Ask HN: Voice over IP solutions?

#1

Post by darklajid » Sat, Aug 13, 2011, 5:27 PM UTC

I know a lot of you are traveling more than me, and this topic came up a couple of times in connection with Skype. I'm looking for advice for a voip solution that allows me to call landlines (Europe, mostly) with affordable rates. I'd prefer going with an open solution (i.e. using open protocols if possible).

Bonus points:

- Android client - Video support (yeah.. I guess no luck here)

GTalk doesn't seem to be available. Google Voice of course isn't either (Yay for fragmentation). I'm stuck with Skype for now, but I've to count to ten every time I start it, because it cannot be forced to stop pushing bullsh*t into my face. It wants me to buy a subscription for a phone number usually, today it told me 'The wait is over - You can now make video calls with Skype on your Android phone.'.

Guess what, Skype? No, I cannot. My phone is more powerful than most handsets you DO support, but - still. That's a lie [1].

Please, got about 1 EUR left on Skype, top out is disabled, after that I want to move. HN, save me from this crapware, once and for all.

1: http://ben.sh/SkypeYouSuck.png

Re: Ask HN: Voice over IP solutions?

#2

Post by georgieporgie » Sat, Aug 13, 2011, 5:49 PM UTC

I've used a Sipgate.com account + CSipSimple on the Android, and it's okay. I've only used it over Wifi + Comcast, and it's acceptable but not great.

Re: Ask HN: Voice over IP solutions?

#3

Post by tshtf » Sat, Aug 13, 2011, 5:56 PM UTC

I use the native SIP functionality in Android 2.3, and it works well. Sipdroid is available in the market if you're looking for a solution for earlier Android phones.

There are literally hundreds of providers to choose from. callwithus.com seems to have really good termination rates (http://www.callwithus.com/showrates) and I use them for calling mobiles in Europe. They don't support inbound calls, but there are other providers for that.

You can get free SIP clients for any other platform: Mac, Linux, or Windows.

Re: Ask HN: Voice over IP solutions?

#4

Post by simonb » Sat, Aug 13, 2011, 6:00 PM UTC

Have you tried vox.io [http://www.vox.io]?

Re: Ask HN: Voice over IP solutions?

#5

Post by sorbus » Sat, Aug 13, 2011, 6:04 PM UTC

A bit of googling turns up Truphone - it has fairly cheap calling to landlines and mobile phones (says that it starts at 2.1c/min), and free calling to other people using their app. No video chat, though it does have an Android client (in fact, it has clients for every major platform, both mobile and not, so that's a huge plus).

http://www.truphone.com/en-US/Products/Tru-App/

Then there's another thing called Fring, which seems to be mostly a group chatting application but allows you to call normal phones too. Has video chat, which seems to be the main thing they're promoting, and an Android client.

http://www.fring.com/what-is-fring

I can't recommend either of them - as I said, I just used google to find them - but they seem like they might work for you.

Re: Ask HN: Voice over IP solutions?

#6

Post by pagekalisedown » Sat, Aug 13, 2011, 6:05 PM UTC

tshtf wrote: post #3

I use the native SIP functionality in Android 2.3, and it works well. Sipdroid is available in the market if you're looking for a solution for earlier Android phones. There are literally hundreds of providers to choose from. callwithus.com seems to have really good termination rates ( http://www.callwithus.com/showrates ) and I use them for calling mobiles in Europe. They don't support inbound calls, but there are ot…

Yup, you'd be a fool to use anything but SIP nowadays. I personally use voip.ms (I don't work for them I'm just a satisfied customer).

Re: Ask HN: Voice over IP solutions?

#7

Post by gst » Sat, Aug 13, 2011, 6:13 PM UTC

I use CSipSimple on Android with VoipBuster as SIP provider for outgoing calls - this works really well.

However, you should be aware that unlike with Skype the SIP packets between your phone and your provider aren't encrypted. So if you use this on a public WiFi, everyone with sufficient skills would be able to listen to your call.

Re: Ask HN: Voice over IP solutions?

#8

Post by patrickod » Sat, Aug 13, 2011, 6:18 PM UTC

I would recommend going the SIP route by setting up an Asterisk box somewhere and buying a DID and upstream capacity and then using it with whatever clients you want. Asterisk can be run on a whole load of hardware and I know of a few people who run it on their home routers (beefy enough as these routers are, they're far from industrial standard) and so far I have yet to hear any complaints from them.

I've been using the Android native SIP client with an asterisk box and it works really well. Be aware though that it doesn't allow you to make calls over cell data, but rather limits you to making/receiving calls on Wifi only.

In terms of upstream providers the only one I know of in Europe is Blueface[2] as a few of my friends at home in Ireland use them in their homes

[2] - http://www.blueface.ie/residential.aspx

Re: Ask HN: Voice over IP solutions?

#9

Post by viraptor » Sat, Aug 13, 2011, 6:33 PM UTC

There are loads of local providers available, so I'd recommend just looking for one located in a country you're in the most. Or even open a couple of accounts and make sure they all redirect to a single one for incoming calls.

They offer various levels of quality, so be sure to try it a couple of times first... Majority of the providers seem to be only resellers - many of them not understanding the technology behind it, so if you care about good support, check if you're looking at a reseller or an actual provider.

If you want to call internationally a lot using local providers, you are very likely to run into issues with quality, callerid presentation, availability. Solving those is quite tricky and it's sometimes easier to get another account in the country you're calling to, rather than fighting the issue with your current company.

(sorry for not giving any specific examples, but in my experience there's no optimal global solution - spend some time trying to find out what works for you)

Re: Ask HN: Voice over IP solutions?

#10

Post by fez » Sat, Aug 13, 2011, 6:35 PM UTC

I set up an Elastix PBX with a VoicePulse.com SIP trunk. Elastix is Asterisk and free. The GUI looks pretty good and I was able to get everything set up in a couple of hours. I have never set up a PBX in my life.