Installing VoipCheap and similar VOIP profiles
Author: fldude99
How to manually install the VoipCheap profile:
First, register an account online with
VoipCheap. It costs nothing to register and at this stage you don't need to add any money to your account in order to test it out. Once signed in, make sure you
SIGN OUT! Only one user can be signed it at a time, so this is important.
Then configure the
N95 as follows:
Get to SIP profiles by:
menu>tools>settings>connection>SIP settings. Then
Options>New SIP profile. Then manually input the following:
Profile name:
Voipcheap
Service profile:
IETF
Default access point:
AP of choice (i.e. Medianet)
PUBLIC USER NAME:
sip:<voipcheap acct name>@voipcheap.com
USE COMPRESSION:
no
REGISTRATION:
When needed
USE SECURITY:
no
PROXY SERVER Setting
Proxy server address:
sip:sip.voipcheap.com
Realm:
voipcheap.com
username:
<voipcheap account name>
password:
<voipcheap password>
allow loose routing:
yes
transport type:
UDP, or
auto (UDP works for me)
Port:
5060
Registrar Server Setting
Registrar server address:
sip:sip.voipcheap.com
Realm:
voipcheap.com
username:
<voipcheap account name>
password:
<voipcheap password>
transport type:
UDP, or
auto (altho UDP works for me)
Port:
5060
Then go to
menu>tools>settings>connection>internet telephone, then
options>new profile, and choose your voipcheap sip profile.
By the way, I am assuming the above settings will also work for
VoipBuster if you choose that service.
At this point, you can do one of two things: go to
menu>tools>internet tel, where it should
"discover services" and show the available wifi connection if there is one. Then choose
Options>connect to service. Secondly, you can just input the phone number you want to dial (in international format with the +, country code, etc) then go to
options>internet call and the
N95 should say
"requesting registration", and if not registered, ask if you want to register now. Say yes and it should register to the VoipCheap service or whatever service is defaulted, if you have more than one SIP profile.
Remember to choose "internet call" though! If you don't you will be calling using cell minutes and run up a nice bill! You know if it's an internet call when it's dialing you see a little globe under the phone icon. If you don't deposit anything in your voipcheap account you will be cut off after a couple of minutes however. But I find it's the cheapest way to call a cellphone in europe (11c/min to a cell in Italy), so I usually always have a few bucks in the account. And its awesome to call internationally and not even need to pay attention to the clock when calling a landline.
Here's my take on using VOIP on the N95:
One of the features that attracted me to the
N95 was the ability to use VOIP. I am in the US and the reason for me to be able to use VOIP is the ability to call internationally on the cheap or free. I can't speak for other countries, but here in the US, I can't see much other reason for VOIP calling, as almost all cell plans are toll free nationwide, and fairly generous with minutes-especially when accumulating AT&T's rollover minutes.
It seems like there are 3 ways to use VOIP on the
N95..
-Using an application such as Fring.
-Using an application such as Iskoot or IM+Skype.
-Using the built in SIP
In my opinion, the call quality using Fring renders it fairly useless, except that you can use your Skype account as well as incorporate more than one profile, including a SIP profile. However, my experience with Fring is that the quality is so poor as to render it relatively useless. This may be due to using a software based app.
The Iskoot and IM+Skype apps use a "call back" feature which creates the quality of a good cell call, but of course uses your cell minutes. So unless you're taking advantage of international skype rates, I don't see the use for those applications. If it's a domestic US call, you may as well just call directly as there is no long distance charge anyway.
This brings us to the built in SIP ability of the
N95. There is no question in my mind that using the SIP profiles directly is the only way to really use VOIP on the
N95. If you have a good wifi connection the quality is excellent. I call to cellphones and landlines in Europe frequently and the call quality is as good as an excellent cell call.
So how to use the SIP profile: I have installed 2 profiles in my phone: Gizmo and VoipCheap. Gizmo is super easy to get going with, as it can be installed directly from the download folder in the
N95. What's nice about it is that it installs itself directly into the SIP profiles without having to manually enter anything. The rates for calling international with Gizmo is competitive, but I have found VoipCheap to be better. VoipCheap is one of the Betamax services which includes VoipBuster and others. What they offer is free calling to landlines of many countries when you keep a balance in the account. However there is some difference in which countries are free, depending on the service you use, so you have to look at their website to see which countries are appropriate for you. VoipCheap has countries that they include on their free calling that VoipBuster doesn't so it's an individual thing.
One more little tidbit: If you don't have access to a computer you can actually make a voipcheap call by sending a text to +44 762 480 0947 with the number you want to call in the body of the text msg and it will ring your cell phone as it dials the number. You have to pay a connection fee however, but if you are in a situation where you have to make an international call its very useful. I was in a restaurant one time and had to call someone in Italy and it worked like a charm.
Second tidbit: I've heard of some folks using the british service Truphone, which also installs into the SIP settings but I have also heard of its "intrusiveness" in your phone, causing crashing, rebooting, etc, so I have avoided it. After looking at the features of their service, I don't see the advantage anyway. They are advertising free landline calling until the end of the year if you sign up by 9/30, but voipcheap already offers this.
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