On Fri, 14 Jan 2005, Tom Marble wrote:
> Very cool... a couple questions:
> 
> 1) have you every used a SIP softphone (including the proprietary Linux one)
>    with Vonage?  If so, how did it work?  how does it compare with
>    Asterisk softphones?

I've used their Windows softphone software, and it works ok. I always 
prefer hardphones, though.  :)  Note that you can't use a softphone with 
Vonage unless you pay $10/mo extra for a Softphone line -- they don't give 
you your authentication credentials for your primary line.

Any plain 'ol SIP softphone should work OK with Asterisk - I've used 
kphone and a few others that I can't remember offhand.

> 2) did you consider GNU Bayonne instead of Asterisk (open vs. closed protocol,
>    SIP gateway, etc.)?

I took a quick look at Bayonne; Asterisk seemed to be much more active, so
I went with it. I only actively use IAX and SIP, but Asterisk does also
support MGCP, H323, and various others.

> 3) I'm not sure I grok the architecture here... does Vonage make an IP call
>    to your Asterisk server (or is this all on the PSTN side?)?
>    You don't have a landline at all, right?  So when you make an outbound
>    call via Asterisk it gets routed to the PSTN via Vonage?

I've got my Vonage account configured so that when a call comes in from
me, it gets routed both to my ATA, and to a DID that is assigned by
Clearpath1 (VoIP provider), and delivered to me via IAX. So, as far as
Vonage is concerned, it's a PSTN line. I have a few Asterisk-connected
phones, and a cordless phone on the Vonage ATA. When someone calls the
Vonage number, both sets of phones ring, and whoever picks up first gets
the call. And you are correct, I do not have a landline anymore.

> 4) Is there a point at which you wouldn't need Vonage anymore (or will
>    they always serve as the PSTN gateway, forwarding/voice mail agent, etc.)?

Well, if they would let me port the number away, I wouldn't need them
right now. But, alas, they won't, so until I can convince my wife to
switch our phone number, I keep Vonage.  :)

> I actually think this is very on-topic!

Well, this part is, more than many other conversations on the list lately,
at least.  :)

-- 
Nate Carlson <natecars at real-time.com>   | Phone : (952)943-8700
http://www.real-time.com                | Fax   : (952)943-8500


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