Just seen a new product from Tesco Internet Phone.

It's a hub (looks similar to a Vonage hub), which the packaging says you plug directly into any Broadband Hub/Router.

It says you can make calls with the computer switched off.

Anyone tried one of these and, if so, what do you reckon to it?

Do you mean the "Tesco internet phone adapter IPA 1000". If so have a look around first.

I got a Netgear voice adapter with two telephone sockets for use as one or two numbers on Sipgate from Staples for £10.00 in their clearance sale which includes 555 free minutes to use in the first two months.

Call quality is variable very good one day poor the next. But it saves me the cost of an NTL telephone line so I can live with that.

And yes you can use it with the computer switched off, it fits between the Ethernet output socket of your modem or router and the Ethernet socket on your PC
Last edited by Fred Smith : 27-01-2007 at 13:20

Yes, that's it.

I just wondered if anyone had one, and if they were any good?

After many months of communication with Tesco Internet in regards to their Internet Phone service, I suggested that the Virbiage 3010 ATA would function as a stand alone unit with their Asterisk IAX systems. Many advanced users were a little bit frustrated that Tesco Internet Phone required a computer to be online and powered up in order to make and receive phone calls.

I'm pleased to see that Tesco (Freshtel) VoiceDot have listened to my suggestions.

The Tesco IPA (Internet Phone Adapter) functions well, they are fairly good, a tad expensive at the moment though. You do, however, receive a £10 call voucher with the unit.

I have had very few problems with my IPA and sound quality is better than that of the Tesco Internet Phone software.

See this website if you want to know more... http://www.virbiage.com/3010.php

Tesco info can be found here...
http://www.tescointernetphone.com/ipa
http://www.tescointernetphone.com/ipa/faq/
http://www.tescointernetphone.com/ipa/technical_faq/

The IPA is compatible with VoiceDot services (freshtel etc). Please note that once you have linked the IPA to the tesco internet phone system, your unit will be locked!!!

I'll be writing a review about the IPA adapter shortly.
Last edited by krazee : 01-02-2007 at 19:40

Just a quick ammendment, it appears that the IPA unit comes with a £5 call time voucher rather than the £10 voucher that I incorrectly mentioned earlier.

I hope that this helps.

By that, do you mean that it will be linked to your Broadband Hub/Modem and cannot be used on another Hub/Modem?

If so, what happens if you change to another Broadband Service?

All this means is that the IPA unit will lock itself to the Tesco Internet Phone network, these changes wont affect your modem, broadband connection (provider) or router in any way.

To clear things up, you'll still be able to move the IPA unit to any modem or router of your choice.

Changes to your broadband provider and/or internet account wont affect your IPA unit at all, but its worth remembering that bandwidth used by the unit will contribute to any monthly download limits.
Last edited by krazee : 02-02-2007 at 09:24

well, ive finally called it a day with tesco internet phone. just recently the service has been unstable and doing its own thing! caller ID no longer displays, and im getting blank calls every 5 minutes or so, and at least 72 blank voice mails each day too! i havent contacted freshtel about this yet, but i suspect its either a problem with their servers or i'm being called by one of those marketing dialers, i will of course fill you in with any feedback i receive!

just for the moment, I wouldnt recommend paying any money out for top up or adapters at the moment, as this fault might be widespread!

I have been told that if you buy one of these phones and you register it, you will be give an UK phone number that you can use wherever you are in the world. Is that true?
I am moving to Qatar in a few weeks time and would be very interested in this. I know how to use an internet phone via skype but I am interested in having an UK number so family and friends can ring me there.
Can you help please?
thanks in advance

WOW, 17 months between postings 8 & 9, must be a record!
By the way, the IPA1000 is now discontinued, and tesco have no direct replacement for it.
They are selling a cordless handset which plugs directly into a router though, and that comes with a 'normal' landline number if you require it.

lol, it is a long time indeed!! but where can you get better information that at digitalspy??
Anyway, so if I buy one of these phones and I register it in the UK, it will come with a UK number and I will be able to use it abroad? Is this the way it works?
thanks

Yes, that's exactly how it works. You get to pick a UK local area code (there's quite a few to choose from, all the major places) and then they allocate a local number. That's it. As long as there's broadband internet where you are, it will work, and anyone phoning your UK number will get through to you whether you are in the UK or Tazmania (or anywhere in between!)

Now you can connect any WiFi phone to "Soft WiFi Router" that you can download to your laptop. I use Bzeek softwar from bzeek.com

My laptop actually necame a Free Bzeek Router and it allows me to connect without any configuration or passcode. The software has built in firewall, so it sounds quite safe.

The real buty is that I can talk freely also when I am near a laptop with this software, anywhere.

Please try and share your experience.

Bzeek is like Fon where others could use your broadband allowance so I would be wary of it, also if you have a wireless router this is the best place to connect a wifi phone!.

I got a free Tesco USB phone on payg in a newspaper offer and use it occasionally, the ability to use an extra UK number anywhere could be useful and is cheaper than Skypes simular service. The only problem was I did not use the service once for 6 months and got cut off. I have topped up again. I guess if there is anyone abroad I know with a Tesco phone it might be useful.

Tesco have now reduced the cost of unlimited UK calls to £2.95 per month which seems good as most other companies charge about £5 per month, but as AOL talk have now offered unlimited UK calls for free on my normal phone line I will stick with them and just use the Tesco USB phone ocassionally.