Portable VOIP number?

November 4, 2009 11:15 AM

Portable UK voip number?

I'm looking for a UK telephone number to use with a voip provider. The killer is that I'd like to take the number with me if I later want to change providers. How can I set this up so that it's possible. I'd like to minimise cost.

I'd also like recommendations for a voip provider that will allow me to forward calls to another voip number at little or no cost, or to a "real" number. I'll be mostly using this number for answerphone messages but would like to avoid e-mails full of wav files. Perhaps a web based preview would be best.

I'd like to avoid Skype if possible.

Any recommendations?

posted by devnull to computers & internet (3 comments total)

Barring Google Voice rolling out in the UK, you could try any number of UK based number forwarding services in conjunction with a UK based VOIP call-in number. You could then later switch providers to a new call-in number, and change the number your "public" number forwards to. This would require an unlimited forwarding / UK voip plan to be economical i'd imagine.
posted by CharlesV42 at 12:18 PM on November 4

Voiptalk.org are the main reseller for Telappliant who've been mostly reliable and have a useable web interface to control forwarding the number -- both to real or other voip providers, also voicemail, calling multiple destinations simultaneously, and time-of-day based routing are all simple options. They're not the cheapest, and the sign-up page doesn't allow you to choose a number. One client also had a couple of issues with some missed calls until they upgraded to a business package offering more "lines". I've heard that porting a voiptalk number away from them is possible, but have never tried it. voipon.co.uk are another Telappliant reseller.

I'm also very happy with the more reasonably priced service from AQL, who do allow you to choose a number from their extensive range, and have the (possible) advantage of being able to receive SMS text messages on their geographical numbers (either forwarded by SMS or email). However they don't offer call forwarding - you need to be logged in to that account to receive calls -- although if you have the resources and asterisk or freeswitch server can of course do the forwarding for you.

The next voip provider I'll check out should the need arise will be Gradwell, but I don't have any first (or even second) hand expreience of their service.

Good luck, and feel free to mefi-mail me if there's anything else I can help with.
posted by dirm at 1:07 PM on November 4

A couple of things I forgot to mention:

a) Voicemail: neither voiptalk nor aql have a web preview. Whilst email attachments are an option, just connecting to the account with a softphone is nicely manageable.

b) Billing: voiptalk wins in terms of recurring billing to cc, automated top up of calling credit if you wish, and downloadable call logs etc. Aql simply email invoices to be paid manually, although they include bank details so perhaps an online bill payment would make it a little easier.
posted by dirm at 1:21 PM on November 4