General Questions

Q: What will it cost?

A:The service is free for IP to IP calling. If you wish to call someone who only has access to the traditional phone network, take a look at our Pay-as-you-go Calling plan.

Q: Is there support?

A: Yes, we offer several types of support.

Q: Do I have to buy a phone?

A: No, you can use one of many free “soft” phones.

Q: Does it work with cell phones?

A: Yes, you have to register your phone number with 786tel to connect to the service. You can also use our Callback service to make calls from any phone or cell phone.

Q: Can I call a regular phone?

A: Yes, you can call anywhere in the world if have a required balance in your account.

Q: How does it sound?

A: It depends on the codec (analog to digital converter) that you and your destination party use. G711u, G711a (often called PCM) has very high quality sound and is at least as good as a regular phone.

 

Q: Can I surf the Internet while I'm talking?

A: Yes if your bandwidth permits you to talk on the phone and surf at the same time.

Q: What is a SIP phone?

A: SIP stands for Session Internet Protocol. It is a very common standard for setting up calls between devices. 786Tel uses SIP IP phones.

Q: What is broadband?

A: Broadband is typically considered anything faster than a dial-up modem connection. Examples would be: DSL, Cable modem, ISDN, T1.

Q: What is NAT?

A: NAT stands for Network Address Translation. This is a form of firewall that makes opening channels to phones inside it difficult. 786Tel has developed means to make this a non-issue with our service. 786Tel service will work seamlessly whether you are behind a firewall or not.

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Setup Help

Q: Where can I get an IP phone?

A: Please see our products page for your options.

Q: I have a NAT - what do I do?

A: Nothing different. The setup is the same whether you have a NAT or not.

Q: How do I configure it?

A: Configuration information is available on bottom of the page.

Q: Do you provide quick start guides?

A: Yes, go to Get Started page.

 

 

Requirements

Q: Do I need a computer?

A: No, you do not need a computer to call if you signed up for calling card service, but if you signed up for PC2Phone or Web callback then YES. In fact, most people find making a call through a traditional style phone easier and more natural. Since all account features are offered online via the account control panel, it is strongly recommended that you use a computer to manage your account.

Q: Does it work on Mac/Linux?

A: Yes. If you would like to use a computer or “soft” phone, there are many available for all major operating systems.

Q: Do I have to buy a phone?

A: No. If you would like, you can use a “soft” phone on your computer, see above.

Q: Can I use dial up?

A: Minimum bandwidth requirement is 64 Kb/s in each direction (total 128kb/s). Additionally the connection must be stable and up to the task of transmitting voice packets in a timely or reliable manner. To verify your connection is reliable you can use packet tracing software to reveal network problems. We recommend a product called "Ping Plotter". You can download a free trial version at http://www.pingplotter.com.

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