xfone 018 phone service and Linux

[Yaron Zabary]

Arie Skliarouk wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> Recently I discovered an VoIP phone service by company xfone:
> http://www.018.co.il/mpa.asp
> 
>  From what I understood, they provide you with hardware phone that is 
> connected to regular internet line (preferably with them as the ISP). 
> They also provide an PC client for windows that supposedly allows you to 
> call landlines and mobiles phones in Israel and over the world using 
> your phone account (similar to skype).

   They provide you with an adapter that has RJ45 to your LAN/router and 
RJ11 to your POTS (phone). The adapter does DHCP and then goes out to 
some SIP gateway. I asked nicely, so they gave me two concurrent 
outgoing calls (so I can call via Softphone and the adapter).

> 
> Can someone confirm my understanding?
> 
> Is the PC client an regular SIP softphone?

   I am not sure, but you can download it and see for yourself. I did 
some wireshark captures of it and it does SIP (according to wireshark).

   The more interesting thing I do is use my Wifi capable E65 to dial 
using Fring with their account (this also makes my E65 a Skype 
terminal). I am still unable to make the Symbian SIP client use them. 
Also, I cannot accept calls via Fring (but I don't care, since I don't 
give this number to people).

   They have a 29.90 NIS account for 500min/month (landline only),  call 
price is 0.079NIS/min for landline and 0.32NIS/min to mobile. They are 
cheaper than regular SkypeOut for calls to Israel. I considered their 
other option (9.90 for 24 months for the adapter and the rates as 
above), but didn't want to commit for 24 months.

   They have a few problems. I cannot dial 1-800 numbers (even their own 
1-800-078-078). This is still a pilot. I am still trying to figure what 
extra services they have (voice mail, voice to email, call forward etc). 
You cannot move your Bezeq number. They had some billing problem with 
the mobile taarifs (it was ~3NIS instead 0.32NIS), but I called them and 
they fixed it.

> 
> How do they solve the latency problems inherent to any internet connection?

   I didn't notice a problem with that.

> 
> -- 
> Arie
> 
> 
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-- 

-- Yaron.