25 September, 2009

Phones - VOIP

So I was watching a video clip the other day which reminded me that I wanted to get some VOIP going on if I could set it up cheap enough. So I looked into Skype since they have a big name and they were in the video I was watching I believe:

SKYPE BREAKDOWN:
I found out that it costs $3/month($36/year) to have unlimited out going calls a month but does not allow incoming calls. To create a incoming call number you have to pay $60/year($5/month), so having both would cost $96/year($8/month) . Which is not bad but to much for me.

SKYPE + GOOGLE VOICE COMBO:
Then I thought well I could combine my Google Voice with Skype. Google Voice offers free out going calls(it try's to call you then connects you to your end destination call). With free out going calls I would not need to purchase the $3/month part of the plan. I would just have to purchase the $60 a year plan which would give Google Voice a phone number to call. So that is a cheaper option for just $60/year($5/month) but still a bit to much.

COMPETITION: GIZMO5 + GOOGLE VOICE:
So I started looking into the Skype competition to see if I could find a better deal. I looked up a few none of which looked any good till I ran into Gizmo5. With Gizmo you get a free incoming call number (ie. SIP NUMBER: 18887778888@proxy.sipphone.com). All you have to do is copy the number part(not the @proxy...) and put it as a "New Phone number" in Google Voice.

Wa-lah ... free PC VOIP setup no monthly or yearly cost as long as Gizmo5 allows us to use their incoming number they give us for free. Remember use Google Voice to place your outgoing call which then calls Gizmo5, then calls your end destination number. I have not played around with it alot so if I run into issues I will post and update to this post.

Quick links to get started:
-GOOGLE VOICE