VOIP for remote Branches/Offices

[mh348]

I need to setup some sort of Voip system for all our offices, so that calls between remote offices will be free.. I need something thats not dependent on a PC, so it should just be a phone connected to the router...

I saw that vox uses the Gigaset A580IP... So I'm wondering if that can work as a "standalone" (without a pc) phone..

Miro has Siemens Gigaset A580IP & the Siemens Gigaset DE380IP

Will this work and which voip/sip provider should I use ?? Also where can I get a guide to setup everything?

Currently all branches have ADSL and are on a vpn.

 

[gmza]

Refer to: http://gigaset.com/hq/en/product/GIGASETA580IP.html

Quote:
Gigaset.net and info services
With the Gigaset A580 IP, you can start phoning your friends and family over the internet immediately via Gigaset.net. When you purchase the phone, you just have to sign in and join this exclusive Gigaset IP network community. That means you’ll be able to make free VoIP calls to anyone else with a Gigaset IP phone – anywhere and anytime – and you won’t even need an account with a VoIP provider. What’s more, you’ll be able to access free info services as a live ticker such as the weather forecast, a bid-watcher for eBay or RSS feeds from your favorite websites right onto your handset via the screensaver – even with your PC turned off. You can also access an online phonebook search¹ directly via your Gigaset A580 IP handset. That means you can quickly find any number you need and dial straight away.

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Note that I've never used the Gigaset.Net network before (I only use the A580IP's on the Switch Telecom network and disable Gigaset.Net) and I have no idea what quality is like accessing it from SA. I do know that it uses standard codecs (e.g. you can choose G.729 for low bandwidth or G.722 for Hi-Definition better-than-landline audio). Keep in mind the server is in Germany, so they may well be delay/latency and the phones may or may not cope with that level of latency.

 

[gmza]

Sorry, missed the second part of your question. Switch Telecom (www.switchtel.co.za) has a Hosted PBX service that would be ideal for you. Inter-extension calls are free, so that would give you free inter-branch calling, plus you get either land-line or 087 number(s) for inbound and full outbound service. If you have an existing Telkom number, you can port that. Switch supplies the A580IP and will pre-configure for the Hosted PBX, however, note that the A580IP (or at least the A58H handset part of it) cannot do external SIP transfers, so you may be better off using a S685IP in a switchboard environment where you need to be able to transfer calls.