Some people call it VoIP, Voice Over Internet Protocol or a broadband phone service. They're all different ways of describing the latest technology that allows you to save on your phone bill. You make and receive phone calls just like you did before, using a regular phone but instead of your calls being delivered over a regular phone line they travel over your high speed internet connection.
engin is Australia's largest provider, now used by more than 60,000 Australians and as the word spreads on how much you can save, that number is growing all the time.
How Does VoIP Work?
engin connects directly to your broadband internet connection. You simply plug an engin Voice Box into your broadband modem-router and then plug your telephone handset into the Voice Box. Say goodbye to your old phone company and start calling the new way – over the internet, with engin.
Unlike some VoIP services, with engin your computer doesn't need to be switched on to make a call. So long as your broadband connection is operating, you will be able to call with engin.
You Can Call Anywhere With engin
Some VoIP services are only for calling between broadband connected computers. That's not the case with engin. We pass your calls from the internet to the regular phone networks, so you can call people on their mobiles, or at home on a standard phone line and when you do call another engin user its FREE.
Phone Numbers
engin will try and provide you with a phone number for your area, however if that is out of our coverage area, you will be supplied with an engin 1-way number which allows you to make calls using engin.
You can also connect most of engin’s Voice Boxes to your existing phone line, as well as your internet connection allowing all calls to ring through to the same telephone handset.
VoIP myths
VoIP is one the world's fastest growing industries and with this comes talk and speculation. So what's true and what's not?
Myth 1: You cannot receive phone calls using VoIP:
False
engin works in a very similar way to the regular telephone service that you are using today. When you sign-up with engin we allocate a phone number which you use to make and receive telephone calls, just like a regular phone service.
Myth 2: You can only call other VoIP users when using VoIP:
False
This is only true for peer-to-peer type services.
engin is more than a peer-to-peer service. With engin you can make and receive phone calls to practically any number worldwide. This includes landlines, mobiles, international numbers and selected special service numbers.
Myth 3: VoIP has poor call quality:
False
Call quality depends on a number of factors such as which VoIP provider you choose, type of broadband service and speed of your broadband. Some VoIP providers have networks that are based overseas. That means every time you make a call it heads overseas, then back into Australia, even if you're calling someone who lives just round the corner. Our network is built, located and maintained in Australia. Through extensive R&D we have developed a voice service that is practically indistinguishable to your existing landline service.
Myth 4: You need to have your PC or laptop on to make and receive calls:
False
Many VoIP services only work when you connect a microphone or handset to your computer. engin has a softphone that works like those services, but most customers connect to engin using their regular home telephone handset. That means, when making a call, your computer doesn't need to be switched on. You just need an active broadband connection.
Myth 5: You cannot call emergency services using VoIP:
False
Unlike most VoIP providers engin offers full emergency services to all 2 way telephone numbers. So, as long as your broadband is active and power is available, you can call 000 from your engin service. 000 calls from engin 1 way services is not supported.
Myth 6: You cannot keep your existing telephone number when using VoIP:
False
You can connect your engin Voice Box to your existing phone line, as well as your internet connection. That means you can have two telephone numbers connected to the one telephone handset.
When you pick up the telephone to make a call it will go out through the engin network. Incoming calls to your existing telephone number and engin telephone number will both ring on the same telephone handset.
Myth 7: VoIP is only for the tech-savvy
False
VoIP is for anyone who wants to save money on their phone bills, with engin’s easy to set-up Voice Boxes anyone can start enjoying the great call savings from engin.