IP telephony for home is an opportunity to get rid of the annoying landline phone and replace it with modern look communication. To do this, you need to choose a provider, focusing on the quality of voice transmission, prices and the number of services. We have compiled a small rating and are ready to acquaint you with the leading IP telephony operators. It included:
- Zadarma is one of the oldest VoIP service providers in Russia.
- SIPNET - has been operating since 1996 and is ready to offer impressive functionality.
- YouMagic is a small provider with nice tariff plans.
The rest of the providers work with business clients. The thing is that with the development of messengers, we have the opportunity to call for free anywhere in the world - from messenger to messenger. And this type of communication has become incredibly popular. As for IP telephony, it allows you to make calls to mobile and landline phones - this slightly reveals the range of possibilities.
Operator services Zadarma
Zadarma is inexpensive IP telephony for the home. The operator works not only with legal, but also with individuals... Only on the site it is for some reason not indicated. Provider's capabilities in the field of IP telephony:
- Making calls via computers and smartphones (using softphones - softphones).
- Making calls via IP-handsets - they resemble ordinary stationary devices, but they are connected not to telephone networks, but to the Internet (there are also dual models).
- Sending SMS to any mobile numbers- using softphones or personal accounts.
- Dialing through call back- will allow you to make a call without access to the Internet.
- Support for direct numbers - for example, a SIP-telephony subscriber can rent a number in Moscow, Krasnodar, Sochi, Omsk and other cities, even without being in these cities. You need two numbers at once (or more) - please. The cost of direct numbers - from 120 rubles / month (Moscow, code 499).
You don't have to buy a direct number - you need it for incoming calls to make it easier to dial from other phones. Without direct number Dialing to a SIP phone is carried out through gateways - first, a call is made to the gateway, then the additional digits of the SIP phone are dialed. For example, + 7-555-555-55-55, add. 1234.
Zadarma offers its subscribers five tariff plans... For the most economical, the “Economy” tariff has been developed. It is provided without subscription fee, tariffication is per minute, connection fee is not charged. The cost of calls to mobiles is 1.65 rubles / min, to Moscow landline phones - 59 kopecks / min, the cost of calls within Russia is from 68 kopecks / min, it is best to check the rates on the Zadarma website, as they may change.
For more advanced and talkative subscribers, the "Standard" tariff has been prepared. There is no subscription fee, but there is a per-second tariffication and 100 free minutes per month to popular destinations - Poland, China, stationary pipes in Moscow and St. Petersburg, USA, UK, Canada and Spain. If there are relatives in these countries (and cities), connect and communicate with them for free. The cost of calls to Russian mobile phones is 1.98 rubles / min, to landlines - from 82 kopecks / min.
The "Free" tariff is suitable for international IP-telephony. His name, of course, is conditional. Subscribers are provided with 400 minutes for 2 months, subject to replenishment of the account by 350 rubles. These minutes can be spent on calls to 40 popular destinations - these include Germany, Israel, Korea, USA, New Zealand, fixed telephones in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Canada and many other countries.
For fans of unlimited, the tariff "Unlimited" has been created. It includes 500 minutes for Russian mobiles and 2000 minutes for 80 popular countries the world. Subscription fee - 790 rubles / month.
We study SIPNET tariffs
In our rating, this is the cheapest IP telephony for the home. The very first tariff for private clients is called "Sociable". There is no monthly fee on it, but the first and every tenth minutes cost 3 rubles. Calls within Russia to mobile and stationary devices are charged at RUB 0.5 / min. Number of active lines - 1 pc.
The "Standard" tariff is designed for IP-telephony subscribers who need a balance between domestic and international calls... Calls to Moscow phones will cost 50 kopecks / min, calls to Russian mobiles - 1.5 rubles / min. Uniform cost of calls to landlines Russian numbers no, but in some directions calls cost less than 50 kopecks / min.
The "International" tariff is focused on foreign calls. Calls to Europe cost from 10 kopecks / min, to CIS countries - from 0.2 rubles / min, to American numbers - from 0.09 kopecks / min, to Asian phones - from 34 kopecks / min.
