VoiceStick VoIP Internet Phone Service
Ideal for the traveler |
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Here's an innovative
twist on regular VoIP service.
The software you need
to use their service is stored on a USB Flash Drive which
you can plug into any Windows computer that supports USB.
In addition, you can
remotely access your VoiceStick service from another regular
phone, giving you tremendous convenience and flexibility.
Best of all,
VoiceStick's rates are among the lowest available, making
this an appealing service.
Part
8 of a
8 part series - click for Parts
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven Eight |
Most VoIP calling products
assume you'll be doing all your calling from only one location.
In reality, that is seldom the
case. Most of us want to make calls from home, from work,
and while traveling.
The VoiceStick VoIP phone
service combines a good core set of product features suitable
for 'normal' calling from a fixed location with two clever
innovations making it possible to call from other places as well
as your main location.
The VoiceStick Product
VoiceStick is primarily a software rather than hardware based
VoIP phone service. In its simplest form, you load their
software onto your computer and then talk to anyone on any
phone, anywhere in the world, using the computer's soundcard and
headset.
VoiceStick also offer a
hardware based solution too, but most people will probably
prefer the computer based service.
The VoiceStick Software
The VoiceStick software
loads a small window onto your computer with a large graphic of
a phone dialpad, plus dial, hangup, and some feature buttons, a
bit like a representation of a cell phone. There is also a
display window to show details like the number you called.
The software runs on Windows
2000 and XP
Making and Receiving Calls
Bandwidth requirements?
different quality settings?
In the advanced settings
menu, there are different codecs available with bandwidth rates
ranging from 8 kb/sec up to 64kb/sec.
i2bridge pricing after Sep
and please explain this from
the website
With our service you do get
charged extra to make international calls using the Cell Bridge
feature.
Shouldn't this read 'do
not'?
Not that some features
described on the website as 'coming soon' are now released - eg
mute, sound device selection
Nice feature to access
Outlook/OE contact phone numbers
How do you get updated
software onto the Voicestick?
Voicemail - sends msgs to
email
had no instructions on how
to set up or manage the mailbox
can't control number of
rings before going to voicemail
Cust service hours :
24hrs/7 for basic issues, technicians/second level 9-5 Eastern
Mon-Fri (Hilary)
called at 1418, answered 2
mins later by a helpful girl
Technical support called
back a day later
package contains
Voicestick
headset
911 disclaimer
quickstart guide
I plugged
1833501 -
Work with USB headsets?
allegedly yes
can they add a name to the
caller ID info?
Plugged in Voicestick
2068015602
i2Bridge
Summary
Internet based video calling
is now a convenient reality. Some of the programs offer
poor quality video, but the better programs, such as MS
Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and iVisit, give amazingly good video quality.
Video can now offer a
definite and tangible improvement on your ability to keep in
touch and communicate with friends, family, and even business
associates.
The software is usually free
and easy to use.
Read more about video over your
internet line
The previous part of this
series tells you all you need to know about
buying and setting up a webcam, and
tuning it for best quality and performance.
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Originally published
9 Sep 2005, last update
21 Jul 2020
You may freely reproduce or distribute this article for noncommercial purposes as long as you give credit to me as original writer.
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