Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Q:  What will it cost?

A: The service is free for IP to IP calling. If you wish to call someone who only has access to the traditional phone network, take a look at our Pay-as-you-go Calling plan.

Q:  Is there support?

A: Yes, we offer several types of support: http://www.ourcompany.com/support/support.php.

Q:  Do I have to buy a phone?

A:  No, you can use one of many free “soft” phones. Please see http://www.ourcompany.com/support/phones.php for examples.

Q:  What will my phone number be?

A:   You can choose any 7 digit phone number you like, as long as someone else is not using it.

Q:  Does it work with cell phones?

A:   No, you have to use an IP phone to connect to the service. There are a number of wireless IP phones available on the market, please see http://www.ourcompany.com/support/phones.php for examples.

Q:  Can I call a regular phone?

A:  Yes, with Pay-as-you-go Calling, PSTN bridging is available.

Q:  How does it sound?

A:  It depends on the codec (analog to digital converter) that you and your destination party use. G711u, G711a (often called PCM) has very high quality sound and is at least as good as a regular phone.

Q:  How does someone without Our Company call me?

A:  If you are a paying service customer, your callers can reach you through a gateway phone number which will ask them for your 7 digit phone number. Please note: Basic Membership does not have access to this service.

Q:  Can I surf the Internet while I'm talking?

A:  Yes if your bandwidth permits you to talk on the phone and surf at the same time. 

Q:  What is a SIP phone?

A:  SIP stands for Session Internet Protocol. It is a very common standard for setting up calls between devices. Our company uses SIP IP phones.

Q:  What is broadband?

A:  Broadband is typically considered anything faster than a dial-up modem connection. Examples would be: DSL, Cable modem, ISDN, T1.

Q:  What is NAT?

A:  NAT stands for Network Address Translation. This is a form of firewall that makes opening channels to phones inside it difficult.  Our company has developed means to make this a non-issue with our service. Our company's service will work seamlessly whether you are behind a firewall or not.

Requirements

Q:  Do I need a computer?

A: No, you do not need a computer to call via Our company. In fact, most people find making a call through a traditional style phone easier and more natural. Since all account features are offered online via the account control panel, it is strongly recommended that you use a computer to manage your account.

Q:  Does it work on Mac/Linux?

A: Yes. If you would like to use a computer or “soft” phone, there are many available for all major operating systems. See http://www.ourcompany.com/support/phones.php for various options.

Q:  Do I have to buy a phone?

A: No. If you would like, you can use a “soft” phone on your computer, see above.

Q:  Can I use dial up?

A: Minimum bandwidth requirement is 64 Kb/s in each direction (total 128kb/s).  Additionally the connection must be stable and up to the task of transmitting voice packets in a timely or reliable manner. To verify your connection is reliable you can use packet tracing software to reveal network problems. We recommend a product called "Ping Plotter". You can download a free trial version at http://www.pingplotter.com.

Setup Help

Q:  Where do I sign up?

A:  Right here: to sign up.

Q:  Where can I get an IP phone?

A:  Please see our products for your options.

Q:  I have a NAT - what do I do?

A:  Nothing different. The setup is the same whether you have a NAT or not.

Q:  How do I configure it?

A:  Configuration information is available at http://www.ourcompany.com/support/phones.php.

Q:  Do you provide quick start guides?

A: Yes, go to http://www.ourcompany.com/support/setup.php.

Using Our Company

Q:  How do I call someone?

A:  Pick up the handset and dial the number. Local (our company) subscribers can be reached by dialing their seven digit number. 800 services and long distance numbers can be reached by dialing 1 + area code + number. Please see http://www.ourcompany.com/support/setup.php for more information. Please note: Basic Membership accounts do not have access to PSTN or toll free calling.

Q:  Who can I call?

A:  With Basic Membership you can call all Our Company members, IAXTel numbers, SIPphone numbers and FWD numbers for free. A "White Pages" directory is available at http://www.ourcompany.com/account/cp.php. With Pay-as-you-go Calling, you have the capability to call anyone in the world.

Q:  When can I call?

A:  Anytime, day or night.

Q:  How do I check my messages?

A:  If you have a phone with a “Message Waiting Indicator” it will show you when you have voicemail messages waiting. Some phones have a light, some will give you a “stuttering” dial tone to indicate messages are available. You can also check your messages by dialing 8500. See http://www.ourcompany.com/main/voicemail.php for more information.

Q:  How do I do an echo test?

A: You can perform this test by dialing 600#. This test is a good way to check to see what your connection to the server sounds like.