PennyTel
I guess I am one that does get excited by technology and the way it changes our lives. The latest thing to impress me is PennyTel.
PennyTel is an Australian Voice Over IP (VOIP) company. I signed up with PennyTel this week on their un-timed free access plan. The plan has no monthly fees and on signup they charge you a $10 fee for a local number (DID). I chose a Tasmanian phone number which allows anyone in Tas to call me from a land line for the cost of a local call.
It also allows me to call any land line in Tasmania for 8 cents.
I did have to purchase two things to get me up and going with PennyTel.
1) An ATA
2) A Real Phone
I went to Radioshack, Bestbuy, Staples, Officemax, Circuit City and Target looking for an ATA that I could use with PennyTel. All of the ATA’s they sold were locked onto Vonage (A US VOIP Provider). The last place I went was Staples. They were selling a Vonage ATA for $45. They were also offering a $50 rebate so I decided I would purchase one and see what I could do to “Unvonage” it. I did get the box mostly unlocked and now I have configured it to work with PennyTel. Outgoing calls are fine but incoming are garbled. I have redirected my incoming number to my cell right now. I think it is due to the ATA and the fact that I am locked out of some of the configuration screens. The sad thing is that I would have happily paid the extra for an unlocked ATA but they are not gettable from local stores!
I then hooked up a DECT 6 cordless phone, figured out the digit map and boom, 8c calls to Australia.
The voice quality is Excellent. I rang Ally at work and my VOIP from the US is clearer than the company someone uses that she talks to in Melbourne!
So if you are in the US and want to call Australia on the Cheap, get some hardware, broadband and sign up with PennyTel. It is awesome.
I think it is great too!!!
Comment by Mum — September 26, 2007 @ 13:39
Hi, I too decided to join Pennytel after reading your comments. I bought a Linksys SPA3102 directly from Pennytel. It came configured and unlocked. I set it up as per their guidelines (very easy step by step), I made a few phone calls without any problem. Then today I found I am unable to receive or make phone calls (even local). The customer service here in Australia is hopeless. I have been without incoming or outgoing calls all day. Pennytel staff keep brushing it off: “we will get back to you” but they never do. What will happen in case of emergency. Luckily I have my mobile. You may recommend Pennytel in the US but here in Australia they don’t score very high. The concept of VOIP is fantastic provided it is backed up by good service. I am switching to Engin or Skype, at least they have a good reputation.
Cheers – Nadia
Comment by Nadia — May 25, 2008 @ 20:13
I agree Nadia; I have been with Pennytel for 3 weeks. Outgoing calls are no issue but all my incoming calls go straight to voice mail. You can not call Pennytel support, they just don’t answer, and their online support is just about non existent. If anyone has any idea’s please let me know. I am getting so frustrated with them … Not sure I will stay with them for much longer
Comment by Julie — November 23, 2008 @ 10:18