This is a tough one, and I've spent ages looking on behalf of my boss who's just bought loads of Cisco (Linksys on them but it's all Cisco) VoIP kit - and there doesn't seem to be any half-decent provider who can

1) offer me a package with unlimited (within reason) calls for a fixed monthly fee, and
2) offer me a geographical telephone number.

There's Vonage, but you have to use analogue telephones with them - not ideal, as he's got loads of SIP kit! Then there's BT Business Broadband Voice, but you can't use the Linksys SPA SIP adaptor, you HAVE to use BT's own 10v adapter otherwise you have call problems (Which we've experienced, look like me to be codec negotiation issues because we can't hear callers but they can hear us) and there's precious little else competition-wise.

I've got accounts with a variety of the 'good' SIP providers like voipfone and sipgate, but they're ALL pay as you go - not ideal as they don't help with budgeting in advance! Ideally if there's a VoIP provider out there who does flatrate monthly tariffs for xyz inclusive minutes to landline, mobile and international numbers, or something similar to that, PLEASE let me know because I feel like I'm going round in circles trying to find a provider like this!

Cheers guys

Have you considered Sipgate 1000 tariff? £5.90 for 1000 minutes per month to UK geographical numbers

As you’ve worked out, the ones with inclusive minutes require you to use their hardware.

I think the reasons you cant find what you’re looking for, is ‘coz it don’t exist.

Voip.co.uk on the residential plan gives you 1hour for 2p during the day (consider it a connection charge) and 1hour calls for free in the Evening and Weekend plus a geographic number (and extra geographic numbers if you need them) - would that be any good?

Voipfone!

That looks very expensive, £2 per month just for the geographic number, then you either pay per minute or buy a minute bundle - £10 for 1000 minutes.

Draytel.org have useful features for a very small business, but it is pay per minute for calls (no monthly charge).

DrayTEL Features

'SIP Compliant' VoIP Service
Choice of hard/software
Free VoIP-to-VoIP Calls
PSTN calls at low rates
Pay-as-you Go Calling Credit
Calling Credit doesn't expire
Incoming calls from the PSTN
Your own real phone number
Voice-Mail (Answerphone)
Call Forwarding (Divert)
Group Calling
Multi-Device Calling
Music-on-Hold
Speaking Clock
Fax-to-Email Service
Caller ID Delivery
CSV Call History Download
Withhold outgoing Caller ID
No membership fees
No subscription charges
020 Access number
Voicemail Remote access

Group Calling and Multi-device calling seem to be quite useful features.

Voipfone offer quite a lot of features too

As far as I'm aware, you can use Vonage with any SIP device, not just their ATA's. Do a web search for the settings and Bob's your dad's sister's husband.

I agree with previous poster. Sipgate do a fixed cost 1000 minute package that works for us using SIP kit.

I've been with Sipgate for about 3 years now, apart from the odd glitch I'm delighted with their service. They aren't as featured as some providers, but then I wouldn't use any of the extras some provide. The free incoming numbers are a clear winner for me, and their reliability is beyond most - it was a little up and down in the first year as they had server problems (particularly 'off-net' when dialing PSTN numbers), but these have long since gone.

When they introduce emergency services later in the year, it will be as good as the traditional line I disconnected, but a fraction of the cost.

I use Sipgate and a Siemens cordless

Gradwell.com

Postpay by direct debit. Not the cheapest but the best in terms of quality.

Sean Browne
Cardiff IT Support Ltd
www.cardiffitsupport.com

Tesco? £0 per month and 2p/min to landlines, £2 per month for unlimited eve and weekend calls to landlines and £5 per month for unlimited landline calls. You can also add £3.50 per month to this tariff and get international calls included. You just plug a normal phone into the tesco kit (a very small blue box) and then plug that into a spare ethernet port. Done.

Voipwise.com

Unlimited Free calls to UK Geographic and selected Internationals.

£0 p/month
all you have to do to recieve the free calls is keep the account with atleast some credit.

you only get 0560 number.