2Talk or VFX, suggestion please :D

Forums › VoIP › 2Talk or VFX, suggestion please :D

forgot10

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#76816 7-Feb-2011 13:46

I'm thinking of getting a VOIP landline number. After exploring a while, I think it really comes to a choice between 2talk and VFX in the current market.

Saw both good and bad feedbacks about 2Talk. It seems cheaper, easier to configure, works on mobile SIP clients, can be registered on multiple devices, and pay-as-you-go without contract. But I'm a little worried about the call quality, as there aren't many people talked about it, neither complain nor praise.

WXC VFX seems have better reputation. But it seems harder (because of the requirement of the separated Auth ID??) to configure on a non-certified device, which I would be using, most likely a software phone on PC + a SIP client on Android. VFX doesn't include any extra minutes like 2talk's national and country minutes, and doesn't seem have the multiple device support, as far as I can talk.

I will be mainly calling NZ numbers, both landlines and mobiles. Could anyone who have been used any of these 2 VOIP provides shared some experience and suggestion please? Thanks very much :D

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#436341 7-Feb-2011 15:44

forgot10: I'm thinking of getting a VOIP landline number. After exploring a while, I think it really comes to a choice between 2talk and VFX in the current market.

There really aren't any other players. Kiwi VoIP (or whatever it is) is just rebranded 2Talk.

forgot10: Saw both good and bad feedbacks about 2Talk. It seems cheaper, easier to configure, works on mobile SIP clients, can be registered on multiple devices, and pay-as-you-go without contract. But I'm a little worried about the call quality, as there aren't many people talked about it, neither complain nor praise.

2Talk's online control panel kicks ass. WxC is really lacking but their platform is rock solid. All the points you mentioned above are valid.

forgot10: WXC VFX seems have better reputation. But it seems harder (because of the requirement of the separated Auth ID??) to configure on a non-certified device, which I would be using, most likely a software phone on PC + a SIP client on Android. VFX doesn't include any extra minutes like 2talk's national and country minutes, and doesn't seem have the multiple device support, as far as I can talk.

Yes you can't do multiple registrations on one account (with 2Talk you can) however it's not hard to register a non-certified device with WxC - they won't give you support, and you need to make sure your security is water tight.

forgot10: I will be mainly calling NZ numbers, both landlines and mobiles. Could anyone who have been used any of these 2 VOIP provides shared some experience and suggestion please? Thanks very much :D

If multiple registrations is a must, then go 2Talk, otherwise I'd recommend WxC. Regardless of which one you go with, you are already ahead of the old school POTS crowd (Telecom, TelstraClear etc)

hads

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#436371 7-Feb-2011 16:49

We've been using 2Talk for our business and home calling for quite a while (3+ years) and have had great service.

Very very few disruptions and call quality is always excellent - it helps to have a decent Internet connection.

As nate said the features and control panel is far ahead of any competition.

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vespaman

88 posts

Master Geek

#436392 7-Feb-2011 17:20

We've used WXC for over 3 years with 3 SIP trunks for business and home use. Great voice service with few problems and one of the few that has free local calling. 2talk is one of the few ITSP's to offer IAX and they have some good SIP bundles. Don't worry about the ITSP - spend your money on a good ADSL or similar connection/provider.

forgot10

67 posts

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#436548 7-Feb-2011 20:54

thanks heaps guys. 2talk vs VFX = 1.5 : 1.5 so far, nice

langi27

677 posts

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#436566 7-Feb-2011 21:31

I use 2talk and find it both cheap and easy to configure etc, the control panel is very good and gives you a lot of options to play around with, like getting a sms if a voice message is left.

Their customer service is non-existent, if you have the slightest problem you'll battle getting a result, I think they have a guy on help desk for an hour a month. It really is crap.

If you do go down the 2talk route make sure you test making and receiving calls from all major telco's, I found I couldn't receive any calls from 2degrees, I could call a 2degrees number but couldn't receive them, and getting my old telstra number ported was a nightmare, took 2 weeks and they stuffed it up several times before getting it sorted.

In saying that, once its setup it works and it works really well, voice quality is excellent and its cheap cheap cheap.

AKT

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#436578 7-Feb-2011 22:05

I recently had this choice to make and went with VFX. We predominantly use Skype for our calls so the features that meant we went with VFX were:

1. Free local calls (to use Skype)
2. Good CS
3. Bought a supported router so can leave the setup headache to VFX - zero maintenance, plug in and forget.

