Iphone? Voip? Skype? What's a good way to be contactable on one number from anywhere?

[Ali Starbright]

Basically I'm trying to make my business location independent - But I'd like to make communication cheap and easy for clients and always be contactable on one local number, whether that be via mobile, skype/iphone, or whatever is reliable.

I know there's call forwarding, but I don't think it's cheap - does anyone have an idea about this and can drop me a link or a hint?

Anyone doing this?

Thanks in advance

Ali

[JohnSheppard]

Best way is with a 1300 number I think.

Cheapest way to do that is through a voip provider. Check out mytel or mynetfone.

I use MyTel and it costs me $30 or so a month for a 1300 number, 1xdirect indial number (any state I want)....it costs $7/month or so for each extra direct indial number, so you can have one in every capital city if you want....call costs are about the same as Skype except you don't get hit with excessive 1300/1800 dial out costs...(not sure about international calls)

The 1300 number costs you a fee per minute for in dials, it is reasonably cheap but I don't recall what it is right now.

When I researched it MyTel was cheaper for only one extension but as soon as you get a few it's cheaper with mynetfone.

People will say Skype, but personally, my experience wasn't good...

Thats my 2cents anyway...

[craiglongmuir.com]

not used it but just been reading thru http://www.skype.com/allfeatures/onlinenumber/

looks good for $50 a yr

[Michael_R]

and from the great team of Google.....

http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html

only issue at the moment is that it is only for the US - but it is coming!!

I do like the idea of the free SMS part

till later

M

[JohnSheppard]

The skypin numbers aren't bad, I had one for a while, but they are limited, you can't attach a 1300 number to them (that I am aware of).

If a national presence is wanted, 1300 is the way to go I reckon..... Most people will be put off by std calls...Personally, I am....and would go elsewhere as a result....

The other thing with skypein numbers is portability, if you grow beyond one line and then need a pbx....that number is going to be lost...it's very expensive to alter your public phone number....

[AnaLucia]

Hi Ali,

In my very personal experience: skype can be good, however sometimes the reception is terrible. It depends a lot in what age range are your clients as well... as skype is more popular between the young ones.
I also think that you have a land line or a 1300 or 1800 will look more professional rather than a mobile?

Anyway, it all depends in your clients (ages - target)

regards

[Digital1]

Hi Ali,

Try any reputable VOIP provider - call quality is heavily dependent on the speed of your internet connection so make sure you have a good provider.

I think VOIP is fantastic as you can manage where your calls go with the click of a button, can set calls to follow you to any number, and your voice mail is delivered as an MP3 sound file to your email so you don't have to 'dial' it up like with most phones. Best of all it's really cheap. I use Mynetfone.com.au and can happily recommend them. It literally was a plug in a go set up.

I must admit that there have been two occasions where my call has dropped out completely and another couple of times where the person on the other end has said it's hard to hear me.

So it's not perfect but for the most part works just as well as any other phone.

Good luck!

PS You can also set them up with a 'fall back' to a fixed land line so if your internet is down you still get the calls.

[Ali Starbright]

Thanks everyone - some really good tips there and warnings there.

I do want to cover the nation and my clients will be small business people like yourselves.

I was on the verge of going skype - my internet connection isn't too bad with a 48ms ping so I'm confident that the call quality will be okay if I'm at home.

But it seems like a 1300 number will be the way to go if I can manage it.

I've used Mynetphone before but for some reason couldn't get it setup - the username they had given me simply didn't work. Go figure!

I'm also investigating MyTel right now.

So thanks again all, I really appreciate your effort and hope other people benefit into the future as well

[Webolution]

Personally, I've found SkypeIn to be brilliant. The call quality has improved out of sight over the past year or two.

I've combined that with a GoTalk 1300 number that terminates to the SkypeIn number - works perfect for me.

Cheers,
Joel

[wordmistress]

Hi Ali

I would think a 1300 number would be all you have to use. It means your clients and potential clients can call you from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call and you don't have to mention where you're located unless you want to.

As far as wanting to seem that you're wherever your client thinks you are, this is unnecessary in this day and age. The internet means we can offer services to people across the world. I don't think it's an issue anymore for people to use the kind of service you offer only if you're local. Do a good job and they won't care if you're working from the back of a boat on the Noosa River (though they may be a tad jealous!).

Go for the 1300 deal!