engin Basics

Engin works the same way as your existing telephone service. Pick up the telephone receiver, listen for a dial tone and then dial the required telephone number.

If you are dialling interstate then you will need to include the area code (eg, 03 for Melbourne). To dial internationally you will need to first dial 0011 then the country code and then the phone number (eg, 001164xxxxxxxx for New Zealand).

Engin does not yet offer Local Number Portability, you will be allocated a new number with your service.

However some Engin products allow you to keep your existing phone number for incoming calls, by connecting your existing phone line.

If you live in an Engin coverage area, all emergency services calls to 000 will work.

As an Engin customer it is important to understand that you must notify us if you change your address, that way if you make an emergency services call your correct address will be identified.

If you live outside an Engin coverage area and require an Engin 1way service, or if you are bringing your own VoIP device, calls to emergency services are not supported.

To use the Engin service you need the following:

• a broadband internet connection (for example: cable modem, ADSL or wireless),
• a router or switch
• an Engin Voice Box and your telephone or an Engin Internet Phone

The Engin Voice Box is a device that converts your analogue phone signal to digital so that it can be sent over your broadband internet connection, as opposed to the old telephone system.

Simply plug your regular telephone handset into one end of the Voice Box and plug the other end of the Voice Box into your modem/router. Another name for a Voice Box is an Analogue Telephone Adaptor, or ATA.

Engin's Internet Phones have 'built-in' Voice Box functionality.

No, the main differences between Engin and Skype are outlined below.

Engin customers make and receive calls as they normally would using their existing telephone handset, or an Engin cordless Internet Phone. Skype relies on a 'Softphone', meaning you need to use a headset or USB phone and talk through your computer.

Engin is an Australian owned and operated telecommunications network. Skype uses people's computers and bandwidth to support phone calls that others make.

Your Engin service will not work if there is a power outage, as your Engin product requires power to maintain the service.

However if you have a product that supports the switchback feature then it will automatically revert back to your existing landline service in the event of a power outage.

Products that have switchback include:

• Voice Box 2
• Voice Box 3102
• Voice Box 3
• Engin Internet Phone 121
• Engin Internet Phone 221

Engin offer the option of buying some hardware on a contract.

You can then choose any monthly plan and connect to Engin for as little as $9.95 a month.

If you do not wish to be in contract, you pay the cost of the Voice Box then choose any monthly plan and connect to Engin with no commitment period.

Engin also offer a full 30-day money back guarantee, so if you're not happy with the service you can return the product and cancel your service for a full refund of the purchase price and the month's service fee. All you will be charges for are the calls made within that period.

If you signed up to Engin on a contract, there will be an early disconnection fee if you wish to end the contract before the term is up.

If you did not sign up to Engin on a contract, you can cancel your service at any time. Your monthly service fee is charged in advance and your calls are charged in arrears.

To disconnect your service, you will be required to provide 30 days notice. Simply contact our Customer Care Team on 1300 305 000 between 8am - 6pm (Sydney time) to request disconnection of your service.

When you sign up, you can choose to purchase your hardware for a reduced cost. This means if you wish to end the contract period before the term is up, you will be charged a disconnection fee.

If you do not wish to be in a contract you may choose to purchase the hardware outright which means you can cancel your service at any time.

Before connecting to Engin you will need to check if you are in an Engin coverage area. To check coverage please click here.

If you are not in an Engin coverage area, you can still use Engin for outbound calls with our Engin 1way service. This means you will not have an Engin phone number for incoming calls, but you will be able to make calls at our great call rates.

If you are within an Engin coverage area then you are eligible for the full (2way) service, which includes a regular phone number for inbound and outbound calls. An exampled of a Sydney number is 02 9016 0000.

With a 1way service you can make outgoing calls, but you will not be given a local Engin number to receive calls on. If you are keeping your old phone line people will still be able to call you on your old phone number.

Most of our products allow your normal phone line and Engin line to be plugged into the same phone, so you continue to receive calls while making outbound calls at our great rates.