Tariffs from YouMagic
IP telephony provider with several tariffs. The first one is called "National" and includes a direct city number in one of the Russian and foreign cities. At the same time, the subscription fee is fixed - 199 rubles / month. Another 99 rubles are debited for the connection. Communication tariffs differ depending on the direction. For example, a call to neighboring Abkhazia costs 27.17 rubles per minute, while a call to Australia costs only 1.19 rubles per minute. Prices may vary, it is best to check them on the website of the IP provider.
The tariff "International" includes foreign number with a fixed monthly fee - 205 rubles / month. For some reason, the connection is free. International numbers are issued in the format +88314 (077). Calls cost from 1 ruble.
For the most economical people who do not need a direct number, we can recommend the "Non-Geographic" tariff. The cost of calls within Russia to landline numbers- from 68 kopecks / min. But calls to mobile phones are godlessly expensive - 25.91 rubles / min. It is best to check the final prices for certain directions on the official website.
Whom to choose
We can recommend Zadarma as the most reasonable option. There are several reasons for this:
- Fast registration procedure.
- Bonus 20 rubles upon registration.
- Support for a huge number of softphones and IP-handsets.
- High-quality voice transmission due to the use of premium channels.
SIPNET does not lag behind - interesting tariffs, fast connection and daily promotions with free directions.
It is not so easy to choose an IP operator for yourself. These are not Internet providers, which are a dime a dozen. Finding real Russian IP operators on the Web is a difficult task. Real operators (and not partners) do not seek to exaggerate themselves for two reasons. First, it is often more profitable for operators to work with distribution partners than to sell their services themselves (saving on support). Secondly, the top positions in search engines have long been occupied by distributor sites, and it is very difficult and expensive to get there. It is almost impossible to understand who is actually trying to do you a favor. Partners sometimes deliberately cheat appearance original software beyond recognition to confuse you even more.
You can distinguish the operator from the partner by the presented invoice
There is only one way to distinguish an intermediary from a real operator - ask him to issue an invoice for payment from legal entity... Do this (and provide all accompanying documents) can only be provided by telecom operators registered in Russia, having licenses and a surrendered unit (permission for commercial operation). If you receive an invoice from one organization, and the license is shown from another, then something is wrong here. Perhaps everything is not so scary: the company is physically based abroad, and in Russia it conducts commercial activities and has not yet brought all documents in line with Russian legislation... And deception is also possible.
By by and large, there should be no difference with whom you work: with a real operator or with his partner, if both work in good faith. We can only say that it is easier to make financial claims against a real operator than against an unknown partner. We are concerned about the division into partners and operators in terms of testing communication lines, which can be carried out by working only with real operators having own equipment.
Who has not been tested
Only domestic real operators were tested
First of all, we excluded from the check great amount(literally hundreds) of vendors of IP telephony services over the Internet. Unlike IP operators, sellers do not have their own equipment, but simply participate in affiliate programs(for example, like TimePhone). Unencumbered technical problems partners pay more attention to advertising and promotion of their projects and often have more impressive sites than those of real operators. Any methods are used to promote these sites, including spam, doorway pages and the like. Partners have nothing to lose: a search engine will block them - they will open a new website and start all over again. Why all this is said - when buying pins on such sites, very few people guarantee you anything: too little time has passed for the market to weed out unscrupulous entrepreneurs.
Operators who have their own equipment, but do not have any licenses and permits, have not been tested either. They are usually based outside of Russia and have disgusting call quality. Physically, their equipment is located over seven seas, hence the significant delays and packet loss, which is precisely what determines this quality.
Foreign IP operators proper were also excluded. Although they are real, and with very attractive rates (especially for computer-to-phone calls), they have the same problems of payment for services as Skype. Although if you have the opportunity to replenish accounts from abroad, then it makes sense to take a closer look at such operators. (A call with some cards from America, for example, to Moscow will cost only $ 0.0099 per minute.) But since our story is for simple Russian citizens, we also filter out these operators.
