Service FAQ's - VoIP and Networks

What is VoIP?

What is broadband or high-speed Internet access?

Do you provide Internet service in addition to OmniTalk?

Will OmniTalk work with a dial-up Internet connection?

If my PC connects to the Internet through a USB port on my DSL/cable modem and has no Ethernet port, how do I connect the OmniTalk ATA?

What ports do I need to open if my OmniTalk ATA or Phone is behind a firewall?

Will OmniTalk service work with Internet access over satellite?

Does OmniTalk work with WiFi or WiMax (wireless Internet) networks?

Will OmniTalk work with America Online DSL service?

Is it possible to cancel my traditional telephone service and still keep the DSL service on that line?

What is VoIP?

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) allows you to make and receive phone calls over your high-speed Internet connection. Calls can be made using a wide variety of devices including a standard touch-tone phone. With a good connection, you get the same quality as with traditional phone service, but you typically get many more features and pay far less for your calls than you’ve been getting from your local telco (Verizon, SBC, BellSouth, Qwest, AT&T, MCI, Sprint, etc.).

What is broadband or high-speed Internet access?

The most common high-speed connections from homes are DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) and Cable modems running at 256K to 768K (Kilobits per second). Businesses typically use either DSL running at 768K to 2M (Megabits per second) or connections known as T-1 (1.5M), T-3 (45M), or Ethernet (10M to 100M or even 1G). Wireless Internet access services like WiFi and WiMax are starting to become popular as well. You can use OmniTalk over any of these broadband Internet connections.

You can check your Internet connection speed by clicking here - http://www.dslreports.com/stest - and following the simple steps.

Do you provide Internet service in addition to OmniTalk?

No. At this time, OmniTalk is not affiliated with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and does not provide Internet service. You must already have high-speed access to use your OmniTalk service.

Will OmniTalk work with a dial-up Internet connection?

It is very rare, but we have had a few customers successfully use OmniTalk over a dial-up Internet connection, but the quality is very, very poor. We recomend that you use OmniTalk with a high-speed Internet connection.

If my PC connects to the Internet through a USB port on my DSL/cable modem and has no Ethernet port, how do I connect the OmniTalk ATA?

To use OmniTalk, you will need to convert your high-speed Internet connection from USB to Ethernet. You can do this by connecting a router in between your DSL/cable modem and your computer, and then connecting your OmniTalk device to an Ethernet port on your router.

What ports do I need to open if my OmniTalk ATA or Phone is behind a firewall?

Most of our customers just connect their ATA or Phone and start using the service because we have designed the service to work behind most firewalls.

If you have an older or more complex firewall, make sure that UDP traffic from you to the outside world is open. Otherwise, you won’t ever register with our server and won’t be able to make calls.

Will OmniTalk service work with Internet access over satellite?

Probably not. Satellite service introduces quite a bit of delay or latency into an Internet connection, and that delay makes it very difficult for any VoIP service to work properly.

Does OmniTalk work with WiFi or WiMax (wireless Internet) networks?

Yes. You can use OmniTalk if your wireless Internet Service Provider (ISP) or your home network provides an Ethernet connection into which you can connect your OmniTalk ATA. Many OmniTalk customers have wireless networks in their home or subscribe to wireless ISP.

In addition, if you are using OmniTalk via a SoftPhone with a USB handset or headset, you can call the world while sipping a cappuccino at Starbucks, or wherever you log into a WiFi Hotspot.

Will OmniTalk work with America Online DSL service?

No, it won’t. AOL DSL service is not currently compatible with OmniTalk.

Is it possible to cancel my traditional telephone service and still keep the DSL service on that line?

You need to contact your DSL provider and ask them, as every provider has different rules and regulations. OmniTalk will not contact any of your current telecommunications providers.