One of the better Uses of Asterisk
One of the better uses of Asterisk, other than hooking it up with a single provider, is determining the lowest cost route using different providers.
For example, I’m using VoicePulse Connect! which has a local DID with free incoming calls for $7.95/mo, and outgoing calls at 2.95/min (that’s cents, by the way).
Someone on Slashdot mentioned to me the other day about TelIax which is $5 for a local DID(2.95/mo Savings) and 2/min incoming and outgoing (2.9/min Toll-Free Origination).
Let’s start with incoming calls. You save $2.95, but you gain 147.5 minutes incoming to meet price-for-price(actually, about 120 including their 2c connection charge that may apply). For me, that’s not really worth it. So I’m sticking with VoicePulse connect.
Now, there’s also VoIP Jet which is 1.3/min outgoing, and they have no DID forwarding. That’s much better. The 147.5 minutes from above quickly turns into 226.9 minutes incoming. Not necessairily worth it if you talk alot, free incoming leaves a lot less to worry about. But outgoing, 1.3 beats hands-down. The call quality is pretty good with VoipJet as well from my early tests, and they say they have a 17ms delivery time for US calls. Their international rates can’t be beat either. So I think I’ve found my incoming and outgoing call sources, for now. If anyone has any links, let me know!
I’m using simultaneous ring for incoming calls, which makes my cell phone an outgoing call, so being charged just once (1.3/min) sounds great.
Using this method for international calls would be a little more time consuming, but could save you a whole lot of money.
Comments
Comment from mfaras
Time: April 11, 2005, 2:33 pm
Hey… your blog is a desert… I just followed a link from your slashdot’s posts. I really don’t know what Asterisk is, and that’s a must for reading your blog, but anyway it seems interesing. Good luck and get some visitors!
MF
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