Calling PSTN
fwdOut shows how to configure your Asterisk PBX to allow calls to PSTN phones via other Asterisk servers who have agreed to share their PSTN connections. InN return, you have to make your PSTN connection available for other users to call your local area. You get credit when someone uses your access point, this allows you to make calls through other peoples connections. If you make a lot of international calls, this could save money if your local phone bill doesnt increase too much.
Vonage is a fee-based PSTN replacement/enhancement service, SKYPE is an internet communications service with a fee-based PSTN connection, and FWD is an Internet-based calling service.
So, while you can’t usually call free, there are many services that allow calls for a few cents per minute. These are just a few. Most of the above allow you to provision an account with say $10 or so and use the service until the funds are depleted. Some have DID or dial in numbers so people can call you. Some offer 800 numbers in the USA, UK, Israel…
www.Libretel.com
www.IconnectHere.com
www.voicepulse.com
www.calgarytelecom.com
www.voiptalk.com
www.nufone.com [defunct]
www.voipjet.com
www.sipgate.com
http://www.voipfone.us/
sipphone.com offer 5 free 1 minute calls per day.
since 800 numbers are free and can be dialed from FWD, you can also use any calling card, which uses an 800 number for access, to dial normal phone numbers.
Make a new hotmail/yahoo email account for spam mail then sign up for a free calling card at www.phonehog.com
You can receive incoming calls from the normal PSTN network. You have to signup to make this happen in most cases.
Get a Seattle, WA, USA number through IPKall http://www.ipkall.com/
Get a Michigan, USA number through ClearPath http://www.clearpath1.com/fwd.htm
Get a UK number through Call UK http://www.calluk.com/
Use a LibreTel number http://www.libretel.com/ (does not support dialling FWD numbers higher than 80000)
(0845) 004 5566 xtraphone.com (UK Local only)
+31 20 3987567 XSALL
