Posted by: _ November 19, 2009
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Neel_Dai
I assume you have ADSL in Nepal, or any kind of broadband to receive calls from US.
Magicjack works ($20-40 per yr), but you need to open a computer (remember 17 hrs load shedding in Nepal). Why pay $40 when it can actually be FREE.
There are several FREE ways like Gizmo+google voice to get FREE service. Gizmo is suspended now as Google took over it last week but if you already have Gizmo account, you can integrate it with google voice (a local US number) even now. So, people call that US number and you answer in your computer with Gizmo. The service is equal to magicjack and better that you don't need anything like "magicjack device" and a phone set and you pay NOTHING.
I would recommend you use something practical and it does NOT require a computer open to call.
Any, I said, "ANY" SIP phone works in Nepal. But you want a phone number, not SIP phone. You can assign FREE US phone number to that SIP device. IPKall.com is the one you can trust (I've used it for over 2 yrs). General purpose SIP phones consume VERY less power. A general UPS backup is enough for hours. So, people call that US number you got form IPKall.com and you answer call in that SIP phone.
If you are less technical about configuring SIP phone (it's too easy though), go for a Skype phone not requiring a computer (Belkin Skype Desktop Phone, I recommend it for around $50 in buy.com or frys.com. Connects directly to ADSL modem/router). I am using one at my home in Nepal with a UPS during loadshedding (consumes less than 3 watts when talking).
If you have skype (or just register for free), you can get FREE numbers (not one, MANY numbers in several countries) for your Skype ID at Ring2Skype.com. When anyone calls to that number, that skype phone in Nepal rings, no time limit to talk. This is what I m using these days.
Remember, skype also gives you such numbers, but you have to pay for that...so, use Ring2Skype.com for FREE
If you want to enable Nepal side to call US back, add skype credit ($10 for lifetime if you make one call every 180 days). In my case, they "miss call" me here in US from Nepal and I call them back, so that skype credit does not drop at all.
Bottomline: don't pay for crap like magicjack that requires your computer to run and need to pay $$ every year. Running computer all the time is NOT practical even in US and it's like impossible in Nepali Load shedding.
There are several SIP related options. But go for something that does NOT require computer. google em.
I assume you have ADSL in Nepal, or any kind of broadband to receive calls from US.
Magicjack works ($20-40 per yr), but you need to open a computer (remember 17 hrs load shedding in Nepal). Why pay $40 when it can actually be FREE.
There are several FREE ways like Gizmo+google voice to get FREE service. Gizmo is suspended now as Google took over it last week but if you already have Gizmo account, you can integrate it with google voice (a local US number) even now. So, people call that US number and you answer in your computer with Gizmo. The service is equal to magicjack and better that you don't need anything like "magicjack device" and a phone set and you pay NOTHING.
I would recommend you use something practical and it does NOT require a computer open to call.
Any, I said, "ANY" SIP phone works in Nepal. But you want a phone number, not SIP phone. You can assign FREE US phone number to that SIP device. IPKall.com is the one you can trust (I've used it for over 2 yrs). General purpose SIP phones consume VERY less power. A general UPS backup is enough for hours. So, people call that US number you got form IPKall.com and you answer call in that SIP phone.
If you are less technical about configuring SIP phone (it's too easy though), go for a Skype phone not requiring a computer (Belkin Skype Desktop Phone, I recommend it for around $50 in buy.com or frys.com. Connects directly to ADSL modem/router). I am using one at my home in Nepal with a UPS during loadshedding (consumes less than 3 watts when talking).
If you have skype (or just register for free), you can get FREE numbers (not one, MANY numbers in several countries) for your Skype ID at Ring2Skype.com. When anyone calls to that number, that skype phone in Nepal rings, no time limit to talk. This is what I m using these days.
Remember, skype also gives you such numbers, but you have to pay for that...so, use Ring2Skype.com for FREE
If you want to enable Nepal side to call US back, add skype credit ($10 for lifetime if you make one call every 180 days). In my case, they "miss call" me here in US from Nepal and I call them back, so that skype credit does not drop at all.
Bottomline: don't pay for crap like magicjack that requires your computer to run and need to pay $$ every year. Running computer all the time is NOT practical even in US and it's like impossible in Nepali Load shedding.
There are several SIP related options. But go for something that does NOT require computer. google em.