How to search for an IP operator?
The only one more or less full list of domestic companies providing IP telephony services is located on the IPTop.net website. Despite the not quite correct name ("Rating directory of IP-operators"), it is possible and necessary to use it. "Not entirely true" - this is because the list contains a mixture of various representatives of IP-operators, both the operators themselves and their partners. For example, in the first place out of 29 (at the time of this writing) TimePhone is listed - a real operator, followed by the partner company Deltathree (or another name - "CallTut.ru"), slightly below - the Dnipropetrovsk and Tula branches of Tario, from the company "Zebra Telecom "did not mention the presence of the" computer-phone "service (it seems that the list is rarely updated), and Telfin is completely absent. The latter is not surprising - at the time of writing this article, the "computer-phone" service in Telfina was just transitioning from a test mode to a mode of use by the general public.
The value of the IPTop.net site, in addition to the list of operators, is also in the presence of a working "Price-analyzer", with which you can select the IP-telephony service with the lowest tariffs in necessary direction... Search for such a service is possible in English and Russian, by full or partial names settlements, taking into account the type of phone (regular, cellular). The result is sorted by different criteria... If you need to call from Uryupinsk to Honduras, then you can choose the cheapest service for this direction and try to use it. It is advisable to choose one of the real operators, the rest are at your own peril and risk.
It is easy to decide on a telephone set for city telephony - we buy a wired one go wireless model, connect to telephone network and use it. If you need traditional office functionality, including a phone book, conferencing or communication with a secretary and a local PBX, you should look at more functional models... Which SIP phone to buy or install on a computer to get access to IP telephony? In this review, we'll look at:
- Combined telephones for traditional and IP telephony.
Read the review, buy best equipment and install functional and simple software.
What is a SIP phone
Acquaintance with IP-telephony opens up to subscribers the whole world low call rates all over the planet. Today, millions of people use such services, saving money in their wallet. In order to use IP telephony, you need to choose good provider which will provide good quality communication and will provide low prices for calls.
But many newbies are concerned about another question - what is needed to access this kind communication? Having chosen a provider, you need to decide on an IP phone. They fall into two categories:
- Ordinary SIP phones connected to the Internet and working independently of computers;
- Soft SIP phones - the program is installed on a computer and allows you to make calls over the Internet.
SIP phones look like regular phones for landline telephony. The simplest models are equipped with simple screen, wired tube and a keypad for dialing numbers... More advanced models are equipped with support for many protocols, buttons quick call, support for value-added voice services, headset ports, and wired and cordless handsets.
You can buy a SIP phone in many online stores. In order for him to be able to make and receive calls, the subscriber must configure him using the web interface. Also, you may need additional settings related to the functionality of the device itself. Let's take a quick look at the most popular models and see what they can do. Also mention popular models soft phones.
SIP adapters also belong to the category with standard SIP phones - they are equipped with ports for connecting any telephones and connect to telephony operators' servers by entering settings and connecting to the Internet.
Popular SIP Phone Models
Among the most affordable devices, we can highlight the Yealink SIP-T19 SIP phone. This device is made in a classic case and is equipped with a wired handset. On its central panel, we see a block of buttons and a monochrome LCD display. The model is able to work with additional voice services, allows you to connect headsets and communicate via speakerphone.
An additional option is the availability phone book for 1000 numbers. Also, the phone provides a comfortable sound perception due to the comfortable noise generator and is able to save traffic.
The most popular Wi-Fi SIP phone is the Grandstream GXV3240 model. The phone is running operating system Android OS and has great functionality... The device is equipped with a large touch screen, a push-button keyboard, a Bluetooth module, a hands-free system, support for six lines at once, a gigabit port, as well as support for all voice services.
It also has support for video conferencing. From inexpensive models SIP phones with Wi-Fi can be distinguished by the Escene WS220 model. He knows how to connect to several servers at once, supports two lines and voice services, equipped with a hands-free system and a small monochrome display.
