VoIP

Last Sunday I went to PC Show 2005 at Singapore Expo Hall 6. Like previous IT show, nothing has made me interested. Except one thing, one booth displayed cheap overseas call using broadband internet connection, only $0.05 perminute all day all night.

First I impressed enough until a salesperson explained how it is works. I thought by only connecting hardware (voice encoder) to voice enabled Router, we could call any phone number, the router will do the rest. Actually, he said, we must logged in into website that provide this service, buy the credit and use it. If like this, it is no difference if we are using Skype, Yahoo Messanger (net2phone), Vonage, etc. Software client will act as well as voip broadband router. We still need a voip server to connect us to the world.

Due to my work location, I need to get cheap communication way. Currently, I am a "voip" user, eventhough not connected directly to Internet. By using Sunshine or B.I.P card, both from 1World, I can contact my family and friend in Indonesia with cheaper cost compared with v019 and IDD 001 from Singtel or IDD 018 from Starhub.

But, sometimes I still feel "jeleaus" with my friends who might call to his/her family in Jakarta at one third of my cost by using BIP/Sunshine. I need to pay 22 cents per minute compared with them that only 7 cents, not include local call (3.3 cents if using payphone). Hence, I need around 26 cents to call home for low quality voice, due to my contacted number is outside Jakarta/mobile number.

And how to make it cost down? Just now, I tried to use Skype. For initial trial, I have to pay 10 Euro credit. For first 11 minutes trial, the voice I think better than I use BIP/Sunshine, the cost was 1.26 Euro. Cheaper, but still expensive. I need cheaper and cheaper one …

Ups, sorry, actually I got it already. This is the cheapest call I made from Singapore to Indonesia. Less that 6cents, or IDR300 per minute. My Simpati pre-paid GSM simCard can receive Telkomsel signal from Batam, hence I can use it to call other Simpati/Telkomsel number during non-peaktime. 12am to 8am!! Sleepy already …