VoIP Now

Germany-based Sipgate allows home and office users to save up to 90 percent off normal long-distance phone bills, and can also provide a bundle of savings when used in place of hotel phones or roaming mobile devices.

Sipgate has made itself the VoIP provider of choice for budget travelers and those who carefully watch their home budgets by providing free phone numbers, free phone calls through a variety of networks, and the ability to use their voice over internet protocol from any broadband access point.

Installation and Interface

Sipgate offers free downloadable softphone ware that allows users to be registered and making free calls in 15 minutes or less. In addition, the company’s website offers configuration information for over 50 SIP enabled products new customers may own. Customers can take advantage of Sipgate’s service without buying new home hardware or spending time waiting on installation professionals.

For customers unsure about acquiring Sipgate service, a test of their lines is included with the free softphone setup. After the fifteen minute registration, customers are able to hear a recorded message, and decide for themselves that the service is of quality.

For those who want to use Sipgate’s services extensively and off their computers, the company’s web site offers over ten different handset devices in all price ranges.

In addition, most any mobile device can be configured to receive SMS messages via the Sipgate’s service.

Features

Sipgate is an excellent option for the students biking, hiking, or traveling on a budget through Europe. The free softphone can be used on a laptop or mobile device from any broadband access point, and many numbers throughout Europe can be called for free.

Sipgate phone numbers are free, as a international calls through affiliated networks. Customers can make free international calls over the Sipgate network, as well as five additional networks. Sipgate provides its customers with the prefixes used to make these free international calls.

Customers can have a variety of free numbers by signing up for different accounts. Programs like Asterisk and Sepura are great for handling multiple numbers. Anyone who wants numbers in two cities, or for different purposes, say, personal, and one-person business, can easily manage Sipgate’s offer of multiple free virtual phone numbers.

Performance

Sipgate uses standard internet protocol and works with a variety of VoIP networks to provide the best and free and inexpensive calling over softphones and SIP enabled devices.

Transfer rates of up to 100Kb/sec in either direction ensure excellent call clarity, and there is rarely any lag. SIP devices can be used even when without a computer, making Sipgate’s service as accessible as a land line.

Service and Support

A search online about Sipgate’s service will reveal two major themes, Sipgate saves people a lot of money, and gives great customer support.

Customer support is handled by knowledgeable, respectful individuals who can walk even the most non-technical user through any encountered problem.

Sipgate also offers an extensive troubleshooting section on its UK, German, and Australian national web sites.

List of Features Available on Sipgate

Support: Email only Guarantee: Free test Residential Plan: Yes Small Business Plan: No 411 Service: No 911 Service: No

Call Return (*69): Included Call Waiting: No Caller ID: Included Click-to-Call: Included Fax Line (FoIP): No International Calling: Yes

IP PBX Solution: No Keep Your Number: No PC-to-PC Calling: Yes PC-to-Phone Calling: Yes Virtual Phone Numbers: Yes