Unlike many other expensive models, the Escene WS220 SIP phone is characterized by an affordable cost - this optimal choice for home use.
The next model combines SIP and DECT technologies - it is a hybrid of an IP phone and a landline phone with a cordless handset. SIP-DECT-phone Panasonic KX-TGP500 can work with two types of telephony, which is useful not only in a small office, but also at home. The device is equipped with a headset port, support for three lines, a hands-free system and the ability to work with eight SIP-telephony accounts. There is also support for additional voice services.
SIP soft phones
If you need a simple softphone, you should download Zoiper for your computer. The program is distributed absolutely free and is supported by many platforms... After downloading and installing this softphone, you will see a pretty nice program interface with a list of contacts and call control buttons on your computer screen.
Setting up Zoiper comes down to prescribing the parameters of communication with the servers of the selected IP operator. Also, we can recommend to use a rather popular softphone called X-Lite. He possesses at least simple interface and ease of customization. It will allow you to talk on two lines at once and store contacts in a notebook.
Which SIP phone to choose in the end
To conclude our review of regular and soft SIP phones, we will give a couple of recommendations. If you want to have a simple softphone at your disposal, download the Zoiper program - it has impressive functionality and will provide you with the convenience of making calls.
As for conventional IP phones, best for home simple model Escene WS220 described in our review. If you simply cannot decide between a regular and a soft IP-phone, then we recommend to go broke and buy a regular SIP-phone - it can work independently of a computer, receiving calls around the clock.
You have decided to switch to IP-telephony: there are fewer costs, more opportunities. Again, it is more convenient to use, and to connect is faster and easier. It may be easier to connect, but first you need to choose a provider, and then the difficulties begin.
What is the best IP telephony provider? There are many companies, the prices are about the same, and if they are different, then it is not clear why pay more here? Let's figure it out together.
Who is an IP telephony provider?
IP providers - they are also VoIP providers - are those who provide services. It works on the basis of the SIP protocol (Session Initiation Protocol) - a protocol that transmits voice and video in digital form over the Internet.
The quality of the connection depends on your IP provider. More precisely, it also depends on the Internet provider and the speed of the Internet channel. But it is the IP provider that is responsible for the transmission of voice from one subscriber to another. It is important here that the signal is clean - without interference, failures or extraneous echo in the tube. This requires good proxy servers and other equipment.
Now let's move on to the selection process.
Step 1: make a list of providers
Decide which operators you will choose from: ask colleagues for recommendations, go through the search results and independent ratings... You can immediately cut off those who do not offer numbers in the desired country.
Step 2: estimate your budget and needs
First of all, answer yourself the following questions:
- How much do you plan to spend per month (how much can you afford to spend on communication)?
- Where will you call most often?
- How many jobs do you need (how many people will use the virtual PBX)?
- How many branches do you have and where are they located?
- Do you need additional services and options?
If you call a little and the budget is limited, choose those who offer with basic options. For example, from € 7.60 per month, you can connect a landline number with a virtual PBX, with forwarding to landline and mobile, voice menu- IVR - and short internal numbers.
If you have branches and clients all over the world, plan to connect more numbers and lines - choose large operators, whose services are more expensive, but they offer more options and opportunities. From € 10-11 per month, you can buy a PBX with several landline numbers, including numbers with the 800 code, calls to which are free for your customers.
Then study the price for international calls, especially where you call most often. Multiply by the average number of calls per month, add to the subscription and connection fees, compare the numbers for each operator.
We have already written how to define - that is, jobs. See how the price will change at the minimum and maximum number- for example, for 5 or 15 lines. You may need more in the future, and it is better to estimate the costs right away.
From additional opportunities the most popular are:
- numbers with 800 code for hot lines - when you, not the client, pay for the call;
- Smart call-back for a call back from the site - the client orders a call, and the system automatically dials from a free manager;
- recording and statistics of conversations that are stored in the cloud archive.
