Background:
I had been using Skype for over 20 years primarily as a tool enabling me to make long distance calls using VOIP and avoiding exorbitant charges that telcos used to (and still do) charge.
With Skype's acquisition by Microsoft (2011) things slowly but surely began to deteriorate (as expected), but that is not the point here. Microsoft had decided to shut Skype down earlier this year, but mercifully allowed people with current subscriptions to keep on using it until their subscription expire.
So I had to do some research and am sharing my results here, perhaps it might save someone a few hours of their time.
Disclaimer:
In no way I am affiliated with any of the companies I mention here, either directly or indirectly, nor do I receive any form of compensation whatsoever from anyone to write this. This is 100% my own experience, nothing more and nothing less.
Objective:
To find a PBX provider who can give me a reasonably priced virtual phone line so that I can continue making international calls
from my computer or cell phone while bypassing the telco w/out avoiding relatively large monthly charges as I use this service sporadically.
Work and outcome:
Having spent hours and hours reviewing various options, I found that vast majority of them are (not surprisingly) aimed at small to midsize companies that outsource their phone services. While this would work from the technical standpoint, I am not interested in paying $30-$70 or more per month with their most basic plans.
Finally, I came across a company called "Zadarma" - www.zadarma.com - which appeared to be what I was after, i.e. VoicePBX provider with low monthly fee for 1 virtual number and reasonable per minute charges.
I have just finished installing it, selecting a virtual phone number ($2/month), activating PBX, and making a few test calls to the US and Europe, and - surprisingly - everything worked the way it was supposed to.
Their cost per call to landline in UK was $0.009/min, and to a few central European countries $0.01 per min. USA $0.012 per min.
Call quality very high, better than Skype (mind you this is based on a small sample of 6 or so calls).
Easy set up so no issues there.
You can call either from your laptop or your cell (Android for me), but I believe they also have iPhone version.
You can also set up a feature that allows you to make it look like that the call is coming from your own cell phone (upon their verification of your number).
All calls are also being recorded automatically just in case you need it.
Hope this helps
I had been using Skype for over 20 years primarily as a tool enabling me to make long distance calls using VOIP and avoiding exorbitant charges that telcos used to (and still do) charge.
With Skype's acquisition by Microsoft (2011) things slowly but surely began to deteriorate (as expected), but that is not the point here. Microsoft had decided to shut Skype down earlier this year, but mercifully allowed people with current subscriptions to keep on using it until their subscription expire.
So I had to do some research and am sharing my results here, perhaps it might save someone a few hours of their time.
Disclaimer:
In no way I am affiliated with any of the companies I mention here, either directly or indirectly, nor do I receive any form of compensation whatsoever from anyone to write this. This is 100% my own experience, nothing more and nothing less.
Objective:
To find a PBX provider who can give me a reasonably priced virtual phone line so that I can continue making international calls
from my computer or cell phone while bypassing the telco w/out avoiding relatively large monthly charges as I use this service sporadically.
Work and outcome:
Having spent hours and hours reviewing various options, I found that vast majority of them are (not surprisingly) aimed at small to midsize companies that outsource their phone services. While this would work from the technical standpoint, I am not interested in paying $30-$70 or more per month with their most basic plans.
Finally, I came across a company called "Zadarma" - www.zadarma.com - which appeared to be what I was after, i.e. VoicePBX provider with low monthly fee for 1 virtual number and reasonable per minute charges.
I have just finished installing it, selecting a virtual phone number ($2/month), activating PBX, and making a few test calls to the US and Europe, and - surprisingly - everything worked the way it was supposed to.
Their cost per call to landline in UK was $0.009/min, and to a few central European countries $0.01 per min. USA $0.012 per min.
Call quality very high, better than Skype (mind you this is based on a small sample of 6 or so calls).
Easy set up so no issues there.
You can call either from your laptop or your cell (Android for me), but I believe they also have iPhone version.
You can also set up a feature that allows you to make it look like that the call is coming from your own cell phone (upon their verification of your number).
All calls are also being recorded automatically just in case you need it.
Hope this helps
