Softphone Blocked

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 17, 2005 Posts: 1

I have installed softphone on my computer and try to use it Internationally. I am currently on a long term project in Dubai and would like the ability for my softphone to work, so I can receive calls from friends and family. Unfortunately for me, the Local Phone Company in Dubai, being a monopoly:evil: has blocked Voip traffic for non commercial purposes.

Does anyone know of any setting or configuration changes on either the ISP end or Vonage Softphone that I can change so I can bypass this restriction.

I am currently using their version of broadband internet.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Posts: 127 · Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 2:32 pm Post subject:

When Voip is blocked it is blocked. Only the ISP could let you use it and there is no such setting on Softphone to get around it. Vonage doesn't guarantee use in some countrys because of this. There is just no way to get around it. You still need to go into the government controlled ISP, so basically you just cant use it. When the governments find a way to profit from it then it will be available.

Posts: 19 · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 6:34 pm Post subject:

So you want a way around blocked Voip. I guess its a good thing I came to this forum today.

I'm not sure how computer savvy you are so I will try to make it easy. I ran into a similar situation when I was staying in china, so this may work for you. Basically I downloaded an open source program called privoxy and ran it as a service on my pc. then I pointed my softphone to use the proxy server's address when making a call. Sometimes for an extra measure I would change my dns away from the offending isp to something more flexible. Perfebly the dns that the isp gets from their provider. And wala I was out using Voip. For Dubai some additional tweaking may be necessary.

Posts: 127 · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 7:17 pm Post subject:

Just remember if colesch's work around gets it going for you. It is illegal and being in one of those countries they may cane you for it.

Wink

Posts: 19 · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:31 pm Post subject:

Oh yeah,

forgot to add the disclaimer. Watch your back....

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 1

Will they be able to trace a user having a Vonage phone if i use privoxy...?

any advice please.....bloody dubai!!

Posts: 19 · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 12:20 am Post subject:

Generally Speaking no, however some of the public proxies are limiting their ports. What I do is run privoxy and have all ports routed thru http. What ends up happening is when you set proxy you tell proxy app to listen on a certain port and forward to http or ftp etc, then you tell your softphone to use proxy on the listening port. If you want to add me my yahoo msgr id is dlorian1

Posts: 1715 · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 2:21 am Post subject:

Could someone post a bit more detial on how to do the Privoxy thing with Voip? I'm thinking it might be useful when stateside and using hotels which aren't Voip friendly.

Posts: 19 · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 9:15 am Post subject: Privoxy

The problem with simply posting more info on this subject is rather ambiguous, because it truely depends on your circumstances. However if you ask your questions directly, I will be able to answer them.

What exactly have you tried, and what isn't working? Be as detailed as possible.

Here is some extra info, maybe it will help you...

To Torify an application that supports http, just point it at Privoxy (that is, localhost port 8118). To use SOCKS directly (for example, for instant messaging, Jabber, IRC, etc.), point your application directly at Tor (localhost port 9050). For applications that support neither SOCKS nor http, you should look at using tsocks to dynamically replace the system calls in your program to route through Tor. If you want to use SOCKS 4A, consider using socat (specific instructions are in the Tor Wiki).

Try running a sockifier such as:
http://www.socks.permeo.com/Download/SocksCapDownload/index.asp ?

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 18, 2006 Posts: 1

Have you considered using a windows server offshore and logging into it with terminal services and setting up the phone on that box? I think this would work if you find a provider who can hook up the hardware for you on that side and bring a local phone line to your server.

Basically this would allow you to use a computer like your desktop remotely in some other jurisdiction that cant be seen from yours. If you assign a proxy and dns to this box it should be fullproof.