Softphone upgrade to regular service.

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 21, 2005 Posts: 1

I'm considering getting a softphone-based number in addition to my regular ATA-based number. I could see wanting to upgrade my softphone number to a regular ATA number in the future. Would this be possible, keeping the same phone number? I read in the FAQ that transfering a number TO a softphone is not possible, but I was hoping that it would be possible to transfer a softphone number to an ATA-based account.

One other quick question: has anyone found any good USB peripherals for use with softphone? Either USB headsets, or entire USB phones?

Thanks.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: May 27, 2005 Posts: 3

welcher wrote:

I could see wanting to upgrade my softphone number to a regular ATA number in the future. Would this be possible, keeping the same phone number? I read in the FAQ that transfering a number TO a softphone is not possible, but I was hoping that it would be possible to transfer a softphone number to an ATA-based account.

I asked Vonage this question today.
I currently have an ATA number and also a softphone number.
I want to open a second Vonage account (in addition to the first) and migrate the softphone number from the first account to be the primary/ATA number on my second account.

Of course the answer was "NO". What was I thinking even asking?
What is convenient for me is obviously not convenient for Vonage so why should they bother?

I have given my softphone number to a bunch of people and I want to swap from a software setup to a hardware setup. So now I must shut down my softphone, sign up with a new ATA number and then notify everyone of my new number. Yes I should have looked into this before I ever got softphone.

I reckon this can be done technically - it's just an exception to their standard procedure and the default response in that case is "NO, is there anything else I can help you with today?".

Posts: 12 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 12

you can setup a Sipura ATA to work with the vonage softphone.

Regards,

Mike

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: May 27, 2005 Posts: 3

bendit wrote:

you can setup a Sipura ATA to work with the vonage softphone.

Regards,

Mike

Thanks for the tip.
Do you know if this will work with all Sipura ATAs or only a subset of their product line... wouldn't want to buy the wrong one.
Also what in the Sipura marketing literature shows that this is possible - i.e. how could I have worked this out by reading their docs?
Thanks in advance. MikeD

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: May 27, 2005 Posts: 3

thx for pm

Posts: 1424 · Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 12:14 am Post subject:

While it is possible to use hardware for a SoftPhone number the customer should be aware it does not overcome some of the essential limitations of SoftPhone.

Most importantly it is not a primary number and can not have an unlimited calling plan. There are some features missing from SoftPhone numbers including emergency (911) calling.

On the flip side, adding a SoftPhone number is 33% cheaper than adding a second line with 500 minutes. Also, the SoftPhone number can continue to be used with SoftWare and simultaneously with hardware and should be able to be used with hardware in multiple locations.

Posts: 318

welcher wrote:

I'm considering getting a softphone-based number in addition to my regular ATA-based number. I could see wanting to upgrade my softphone number to a regular ATA number in the future. Would this be possible, keeping the same phone number? I read in the FAQ that transfering a number TO a softphone is not possible, but I was hoping that it would be possible to transfer a softphone number to an ATA-based account.

One other quick question: has anyone found any good USB peripherals for use with softphone? Either USB headsets, or entire USB phones?

Thanks.

Logitech makes a decent USB headset. Works pretty well for me!