ashwen

I may have jumped the gun. I signed up for freedigits (ringtonumber.com) premium service without realizing that I cannot make outgoing calls. All it gives me is a Incoming number.

Can you recommend some VOIP providers that will give you a local number and let you make outgoing calls with Caller ID? This way I can use my idle server at home to handle all calls via Axon/IVM and have IP phones connected to the router.

Also, there is a very good and free service called FreeDigits ( http://freedigits.com ) that will allow you to have a private US Phone Number for free, and it also offers concurrent calls. This means that you can set-up Vonage to forward incoming calls to the FreeDigits number, and then have your FreeDigits number connected to Axon through the VoIP account they give you. This way you can have for example: two different callers call in at the same time as well as someone else in your business using the Vonage phone line to dial out. Keep in mind though you will only be able to use your 1 Vonage line for dialing out, this method simply allows you to receive more than 1 call at a time, and make a call while callers are still on the line.

I will definitely give this a try. I will only have my wife working in the office (our house actually ) so dialing out shouldn't be a problem. I just don't want us to miss any calls when she is on the phone. I just need IVM to project a bigger company impression than we really are. We are starting a consulting business and the image you create impacts your billing rate proportionately.

Also I was wondering how on earth you managed to get an unlimited line for $15 ... I use Vonage Canada, and they charge $40 a month for the unlimited (residential) plan! Keep in mind the Canadian dollar is now worth a tad bit more than the US dollar.

I am not sure about Canada but here in US in the last couple of weeks Vonage was offering unlimited calls for $14.99 to subscribers who were calling to cancel service as a last attempt to keep them. Even though I just signed up only two months ago, I was able to get this deal. Hey, who knows - it could work in Canada too. From the looks of it, Vonage is struggling financially and could go bankrupt in the near future.

Again thanks for explaining this stuff in so much detail - I had an idea but with your help it is all very clear now.

Thanks pythonpoole for the detailed response.

Will my Vonage phone line work or do I need to signup for Vonage Softphone?

In order to connect your current vonage line to NCH software, you will need to purchase an FXO adapter. This converts any analog line into a VoIP line. Even though Vonage is a digital VoIP service, the output from the ATA device they provide you is Analog. Essentially this means the call will be converted from VoIP to analog to VoIP again. Fear not, because I am using this exact method and it does not cause any noticeable delay or quality loss. The (Linksys) Sipura 3102 FXO adapter is around $80-$100 depending on where you purchase it. You can also use the Vonage soft-line and connect it directly to IVM's software, however Vonage soft-lines don't have unlimited plans, and you can only get them in combination with their regular service. So, the soft-line is essentially a rip-off and financially doesn't make sense unless you absolutely need to use the features of a soft-line.

I think I'll go with the FXO adapter and that way I can keep using the my existing unlimited phone line for $14.99

Here's my next question - Lets say the line is busy - a person is talking on an extension and some one calls the number. If using Vonage, does the caller hear a busy signal? or can Axon/IVM route the call to a mailbox?

I am starting a new business and want to setup a professional IVR system.

Here is what I have currently - Vonage (hardware) unlimited phone line.

What I need -

2-3 extensions with Mailboxes

One Outgoing/Incoming number so I can put this number on my business cards

IVR to route calls based on set criteria/responses

So, if I need 3 extensions do I need 3 separate phone lines?

Will my Vonage phone line work or do I need to signup for Vonage Softphone?

Can I use Skype in combination with Vonage for extensions?

Will I need Axon or can I just use IVM independently?

TIA