[WXC/VFX] Using NZ ISP from overseas?

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NZRobin

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#20127 13-Mar-2008 22:29

I know this is going to sound really dumb to those that know but well... I don't!

I'm curios about why someone would use XNet as there broadband provider (or perhaps it's phone via XNet) if they live overseas.

Surely it would be easier and probably cheaper to find a provider in the country of residence. Why and how does that work.

My question stems from this thread http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=65&TopicId=20048

Thanks

tonyhughes

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#116500 13-Mar-2008 22:35

VFX is an internet phone / VoIP service. The overseas clients are not getting internet access, they are getting phone service delivered over the net.

scottjpalmer

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#116501 13-Mar-2008 22:46

To expand on what Tony said, by having a VOIP account with Xnet they use their ISP in the country they are in but plug their VOIP device into it. They then have a local phone number in their city of choice in NZ so people can call them and vice versa as if they were in the same city. The actual internet connection is provided by an ISP in the country they are physically in though.

wmoore

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#116508 13-Mar-2008 23:42

scottjpalmer: To expand on what Tony said, by having a VOIP account with Xnet they use their ISP in the country they are in but plug their VOIP device into it. They then have a local phone number in their city of choice in NZ so people can call them and vice versa as if they were in the same city. The actual internet connection is provided by an ISP in the country they are physically in though.

What scott has said is correct. I am a VFX customer living in the UK. Staying with the inlaws at the moment, My SPA2102 ATA
just plugs into a spare port on thier router. They are with Virgin media which has unlimited downloads, which is nice.

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NZRobin

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#116510 14-Mar-2008 00:00

So you can ring back to NZ at no cost and ring to other numbers in the UK for $0.05c? Is that about right? But if you weren't with the in-laws?

I'm looking at going to the UK next year and I'm trying to figure a way to bypass high phone costs if travelling over-there. Say for instance I'm in Yorkshire and want to phone family in Southend to say I'd be down the next week. If I use my roaming cell-phone I believe it'd cost an international call. I thought perhaps I could use voip but I guess you'd have to find some one to let you plug it in. An Internet cafe perhaps but then if you have to pay by the hour might-en it still be cheaper to use a pay-phone or even a cell-phone.

What do others do?

wmoore

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#116512 14-Mar-2008 00:17

NZRobin: So you can ring back to NZ at no cost and ring to other numbers in the UK for $0.05c? Is that about right? But if you weren't with the in-laws?

I'm looking at going to the UK next year and I'm trying to figure a way to bypass high phone costs if travelling over-there. Say for instance I'm in Yorkshire and want to phone family in Southend to say I'd be down the next week. If I use my roaming cell-phone I believe it'd cost an international call. I thought perhaps I could use voip but I guess you'd have to find some one to let you plug it in. An Internet cafe perhaps but then if you have to pay by the hour might-en it still be cheaper to use a pay-phone or even a cell-phone.

What do others do?

My VFX number is in the Auckland region, So my call to family in Auckland is free. (It does cost $11.25 a month for the service itself)
And yes I could call numbers in the UK for 5c. I don't thing an Internet cafe would let you plug it in. Also you would need to carry a phone with you as well. If travelling alot a Phonecard might be the best way to go.

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." -
-- Abraham lincoln

scottjpalmer

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#116519 14-Mar-2008 06:13

If your cellphone has WIFI you could set it up on a VOIP account (but not with VFX as they don't allow it :-( ) then all you need to do is find a WIFI hotspot . . .

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sbiddle

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#116521 14-Mar-2008 06:39

scottjpalmer: If your cellphone has WIFI you could set it up on a VOIP account (but not with VFX as they don't allow it :-( ) then all you need to do is find a WIFI hotspot . . .

Which isn't hard in the UK. The Cloud have the UK market saturated and you can buy service from a myriad of providers.

If you're really only interested in calling back to NZ then the simplest method is to simply rely on the calling services that are on most street corners in the UK, generally complete with an internet cafe. They all offer dirt cheap calling, typically using VoIP.

willnz

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#116523 14-Mar-2008 06:47

If you're travelling extensively and prefer using your mobile, I highly recommend getting a United Mobile SIM - they've got pretty good rates, you get a UK mobile number (incoming calls are free for you from 40+ countries I believe - no incoming roaming charges), and you can use it anywhere in the world.

However, it doesn't seem to work terribly well in NZ - but I've used it all over Europe with absolutely no problems whatsoever.

NZRobin

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#116720 14-Mar-2008 23:49

Mmm..... Very interesting.... Think I'm going to have to research somemore. Like I said when you just don't know how these systems work together it feels like stabbing at floating apples in a water barrel, the information sort of eludes you. Eventually it'll all come together and I'll be able to make an informed choice. Still I've got plenty of time to work out how to make life less stressfull whilst travelling. Thanks everyone