The more useful options and the services provided by the provider - so much the better.
Step 3: compare those who remain on the list
Now let's take a closer look at the providers that we have left.
First, assess how they are working with clients: ask questions via chat or over the phone, outline needs and budget, and see how and how they will answer you. If you were answered instantly or within a few minutes, this means that the company will respond to your future inquiries with the same speed. And if you had to wait a few days for an answer, it smells like fried. It is safe to predict that all your problems that arise in the process of cooperation will be resolved just as “quickly”.
Great advantage virtual PBX the fact that a lot can be connected and configured by yourself. Therefore, it does not matter where the company is located - it is enough for support to be in touch, respond quickly and speak at least English. It is even better if they help you with the connection and give you clear instructions for the future.
Pay Special attention on those who give different options and services to be tested for free: it’s easier to understand what you really need from this and whether it’s difficult to figure it out.
Did you go through all the steps, but you still didn't manage to choose from two or three? That's okay: try to run for a month with one operator,
and then - with another. However, to do this, pay attention to the need to conclude an annual contract with an operator: if you are forced to take on annual obligations, do not agree and choose an operator that provides its services under an offer agreement.
It is easy to buy and set up, it is easy to adapt it to your own needs, it costs an order of magnitude cheaper than classic
solutions - sheer benefits. Therefore, feel free to change your provider to the one with whom it is more convenient to work and with whom better quality communication.
Long-distance and international calls on "traditional" telephone lines are a real luxury for the majority of the inhabitants of our country. High price and low quality connections make everything more users refuse to communicate with relatives and friends from other regions. Moreover, the vulnerability of the telephone line makes it an easy target for intruders - with the proper skill to connect to it and talk at your expense, everyone can.
If you do not want to expose yourself to the risk of being robbed, but still cannot refuse "international communication", you should think about connecting IP-telephony. What are Internet calls, what are the advantages of the system and how to set up a connection - we will try to figure it out.
Digital calls
IP telephony is a combination of old habits and modern technologies... It is a set of communication protocols and methods that enable traditional dialing and two-way communication over the Internet or any other IP network.
Unlike ordinary landline phones, in which the interlocutor's voice is transmitted analog signal, in IP telephony, audio is encrypted in binary code and its compression. This improves the quality of the connection and reduces the load on the network. Other advantages of IP telephony calls are:
- Low cost of international and long distance calls.
- Independence from telephone lines communication.
- Making calls anywhere.
As last advantage you should highlight the ability to block unwanted incoming calls at your expense by disabling the "eight". It is profitable and convenient to use IP-telephony, but, like everything new, you have to get used to it.
Types of IP telephony
Internet calls can be made from a regular landline phone, from special IP equipment, and even from a computer.
According to the type of device through which communication is carried out, there is a division of IP telephony for the home into types:
- "Computer-computer"... To communicate, subscribers need a PC with installed software and an Internet connection. In this case, a call is similar to a Skype conversation. This type of connection is the least common.
- Communication via the card. To make a call, you need a regular landline phone with tone dialing and an access card from the provider. To contact an acquaintance, you first call the operator's number, in tone mode enter your ID and PIN-code, and then - the number of the called party.
- Communication via IP-phone. A dedicated IP phone is already configured to communicate. All you need is an Internet connection. When making a call, the phone automatically connects you with the provider, connects to the proxy server and calls the subscriber.
Many people probably have a question: what is an IP phone? It is an ordinary device with a handset and a keyboard, it works independently of the computer and can receive a call at any time.
Foreign operators in Russia
Choosing a provider is the first step towards communicating via IP telephony. The cost of calls will depend on the choice made, so choose a service company, considering all the pros and cons. The largest representatives of IP telephony in our country are Sipnet and Comtube.
Sipnet is one of the first foreign companies to set up a representative office in Russia. Its services are ideal for making calls within the network, that is, for communicating with local numbers - calls are completely free. For other destinations, the tariffs for IP telephony are as follows:
- international calls - from 1.5 to 6 rubles / min;
- intercity communication - up to 1 rub / min.
