inclusive minutes?)

Gordon

On Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:59:03 +0000 (UTC), Gordon Henderson
<gordon+> wrote:

>In article <15D*>,
>Theo Markettos <theom+> wrote:
>>Dave Saville <> wrote:
>>> Go via an 084* number and Canada is 0.5p - No idea how mobiles charge
>>> for 084* numbers though.
>>
>>Minimum 15p/min I imagine, possibly more like 30p/min.
>>
>>What I've done is set up an Asterisk ringback system: ring 01xxx xxxxxx (a
>>Sipgate number) from my mobile, it's engaged. Asterisk then rings me back,
>>asks for a password and the number I want to dial. It then connects me.
>>Both the inbound call to my mobile and the outbound international call are
>>at cheap VOIP rates. Sadly it's usual that the mobile bit of the call costs
>>more than the international bit But it's better than mobile rates.
>
>Why not dial into your asterisk box from mobile and have it answer,
>prompt for a PIN, then call DISA() ? (To get a dial-tone which you can
>then dial-out from)
>
>Then you'll dial-through to the target number, rather than pay for a
>sipgate call back to your mobile? (The call from the mobile to the 01x
>number being free/inclusive minutes?)
Another alternative, is to use a Betamax company as a callthrough via
a geo number. JustVoip does it. If you call during your free minutes
period the callout, for qualifying destinations, is free.
Of course, you still have to make that mobile call and, on some
tariffs, that isn't so cheap.


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Brian A <> wrote:
> On Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:59:03 +0000 (UTC), Gordon Henderson
> <gordon+> wrote:
>
> >Why not dial into your asterisk box from mobile and have it answer,
> >prompt for a PIN, then call DISA() ? (To get a dial-tone which you can
> >then dial-out from)
> >
> >Then you'll dial-through to the target number, rather than pay for a
> >sipgate call back to your mobile? (The call from the mobile to the 01x
> >number being free/inclusive minutes?)

I'm on PAYG, so 15p/min for that bit as opposed to 6p/min for VOIP. And
the system is really designed for calling from abroad where it costs $7/min
to call the UK and $0.07/min for the UK to call by VOIP.

> Another alternative, is to use a Betamax company as a callthrough via
> a geo number. JustVoip does it. If you call during your free minutes
> period the callout, for qualifying destinations, is free.
> Of course, you still have to make that mobile call and, on some
> tariffs, that isn't so cheap.

Another alternative, if you have the data on your phone, is to use the
feature of Betamax offerings where you can connect two numbers. It
costs an extra 5p though, and needs a Java app (gsm.voipbuster.com,
supposedly works on other Betamax brands too).

Theo

On 27 Aug 2008 13:20:20 +0100 (BST), Theo Markettos
<theom+> wrote:

>Brian A <> wrote:
>> On Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:59:03 +0000 (UTC), Gordon Henderson
>> <gordon+> wrote:
>>
>> >Why not dial into your asterisk box from mobile and have it answer,
>> >prompt for a PIN, then call DISA() ? (To get a dial-tone which you can
>> >then dial-out from)
>> >
>> >Then you'll dial-through to the target number, rather than pay for a
>> >sipgate call back to your mobile? (The call from the mobile to the 01x
>> >number being free/inclusive minutes?)
>
>I'm on PAYG, so 15p/min for that bit as opposed to 6p/min for VOIP. And
>the system is really designed for calling from abroad where it costs $7/min
>to call the UK and $0.07/min for the UK to call by VOIP.
>
ASDA (Vodafone Network) PAYG 8p/min, Ikea's FamilyMobile (on T-Mobile
Network) 9p/min (min charge is for a full minute then charged per
second).
>> Another alternative, is to use a Betamax company as a callthrough via
>> a geo number. JustVoip does it. If you call during your free minutes
>> period the callout, for qualifying destinations, is free.
>> Of course, you still have to make that mobile call and, on some
>> tariffs, that isn't so cheap.
>
>Another alternative, if you have the data on your phone, is to use the
>feature of Betamax offerings where you can connect two numbers. It
>costs an extra 5p though, and needs a Java app (gsm.voipbuster.com,
>supposedly works on other Betamax brands too).
Yet another, if wanting to use using callback with providers of your
choice: You can use Voxalot but it needs to be triggered by a web link
(simple page designed for WAP). Saves on the electricity bill to use
Voxalot but have to pay an annual fee to use the non-free voxalot
services. Having said all that it probably isn't as much fun as having
your own PBX.



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