[WXC/VFX] Signing up with WorldxChange for VoIP

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › [WXC/VFX] Signing up with WorldxChange for VoIP

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#10471 24-Nov-2006 12:09

1. can i just buy a pap2 from DSE for $99, and use that to connect with VFX?

2. can i forward incoming calls out to multiple numbers at the same time (a couple of cellphones and another landline) ?

1 | 2

3539 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 124

Trusted

#53485 24-Nov-2006 12:42

tonyhughes: 1. can i just buy a pap2 from DSE for $99, and use that to connect with VFX?

Yep, that's all you need. That and a spare port on your router.

tonyhughes: 2. can i forward incoming calls out to multiple numbers at the same time (a couple of cellphones and another landline) ?

You can only forward to one number at a time so far as I know. The way I get around this is as follows:

1) Set up a "NO ANSWER" message on my voice mail which directs callers to my cellphone and my wife's cellphone
2) Set up a "BUSY" message on my voice mail which invites callers to leave a message

The ability to have different messages for each of these scenarios is a real plus and by setting the system up as above, it has covered all requirements for us. You may have different requirements, but that's my 2c worth anyway...

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#53496 24-Nov-2006 13:59

thanks!

I decided to take the plunge...

Concerned that WXC supplied hardware might be locked to them, (I haven’t confirmed this yet), I purchased a unit from DSE for $99. With no WxC branding on it, I know that I own it, and can use it with any provider I like. (I confirmed this at DSE [Baytech Hastings] by asking "will this be locked to WorldxChange at all?" - the answer was a firm "no, it wont")

Next up, sign up on the website – it looks like a quick and easy signup form, but at one point it forces me to choose a broadband plan – but hang on! I have Xtra broadband, and I am not changing!

Clicking the contact link, I decide to ring 0800123123 and sign up over the phone. The call is answered by a very polite female within about 10 seconds, and she was very helpful in establishing what I wanted (despite her rather broken English, her accent was very understandable). She was going to transfer me to the right team to sign me up, but they were unavailable, and she instead took my name and telephone number, and promised that they would call me back.

While on the phone, I removed the shrinkwrap from the Linksys box, and the first thing I see inside when I open it up is a glossy advertising insert from WorldxChange! (uh-oh) It simply had much the same info as their website.

Also in the box was a simple one page fold out set of instructions on how to physically connect the box using the supplied AC adapter, supplied Ethernet cable, and your normal telephone.

No other instructions are provided, however, except “Follow the instructions provided by your internet phone service provider”.

A few minutes later, impatiently waiting, I call the different 0800 number that I spot on the advertising insert – 0800123456, and a man with broken English (but again, polite, with an easy to understand accent) answered. He agreed to sign me up, and I said “Just to be sure, you will not lock my unit at all, because I want to have freedom of choice to change either line to a different provider at any time”

His response was “We do lock it, but you can call us anytime to have unlocked”

I said “No, this is not acceptable, I own the hardware outright, I want to use your service, but not have my hardware rendered useless for any other service. You can sign me up to use your service, but I specifically disallow you to lock my hardware, because I dont see why I have to call and ask you permission to use functions on something I own, including the second line that will never be utilised by WorldxChange”

He has promised to call me back later this afternoon after talking to the provisioning team.

So a disappointing start to the process, but I will keep you posted on what happens...

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 124

Trusted

#53500 24-Nov-2006 14:08

Tony, if you have a look through the 14-page thread on the WxC forum, you will see that this situation has already been covered.

WxC will leave LINE 2 of your PAP2T unlocked so you can use it with another provider if you wish.

I am sure that Phil Moore (aka Maverick) will confirm this for you. He hasn't been posting on the forum lately, so maybe he is away somewhere?

Nevertheless, I am sure someone else will call you promptly to resolve the situation.

Cheers,
Grant.

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#53501 24-Nov-2006 14:12

thats the one thrad i havent read all the way through LOL

I will give this a spin and see what happens... they cann have the benefit of the doubt seeing as they have at least been open about what they are doing!

Griven

174 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#53510 24-Nov-2006 14:46

Hello Tony,

While i'm not Phil i can answer your questions in regards to the lockdown and 2nd line options on your pap2t. We do in fact lockdown the voice section of your device once its receives your profile from us . However you can request your profile have the 2nd line left open. Also note that should you for some reason decide the leave the service we wont be leaving you with a paperweight for a pap2t as you simply need to request your device be unlocked when canceling the service.
If you have yet to actually signup please ensure you mention you want the 2nd line opened to the agent. Alternatively if you have already signed up you can contact us on 0800149638 and ask for the 2nd line to be opened up.

Nicholas Cuc

Network Support
WorldxChange Communications
www.xnet.co.nz

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#53511 24-Nov-2006 14:55

OK the DSE unit IS locked by way of unsupplied admin login details, but a simple reset (not that instructions are provided!!) is ****73738# then 1
this unlocks the admin login.

