Are free local calls possible? (Skype)

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ZeroSplice

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Here's the thing. I'm in England right now and lovin' broadband. I'll need quick internet access back home so I'll be looking into getting ADSL.

Now I was under the misconception that telephony (voice) calls were free if you had ADSL. Apparently, I was incorrect. But would software like Skype or the likes be able to provide free local calls?

BTW Skype is not free when calling traditional landlines. The rate is about 50c per minute fixed for land or mobile lines. Is that cheaper than Telkom?

Are there any other solutions?
Also would the Telkom 384 ADSL account be able to download 500mb to 1gb a day 'on average' or is the 512 better?

Thank you for your time and sorry for any inconveniences. :)
 
LOL.....like you I had the same questions when I was returning from London and my 2mbps ADSL. Let me tel you nothing but dissapointment and 3gb caps with port/packet shapping awaits you. Also you will be paying 3 times more for a much slower connection. And come 1 november if the new pricing structure comes in to place they will charge per GB. So forget about downloading 500mb to 1GB per day, unless you got lost of $$$.

Well over 1gb is possible per day on 384kbps +/- 40kb/s :p
 
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Now I was under the misconception that telephony (voice) calls were free if you had ADSL. Apparently, I was incorrect. But would software like Skype or the likes be able to provide free local calls?
> If from permanent connection to permanent connection, ie. DSL to DSL, DSL to Diginet, Wireless to ADSL vice versa etc but if it's anything to do with a landline it will cost a fortune.

BTW Skype is not free when calling traditional landlines. The rate is about 50c per minute fixed for land or mobile lines. Is that cheaper than Telkom?
> Telkom is incredibly expensive. Most likely around 3 times more than the 50c you mentioned. Their prices have dropped recently but still are very much overpriced.

Are there any other solutions?
> www.wdsl.co.za www.sentech.co.za www.iburst.co.za

Also would the Telkom 384 ADSL account be able to download 500mb to 1gb a day 'on average' or is the 512 better?
> Oddly enough the 384 generally achieves the same speed as the 512. But its Telkom, and you gotta love them for that ;)
 
O...and welcome to myadsl ZeroSplice :p

While u here u might aswell head on over to www.adslpetition.co.za and sign it....also get all your buddies and family to sign it. Just mayb ICASA can stop telkom from imposing those new prices come 1 Nov. I believe it's our best bet atm.
 
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Local call is 38c per min and 16C pm after hours

Local calls are 38cents per min (peak) and 16cents per minute (callmore) from Telkom landline to land line. Subject to a minimum connection fee of 60c , which gives you 90 seconds talktime at peak and 222 seconds off peak).
 
i have a skype phone and use it instead of using a telkom phone. the clarity is fine, and i run it over an iburst connection. My phone bill is about 5 euros a month, and i use the phone a real lot. I phone all over south africa and the world at greatly reduced rates.

Its working for me. Im also going to get a UK or US normal line number shortly for people on the normal phone network can phone me on the phone. The rates to phone that number might be high, but its still cheaper than our local cell to cell or cell to telkom rates. I think its like R1.50 a minute to phone it or something...
 
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