HELLO & WELCOME

[jasbt]

Hello,

I am an individual entrepreneur and not an VoIP specialist. Fortunately, business is going well. I need to improve my productivity and for this purpose I need your suggestions on configuring my present hardware and-or purchasing a new one. Here is what I have:

Router FritzBox 7290
Dektop PC, processor i5, 8Gb Ram, with Windows 8.1 and Office 2007 installed in it.
Grandstream IP Phone GXV3140 connected to three SIP accounts and Skype
Skype number is my ingoing business number
Annual Skype call package covering all European Union countries
Jumblo SIP is my outgoing business phone number

Skype is important because part of my clients insist to communicate through this protocol.

Do not ask me why this above configuration. It is a Frankenstein I sewed together along the last two years. :-) It works fairly well, but cannot cope anymore with my needs.

What I need:

1. IP Phone with video, Skype and Hold On music. GXV3140 has not On Hold music. I plan to add some promotional messages about my business in between the Hold On music.
2. Feature to click the phone number of my clients in Outlook 2007 contact list and the IP Phone will make the call.
3. Reduce VoIP call costs, I am sure Skype number is expensive.

This should be something cost effective as my business is still small. It should be easy to install and configure because I am not a VoIP specialist.

Any sugestion and advice is most welcome! :-)

[WelshPaul]

Welcome to the forums jasbt,

1. IP Phone with video, Skype and Hold On music. GXV3140 has not On Hold music. I plan to add some promotional messages about my business in between the Hold On music.

Although you can purchase the odd IP phone that has a built in camera you will struggle to find any SIP/VoIP provider who support Video over IP.

As for skype, this will not work over a SIP phone, some of the IP phones on the market such as the Grandstream GXP2200 for example run the android OS which may (or may not) allow the installation of the skype app - However it will operate separately to your SIP/VoIP account. As for music on hold, this is provided free of charge by most SIP/VoIP providers. Some phones allow MOH such as the OBIHAI OBi1032 IP phone - Trouble is you won't find a SIP/VoIP IP phone to do everything you want above all in one bit of kit.

2. Feature to click the phone number of my clients in Outlook 2007 contact list and the IP Phone will make the call.

Voipfone offer this: http://www.voipfone.co.uk/TAPI.php

3. Reduce VoIP call costs, I am sure Skype number is expensive.

I'm sure you can get a skype out number for £40 for the year, Voipfone will cost £28.80 inc. VAT

One IMPORTANT thing to note: It seems you cannot port Skype numbers - unlike traditional VoIP providers, you are not buying the number from Skype, you are essentially renting it, so they refuse you any porting to another provider. Going to Ofcom wouldn't achieve anything, since I expect in their T&Cs you've agreed to rent, not own that number.

I wouldn't advise anyone to use Skype as a business service. Use a proper VoIP provider instead.

[jasbt]

Good point about skype numbers. I shall look into that although voipfone looks to be cheaper anyway.

Looks like my only hurdle now is number 1