No thanks to WorldxChange (who want at least two working days to set me up or to even unlock my own unit i paid DSE for.)
No thanks to DSE tech support (I asked if the unit was locked to a provider, or if they could get me into it, they said call Linksys)
Linksys answered in the USA, and was. very. robotic. depsite. being. a. human. named. Eric. (he eventually gave me that reset code).

My faith in Worldxchange has not really been restored, and im mad at DSE for selling a locked unit, but categorically stating its unlocked, with no operator branding on the box, and no mention of a specific operator on their website.

Very frustrating

[Edit: the unit should have been stickered and sold as a VFX bundled unit - read further posts below]

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 124

Trusted

#53514 24-Nov-2006 15:08

tonyhughes: OK the DSE unit IS locked by way of unsupplied admin login details, but a simple reset (not that instructions are provided!!) is ****73738# then 1
this unlocks the admin login.

That's interesting Tony. Obviously, just the VFX profile has been loaded into the PAP2T whereas I had assumed they would Flash the device with Factory Defaults that always pointed it back to WorldxChange.

It's good that this is the case as you can always unlock the unit whenever you wish.

tonyhughes: No thanks to WorldxChange (who want at least two working days to set me up

In my experience it was more like 2 hours...

tonyhughes: No thanks to DSE tech support

This doesn't surprise me at all. I have never had any luck whatsoever with DSE Tech Support

.

However, to be fair to DSE, the rules concerning Linksys devices and their being locked to VFX have only just changed this month, so they probably haven't caught up with that fact yet. This doesn't really excuse DSE though because whoever ordered the devices from IM would have seen the notice about them being Bundled with the WorldxChange VFX service, or at least they should have seen it if they were doing their job properly and should have then passed on said info. to Tech Support...

The joys of dealing with a retailer -- Uggghhh, don't go there!

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#53516 24-Nov-2006 15:12

Just got a SIP service setup on it. Total setup time from website registration to making a call - about 10 mins.

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 124

Trusted

#53517 24-Nov-2006 15:19

tonyhughes: Just got a SIP service setup on it. Total setup time from website registration to making a call - about 10 mins.

Which SIP provider did you use?
10 minutes is pretty amazing!

01EG

612 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 36

#53520 24-Nov-2006 15:24

Grant17: 1) Set up a "NO ANSWER" message on my voice mail which directs callers to my cellphone and my wife's cellphone

Sorry for offtop. My understanding that you pay for the calls, do you? And cost is $0.30per min. Cheers

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 124

Trusted

#53523 24-Nov-2006 15:32

01EG:
Grant17: 1) Set up a "NO ANSWER" message on my voice mail which directs callers to my cellphone and my wife's cellphone

Sorry for offtop. My understanding that you pay for the calls, do you? And cost is $0.30per min. Cheers

Yes, you pay 30c per minute for any calls FORWARDED to cellphones. That's why I don't forward them, just give callers the number and if they choose to call, they will pay accordingly.

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#53526 24-Nov-2006 15:49

Alright, just got off the phone with Phil Moore, the operations manager of WorldxChange Communications. He phoned me after reading the forum, and explained their side of the story.

There has been an error in distribution of the PAP2, and it should have been labeled with VFX, and sold as a bundled service.

They are only too happy to completely unlock the second line, whilst leaving their settings intact for line 1, or alternatively, if you decide to cease using VFX altogether, they will happily unlock the entire unit, both lines, all settings.

As explained elsewhere, the locking of the unit is to ensure quality of service, being that if they control all the settings, the user is likely to have a much more seamless experience on their network, vs. a user who "totoos around" with the settings, and has something go wrong. Phil explained that for very technical people, who want full control of their service, the service may not be the #1 choice.

Speaking about the future, WorldxChange is looking pretty promising in terms of their offerings, with some cool features and extra services on the cards.

I am going to continue my signup with WorldxChange following this call (just before Phil called, I contemplated cancelling the application), and I look forward to reporting back on my experience.

To set the record straight, if there was no error with the packaging, and had the DSE staff been informed correctly, then most of my ranting on this page would not have happened. I am leaving the posts intact though, as the fact remains that the scenario describe is what actually happened, and probably a good reminder to any VoIP provider that they will need to get everything just right to start attracting some serious customer base. Technical people can be picky (like me), or non-technical people can just give up and go home, and carry on using that plain ol telephone system.

Followup customer service from WxC: 10 out of 10
My confidence that this was going to go smoothly (before Phils call): 3 out of 10
My confidence that this is going to go smoothly (now): 9 out of 10

The prooff will be in the pudding i guess...

maverick

3594 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 80

Trusted

WorldxChange

#53527 24-Nov-2006 16:08

I have just caught up with this in the last hour or 2, there has appeared to be issue that Tony has described here and I welcome his feedback, Constructive feedback is always welcomed and it does appear to be justified. I have been on the Phone with the Product People from Linksys about this and they were happy to come and explain that these subsided units are for use with VFX, big price difference :), and I think anyone buying the unit and using our service will be happy with the total package.

However I take onboard DSE not giving the right information or possibly incorrect packaging, I am along with the Linksys people trying to have this addressed.

Yes I am a employee of WxC (My Profile) ... but I do have my own opinions as well