I just looked at 2talk this last week and wondered why I didn't choose them....

they are cheaper, but you can go over your call allowance and end up spending more. Int calls all go through skype so no point in paying 2talk too. You are the support and I don't know enough about VOIP to be confident as it is our 'only' home phone and I didn't want the Mrs to moan at me when it doesn't work!

SIP would be good, but for me it would be to play with, rather than use as a line.

HTH

A

wanghou168

453 posts

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#436588 7-Feb-2011 22:27

been using 2 talk for over half year now, great for cheap local and mobile calls, occasional international calls, works great too.

About the major telco issue, I heard that 2degrees restrict voip connections over their 3g network, not sure about the other telcos.

I always use my work and home wifi connections on my Android device, so the 3g issue is not a problem.

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sbiddle

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#436643 8-Feb-2011 06:14

wanghou168: About the major telco issue, I heard that 2degrees restrict voip connections over their 3g network, not sure about the other telcos.

This is untrue. 2degrees has and does not block VoIP, neither has/do Telecom or Vodafone.

wanghou168

453 posts

Ultimate Geek

#436645 8-Feb-2011 07:31

sbiddle:
wanghou168: About the major telco issue, I heard that 2degrees restrict voip connections over their 3g network, not sure about the other telcos.

This is untrue. 2degrees has and does not block VoIP, neither has/do Telecom or Vodafone.

Thought that I read about it somewhere about the voip issue.
Here is a 2 degrees rep response about voip is restricted

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=92843664013&topic=14221

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kfella2000

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#436942 8-Feb-2011 19:16

I have been with 2talk for the last 2 to 3 years too and have had great call quality. I have used VFX as well before 2talk and also equally had great call quality. I am still on ADSL1 speeds where I am and have had no problems. I changed to 2talk because of the talk minutes I get each month as I do have relatives and friends in other parts of the country and over in Australia that I do ring from time to time. So all I can say is it all depends what your requirements are but I can definitely say that both systems do work well.

sbiddle

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#436966 8-Feb-2011 20:00

wanghou168:
sbiddle:
wanghou168: About the major telco issue, I heard that 2degrees restrict voip connections over their 3g network, not sure about the other telcos.

This is untrue. 2degrees has and does not block VoIP, neither has/do Telecom or Vodafone.

Thought that I read about it somewhere about the voip issue.
Here is a 2 degrees rep response about voip is restricted

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=92843664013&topic=14221

2degrees don't block VoIP. A quick Google search indicates Skype Out isn't available on all Android handsets (including the Galaxy S) which is why it doesn't work.

DonGould

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#436967 8-Feb-2011 20:03

I've used SipDroid just fine on 2Deg on an 8150 (which is not meant to like SipDroid).

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forgot10

67 posts

Master Geek

#437163 9-Feb-2011 10:28

Thanks heaps guys for all the replies!

I signed up the 2talk10 plan last night, and made some test calls today using 2talkphone software. 2talk is awesome, web admin interface is powerful, call quality is excellent. cannot complain at all.

Will test it on Android (probably SipDroid) soon as well.

DonGould

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#437168 9-Feb-2011 10:40

I wish the VFX guys were a bit easier to deal with and would drop the attitude on the forums. I note that the 2Talk guys don't even bother with the forums.

Feel free to yell out if you need any help with 2talk. I'm set up as a reseller now (which is a bit of a bugger that you signed up and I could have made a dollar ;) ) but not worried about that at present because I'm still really just in the testing stages my self.

So far I've got two different ATAs running (finished fighting with an SPA 2102 last night) and I've been testing SipDroid as well.

SipDroid wasn't to hard to configure once I got my head into the SIP stuff after programming the PATA2 that I have, but it's not as clear as it could be.

Feel free to drop me a line when you start working on your testing if you'd like a hand.

Porting numbers to 2Talk isn't as quick as porting a mobile from provider to provider. So also feel free to ring me if you want to chat about how to do that.

D

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#437173 9-Feb-2011 10:51

DonGould: I wish the VFX guys were a bit easier to deal with and would drop the attitude on the forums. I note that the 2Talk guys don't even bother with the forums.

Not sure you are talking about the same people here... There are a few WorldxChange/VFX people around and they are very good. Maverick for example takes his time to help in the forums by providing traces and other information for people experiencing problems.

I have to say most of the problems I've seen here are people using their own VoIP box, and failed to correctly configure their settings or open their firewall.

I haven't seen any attitude in the forums.

DonGould: Feel free to yell out if you need any help with 2talk. I'm set up as a reseller now (which is a bit of a bugger that you signed up and I could have made a dollar

I assume your previous paragraph dissing the competition has nothing to do with you now being a reseller. That would be kind of unethical, right?

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