VoIP Basics
CIX VoIP Facilities
Whilst it may seem a little daunting compared to a tranditional phone line, VoIP it is in actual fact quite simple and will save you money in the long run. You can use your phone for calls in the same way you currently use your landline, but the calls go over the internet instead of a copper phone line. Here is a quick guide to explain the basics.
First, we have a choice of 3 platforms. The key differentiators are detailed below:
Basic
- + Simple single user residential use
- + 1 inbound or outbound call
- + Can support multiple devices
- + Pay As You Go, or with bundled minutes
- + 1 month contract
Hosted VoIP
- + Advanced home user or business
- + Lots more features and controls
- + 1 user up to 250+
- + Pay As You Go, or with bundled minutes
- + 1 month contract
SIP Trunks
- + Requires a PBX / phone system
- + 1 trunk can support multiple channels
- + Subscription charges are based on channels
- + Support for 3CX, FreePBX and other PBX
- + Pay As You Go, or with bundled minutes
- + 1 month contract
Simple Home User
If you’re using one or two phones in your home to make and / or receive 1 call at a time then the Basic VoIP is what you need. You can choose to operate this on a Pay As You Go basis for £4+VAT per month, or have 1000 inclusive minutes bundled in at £6+VAT per month. This is supplied on a 1 month contract basis.
Next Level Up
If you want to be able to make and receive multiple calls at the same time, or be able to transfer calls from one user (or part of your home) to another, then you need the Hosted VoIP account, as transferring requires two users, and multiple calls require a user for each of these calls. This is priced at £5+VAT per month per user when you pay for the calls you make, or £9+VAT per month with 2000 inclusive minutes.
SIP Trunks
If you are either converting an existing ISDN phone system to use VoIP, or adopting a more up-to-date VoIP designed PBX, you'll need SIP trunks to allow the device to make and receive calls. The device can then choose how to handle the calls such as the devices to ring, or voicemails to present etc. 1 trunk can support anything from 1 channel up to hundreds. The more simultaneous calls you need to handle, the greater the number of channels that will be required.
Key Benefits to VoIP
There are plenty of reasons to be adopting VoIP at home and in your business:
- Lower rentals than what you pay for line rental via Openreach.
- Operates on any broadband and can even be used outside of the UK.
- Call costs are much less than traditional line rentals.
- Calling a UK mobile number is 1 pence per minute (+VAT).
- Calling another UK landline is 0.5 (half) pence per minute (+VAT).
- No long term contracts, these are all 1 month terms with no setup or exit fees.
- You can transfer your numbers away from us, they’re not locked in.
- Access CIX’s normal UK support.
3 Options For
Handling Calls
Adaptor
You don’t necessarily need new fancy VoIP hardware. It is entirely feasible that you can keep your existing phones, including DECT phones as they are now. Instead with the aid of what is called an ATA Adaptor you would plug your existing phones into this device instead of them being plugged into the phone socket. The adaptor connects to the Internet by plugging into your router.
The job of the Adaptor is to hold all of the VoIP configuration details. When a call comes in to your number it will ring your phone. When you place a call it will establish that call to our VoIP platform.
Software
We can provide you with simple to install applications which can run on a PC, Mac, Android or Apple phone which will allow you to make and receive calls. The calls you receive will be to your landline number, and when you make a call the landline number will be presented.
- For desktop versions (ie running on Windows or Mac) we charge £1.50+VAT per month.
- For mobile versions (ie running on Android or iOS) we charge £1+VAT per month.
Dedicated Hardware
You may choose to renew your phones and get something designed for VoIP. There are lots of phones to choose from, so to aid you we would recommend that Yealink is a good starting point as a manufacturer.
WiFi Phone
Like a DECT phone instead there is no DECT base station. Instead the device taps into your home WiFi signal.
DECT Base Station
This would replace any existing DECT base and you should be able to use your existing DECT phones with it, or replace these with Yealink ones.
- Yealink W70B - Just the base station
- Yealink W73P - Base and DECT handset
Desk Phones
There are so many to choose from. Here are 2 popular models:
Routers with Built-in ATA Adaptors
They exist, but we have yet to find one which we would like to recommend. Those on the market have very cut down versions of the ATA and that has been known to cause limitations or frustrations with some users. We still recommend keeping the router and ATA separate to ensure you get the best from both.
Port In Or Pick A New One
Phone Numbers
New Numbers
We have numbers from the majority of geographic number codes in the UK. So if you want a London or Edinburgh number, we have you covered. It doesn’t matter where you are physically located. Our control panels will allow you to pick a number of your choice and you can rent them from us from 50 pence per month.
Port Your Existing Number
We can help move your number from Openreach to our platform with very minimal disruption. There are things to think about in the process, such as whether the phone number you are porting is linked to the phone line running your broadband, as a classic scenario. When you port the number off a line rental it will cease the line, as such if broadband is on the same line we need to know and can guide you.
Porting costs £12+VAT as a one-off charge to move the number, and currently there are no on-going rental charges when you use our VoIP.
Before Adopting VoIP
Things To Consider
Broadband
If your line rental is being used for calls, as well as broadband, we will need to move your broadband at the same time as moving your number to a different technology. This is to ensure broadband works for you without line rental, and the number can port without any unexpected issues. If you are porting the number let us know if broadband is potentially associated.
Battery Backups
If the power fails, your broadband will likely be offline. Without power or broadband your VoIP will not function. If VoIP is vital to life, then it’s important you consider suitable battery backup options which can sustain power for broadband and your VoIP devices. Examples include:
Through our control panel you have lots of controls over VoIP, one of which will allow you to divert calls automatically to a mobile, should the devices fail to register.