The reviews about the operator are positive. Some are confused by what is conducted in English.
Comtube is one of the youngest and most promising providers. It provides its clients with two sets of services - "Starter" and "Premium". The first kit will provide customers basic capabilities, and the second, among other things, is a whole series additional services... The cost of calls depends on the terms of the contract.
It is impossible to give reliable reviews about this operator - too few users are familiar with it. Some are happy with the quality of communication and a fairly wide range of options in the "Starter" package, others complain that all services are focused on VIPs.
Domestic providers
Zebra Telecom is one of the most promising providers in Russia. Provides customers with the ability to make calls using an access card, as well as through a PC and IP-phone. Calls from Zebra to Zebra are absolutely free. Long distance calls cost from 50 kop / min, international - from 1.5 rubles - it all depends on the country of the subscriber.
Among the positive qualities, it is worth noting the Russian-language software localization. According to customer reviews, this is one of the many advantages of a domestic provider.
IP telephony from Rostelecom will become a profitable solution for those who need constant communication with subscribers from other countries. Unlike other operators that have per-minute tariffication for calls, with Rostelecom you pay for packages of minutes once a month or as you use up your traffic.
So, the cost of a package of 100 "international" minutes will be about 250-300 rubles. It doesn't matter which country you call. But for some clients it will be more prudent to use per-minute billing, especially if you talk to foreign countries for less than 50 minutes a month.
Necessary equipment
The set of equipment necessary for communication does not depend on the chosen telecom operator, but on the preferred type of IP-telephony. So, for calls "computer-to-computer" you need an access point to the Internet - fiber optic cable, USB-modem and equipment for comfortable communication: microphone, headphones, for video calls - a webcam.
To call IP telephony numbers from a landline phone, you need a SIP adapter and a computer or router with a built-in IP gateway. If you are using a hardware IP phone, then you will not need anything other than itself.
Configuring communication via adapter
When choosing an operator, ask what kind of equipment you need to connect to a dedicated line, whether it is easy to buy and whether it is expensive.
Some providers offer their customers already fully configured adapters for communicating with other subscribers. In this case, the entire setup process is reduced to consistent implementation few steps:
- Using the instructions, connect the adapter to the network.
- Connect a landline telephone to the LINE1 slot using an ordinary
- Turn on the adapter by plugging the power supply into the socket, wait for the download to finish (2-3 minutes).
- Pick up the phone, wait for a dial tone.
As soon as you hear a tone signal on the other side of the line, then know that you figured out what IP telephony is and were able to connect the equipment correctly. Now there are no barriers to communication.
Customizing some softphones
Setting up IP phones has some special features. In particular, you will need to program your device and enter information about yourself in its database. This is not as difficult as it seems.
Before proceeding with the setup, make sure you have an ID (identifier) and a passphrase or PIN. Here is an example of the data that most phones require when connecting to a Sipnet operator.
Other operators should have a similar procedure for setting up IP telephony. Customer reviews indicate that it is not difficult to deal with. In addition, in case of problems, you can contact the operator. It is their responsibility to help you with the setup.
Disadvantages of IP telephony
Now that you have studied the basic principles of connection, the advantages and technology of Internet telephony, you are ready to learn about some of the disadvantages of this method of communication. Such information will help you decide whether you need IP telephony or not.
The first and one of the most significant disadvantages is the dependence on the power grid. If for communication you will use a PC or a landline phone, then “without light” it will be impossible to call you, as well as make calls to you yourself. The exception is IP hardware phones.
When making a call for the first time, the other person most likely does not recognize you. It's all about the caller ID - the number of the gateway to which you are connected, and not your own, will be determined on the display of the called subscriber.
The last and one of the most important disadvantages is high price equipment. Many customers are at a loss that such an IP-phone can cost up to 3-4 thousand rubles, and this is without a monthly fee. However, having installed it in your apartment, you can no longer think about prices when communicating with subscribers from other countries.
