Has anyone tried the new BT Soft phone
http://www.btbroadbandtalk.bt.com/bt...softphone.html
Does the Hi-definition Sound make a difference?
http://www.btbroadbandtalk.bt.com/bt...softphone.html
Does the Hi-definition Sound make a difference?
New BT Soft phone
My quick review.
Download process very easy.
Interface is clear. I like it.
Phone can either be used just for Soft phone to Soft phone calls or you can get a pre pay account or BB Talk account
To make calls to landlines you need either prepay account or BB Talk account.
Prepay account set up very easy. You do not get a 0560- number with a pre pay account. So people can not call you from land lines unless you have a BB Talk account
U
sing the prepay account a called various land line numbers and the people I called did not know I was using a VOIP PC client until I told them and said they had not noticed any difference compared to a normal call.
Soft Phone to Soft phone calls use something BT call Hi-dS (hi definition sound). The sound quality was noticeably better. I was calling someone on a PC who only had the PC microphone and PC speakers and the sound quality was significantly better than a normal land line call. To be able to make a softphone to softphone you need to add the other person as a contact and put their softphone username in the Instant message field of the contact record.
You can send instant messages and like other IM products tells you when people online and on/off the phone.
You can also make video call using a web cam. However I did notice a drop in sound quality when making a video call.
I was impressed. I signed up for a BB talk account. Given I have BT broadband I can now get the free evening and weekend calls package for free.
This gives me a 0560 number so I can now receive inbound calls and make outbound calls for free at certain times. I also get 100 text messages for free.
If you have the new BT home Hub and Handset you can make calls on the BB Talk account without the need for the PC. These both come free for BT option 3 customers. If anyone has one I would be interested in their views.
You can see a picture on the home hub and phone on the home page of bt.com www.bt.com
With BB Talk calling features include
a) Voice mail
b) Call Forwarding
c) Ability to reject calls when the number is withheld
d) Ability to refuse calls from up to ten numbers.
e) Call baring for outgoing numbers, Options for call baring are
International
Mobile (07xx)
Premium rate numbers (09xx)
08xxc chargeable numbers
National calls (01xx, 02xx and 05xx (except 0500 ) )
1xx calls (applies to 118500, 118505, 123, 144, etc.)
f) Ability without your numbers
Options can be managed online and seem to be free.
You can also do conference calls and add ring tones.
Worth a try.
Call cost details be found
http://www.btbroadbandtalk.bt.com/ta...-it-costs.html
user guide for softphone can be downloaded from
http://btvoip.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/b...339&p_cv=2.339
User guide gives good overview of features and includes screen shots.
Download process very easy.
Interface is clear. I like it.
Phone can either be used just for Soft phone to Soft phone calls or you can get a pre pay account or BB Talk account
To make calls to landlines you need either prepay account or BB Talk account.
Prepay account set up very easy. You do not get a 0560- number with a pre pay account. So people can not call you from land lines unless you have a BB Talk account
U
sing the prepay account a called various land line numbers and the people I called did not know I was using a VOIP PC client until I told them and said they had not noticed any difference compared to a normal call.
Soft Phone to Soft phone calls use something BT call Hi-dS (hi definition sound). The sound quality was noticeably better. I was calling someone on a PC who only had the PC microphone and PC speakers and the sound quality was significantly better than a normal land line call. To be able to make a softphone to softphone you need to add the other person as a contact and put their softphone username in the Instant message field of the contact record.
You can send instant messages and like other IM products tells you when people online and on/off the phone.
You can also make video call using a web cam. However I did notice a drop in sound quality when making a video call.
I was impressed. I signed up for a BB talk account. Given I have BT broadband I can now get the free evening and weekend calls package for free.
This gives me a 0560 number so I can now receive inbound calls and make outbound calls for free at certain times. I also get 100 text messages for free.
If you have the new BT home Hub and Handset you can make calls on the BB Talk account without the need for the PC. These both come free for BT option 3 customers. If anyone has one I would be interested in their views.
You can see a picture on the home hub and phone on the home page of bt.com www.bt.com
With BB Talk calling features include
a) Voice mail
b) Call Forwarding
c) Ability to reject calls when the number is withheld
d) Ability to refuse calls from up to ten numbers.
e) Call baring for outgoing numbers, Options for call baring are
International
Mobile (07xx)
Premium rate numbers (09xx)
08xxc chargeable numbers
National calls (01xx, 02xx and 05xx (except 0500 ) )
1xx calls (applies to 118500, 118505, 123, 144, etc.)
f) Ability without your numbers
Options can be managed online and seem to be free.
You can also do conference calls and add ring tones.
Worth a try.
Call cost details be found
http://www.btbroadbandtalk.bt.com/ta...-it-costs.html
user guide for softphone can be downloaded from
http://btvoip.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/b...339&p_cv=2.339
User guide gives good overview of features and includes screen shots.
