Forum Discussion

wrwhite's avatar
wrwhite
On our wavelength
29 days ago

Landline switch to IP

Hi

I am still on a standard landline but I know that sooner or later I will have to switch to an IP landline and rather than have telephone cables routed around the house from the router I was wondering if there is a recommended DECT type solution. Ideally I would like a small DECT base station (with no phone) that could be plugged into the router, as I do not want to move the router (for many reasons) and there is not a lot of space around it. Alternatively since this is now a VOIP system I was wondering if it is possible to simply use an app on my mobile phone (I have this facility with my work phone). My understanding is that this is not possible but thought I would ask just in case. 

On a separate note again since this is an VOIP system are services such as voice mail available or would it still be necessary to have a separate answer phone. If so this would need to be remote from the DECT base station since I suspect the answer phone would be too large to fit in the space I have.

Thanks for any advice

Will

  • goslow's avatar
    goslow
    Alessandro Volta

    VM's phone-via-hub is not a true VOIP solution for the customer. As such you can't use an app on your smartphone to access it. The customer uses a regular telephone device plugged into the back of the VM hub via an adapter.

    You can use a cordless phone system with the cordless bases station plugged into the VM hub and cordless handsets around the home as needed.

    Some cordless systems have an answering machine built into the base (at greater cost) or you could get a simple cordless system (no answering machine) and use VM's free voicemail. It's a matter of preference whether you prefer your own answering machine in the home or not.

    On a modern cordless system, you should be able to operate the answering machine from a remote satellite handset so you should not need to be next to the base station to pick up messages. Check for this on the system you intend to buy.

    Any new cordless system should work with VM's landline-via-hub. Brands used by customers on here are often Panasonic, Gigaset (Siemens) or BT. I would say it often tends to be the BT systems which seems to have issues with particular phone functions (often call screening) although many VM customers use BT handsets without any issues.

    It is not that common on here to get compatibility issues unless the phone handset is very old but buy from somewhere which has a good returns policy in the unlikely event you do run into any issues.

  • Tudor's avatar
    Tudor
    Very Insightful Person

    I use a DECT system as you describe and it works perfectly. You cannot use an app on your phone because it’s not really an VoIP system at present.

  • Adduxi's avatar
    Adduxi
    Very Insightful Person

    Agree Tudor but I believe if the OP moves to a "proper" VOIP supplier, they would be able to use a softphone app?

    • Matthew_ML's avatar
      Matthew_ML
      Forum Team

      Thank you for posting this advice Adduxi, currently right now we only have the one way of this by plugging it into the back of the router.