Bob Browning's blog

I remember talking to a comms consultant in the 1980’s about packet switched networks like the Internet, which was new-ish technology at the time. He had this dreamy look in his eye. “one day there will be packet-switched voice”.

Well he was right – we have it and it is called VOIP (Voice Over IP (Internet Protocol)). All the telephone providers in the UK are switching over to this now, which means your telephone has to plug into your router, wherever that is. In my case this is not in the hallway, where a telephone belongs, but next to the television on account of my broadband provider being a cable company.

When my cable contract came up for renewal I opted for broadband-only, and decided go elsewhere for landline telephone. I had used Vonage before and they do a good deal including unlimited international calls. Vonage sends you a box about the size of a cigarette packet which sits between the router and phone. It was very simple to set up. 

A good feature of the service is that I have an extension to the home phone on my mobile. I can use the extension whenever I have Internet access – including abroad. So I can make and receive UK and International calls at no additional cost when I am travelling, as long as I have internet access.

But I had a couple of problems:

• Very very occasionally the main phone didn’t ring. A Google search revealed that one of the features of the broadband router (SIP ALG) needed to be disabled. Well, you can’t disable it with the broadband provider’s router, so I would have to buy a second router. On the one or two occasions when the home phone didn’t ring, my mobile did so I didn’t miss any calls. On balance I haven’t put in my own router.
• I am using powerline to distribute the Internet through my house. This uses power cables to carry the signal. I figured I could plug the VOIP box into a powerline adaptor and return the phone to its rightful place in the hall. It didn’t work. So the phone is still next to the TV.

So for the average punter this solution isn’t quite 100%. Say 95%. But if you use the VOIP provided by your broadband supplier I am sure it will be fine. The next question is: why do I have a landline at all?

I recognise that my grandchildren will never have a landline. My Daughters don’t have landlines anymore. They all just use their mobile phones. Why do I hang on to it?

• This is the number for the house. When we get a call. three phones ring in the house (plus my mobile). Anyone can pick up the call.
• The landline phone is oddly more accessible. It is right on my desk and when it rings, I just pick it up. Dragging my mobile out of my jeans, (pressing on who-knows-what on the screen on the process – I have cut off calls in the past), then swiping the ‘accept’ button, is annoying.
• The landline phone design is not a compromise, like my mobile. It fits nicely into the hand and is a better speakerphone.

So I will stick with it.