Hi All...
Sorry for my technical question. If even reading the acronym VOIP makes you want to, well, voip, then ignore the rest of this note.
My wife and I are moving to Boquete at the end of June (yay!). I will be continuing my work while in Boquete, and as such I need phone communications with the USA. Vonage handles that very well, and I am using them in the USA. Both my desktop phone, which connects to the Internet via a Cisco SPA112, and my Android-based cellphone, which connects via the Bria Android app over VOIP using my data connection, work fine.
I know that Vonage on the desktop phone will work fine in Boquete. Many of you use Vonage and get excellent call quality. What I am wondering is which cellphone service will provide the best data connection for my cellphone VOIP communications. I do not "forward" the calls to my cell from my desktop if I am not in the office...I have both my desktop and my cell configured for VOIP communications, and they ring simultaneously. So, whether I am in or out of the office, I get all my calls and no forwarding to a Panama number happens, so no international long distance charges are incurred.
Does anyone out there know which of the cell providers is the "best" at VOIP integration? I know there is Claro, Movistar, Digicell, etc. but don't want to have to test them all. Can anyone provide me with any information here?
Many thanks.
Regards,
Mike Petersen
Replies
The important issue would be get a good cell service in Boquete. Mas Movil has worked good for me up there so far in TOWN. Lee recommended Mas Movil to me. There are others.
Unless magic jack changed their plans they do not forward to an international cell phone. If they do please let me know.
Magic jack has a cell phone app now that works if you have an account with them. No Lee, I don't believe they have the forwarding capabilities. But, your cell will accept all calls coming in on magicjack and no minutes or money is charged to your cell service. It's WiFi and rings on your data plan also. I use it everyday. I kept my U.S. number at no extra charge.
The app is in google play store. I think it's called "Call Free". You need an account to setup the cell app.
You can keep your U.S. number and there would not be a need for forwarding or you can choose one from their list in the U.S. or Canada. Just different ways to look at it.
I don't know if this answered your question but it is a great service and cheapest one out there for the U.S. and Canada only. My Human Resources Dept. from my retirement company called me on my cell yesterday while in a taxi in David. I was on data at the time (unlimited is cheap) so I can use data. Had I been on wifi the same process works.
The nice thing about this is; My tablet is now a phone also with the app when near wifi. I think Mike's primary concern might have been VOIP and cell service. But, Magic jack does land line and VOIP. My company went all VOIP before I retired and VOIP is now the best service you can have. Actually VOIP is different cabling and swtiching; fiber,cat5 or 6 in houses now days. The speed, bandwidth, fewer dropped calls are the benifits.
It's a personal choice after research. If I learn more I'll post it.
Cheers,
Hil
I keep forgeting featuresl; it has voice mail, contact list, and records numbers called coming in or out.
If someone from Japan, for example, calls my MagicJack in the U.S. it rings on my landline, cell, or tablet. Out going calls are for the U.S. and Canada only. They do have international service for a fee but I do not need it. Another choice.
850-615-0767
This appears to be my Florida number and it was----it is now my MagicJack.
Feel free to call it.
From Magic jack website
The call forwarding feature may not be used to forward calls to conference, platform and non-ILEC area telephone numbers.
They still do not have international forwarding. If you have a way to get a MagicJack to forward to my Panama Cell phone without using a data connection please let me know, I want one. The data connections are not always there. I hate Skype BUT if I do not ave a data connection instead of going to Voice Mail it will forward direct to my Panama Cell phone. That turns it from hate to functional.
Lee data works but I would not rely on that part for business. Wireless in your house is GREAT as well as landline with MagicJack. A MagicJack number is required and it works with data platform on any cell phone with android 4.0 or higher. I'll stay on top of this and maybe they will have the forwarding to an international number one day.
I like the from hate to functional. Kind of like my on demand gas hot water heater....depends on the water pressure here!!!!
Hil
I use MAGICJACK on my cell, laptop, land line and tablet. Never lost a connection and it is clear 90% of the time. The price is right also, $30 a year. Startup cost for miniwireless reciever (combo for landline/laptop usb) and account, about $65. I talked to my state retirement HR department today while in a Taxi and it worked well. I have unlimited data also with C&W $14.95 a per month (mas movil). It works well with that on cell phone also as long as you have a signal. MagicJack does not take time or money off of your cell phone account. Set up a U.S. phone number. Remember, VOIP does NOT know where your is located. It thinks you are in the U.S.-- Good for calls in the U.S. and Canada. When someone calls you from the U.S. your number appears as a U.S. number also. Lot of options for the phone number. You can keep your U.S. businees number or pick out a new number.
MagicJacks website is great.
first 6 months are free after sign up.
Cheers,
Hil
I use Skype and it forwards all calls to my cell phone. Keep it simple. Call to the US on a local cellphone are not expensive so I use it for outgoing calls when I do not have Wifi available.
Hi Lee,
Thanks for your reply.
Skype voice quality on non-WiFi connections is off-the-chart awful. When I am outside my office I am using my data plan to connect to the Internet, and even on US 4G-LTE, Skype voice quality is horrible on a cell phone. Their Android app just doesn't cut it.
However, I do have Skype and a US phone number on it...and I will be testing it in Boquete. If the voice quality is better there (and I don't expect it to be), I will certainly use it and abandon my Vonage business plan and go with the less expensive standard Vonage home plan that does not do VOIP communications to cell phones.
Again, thanks for your reply.
Regards,
Mike Petersen
Not sure you understand my suggestion. Use your skype number and set Skype to forward to your cellphone. The forwarding route is over the wireless carrier you choose as an incoming cell call. In Panama they do not charge for incoming calls so you will only be billed for a skype call to Panama if it forwards. It works perfectly.
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