VoIP at $15 a Pop

AndersBrownworth writes: "Creative has released what they are calling the VoIP Blaster, a $15 USB device (2 for $20) that lets you plug in a normal POTS type telephone and make Voice-over-IP calls to anyone on the Internet. Creative has some closed source software with it that they manage to sneak per call charges in with, but ignoring that one can install the open source fobbit software and do point-to-point unmetered VoIP calls to anyone else with a G.723.1 codec VoIP phone. I just got off a NC to CA call placed from behind a firewall and the quality rocked. It sounded far better than a cell phone. The Fobbit software is fairly solid on FreeBSD and Windows with a couple bugs in the Linux port." This device has been out for a while now, with mixed reviews, at least with the included software, but it's nice to see this effort to turn off the meter.

Comments

Re:Closed Source

[Anonymous Coward]

According to the Creative website, you are only charged if you try to call a POTS line. This is handled by a third party service that can connect you to pots lines all around the world. Currently long distance calls to US pots lines are $0.05 per minute. Mexico City is $0.15.

Who is this!?! I cant hear you!!

[BigMucho]

"Grandma? Can you hear me? GRANDMA! ITS ME! YEAH!NO IM USING THE INTERNET TO CALL YOU... THE INTERNET! THE I-N-T-E-R-N-E-T!!!!"

Fortunatley this wasnt a VOIP quality issue, grandmas hearing aid had just went out.

Editors got it wrong AGAIN

[CaseyB]

Creative has some closed source software with it that they manage to sneak per call charges in with,

Only for VoIP-to-PSTN calls, that require servers to handle the switching.

but ignoring that one can install the open source fobbit software and do point-to-point unmetered VoIP calls to anyone else with a G.723.1 codec VoIP phone.

Which are free with the Creative software. This software won't save anyone a dime in call charges.

What it adds is support for firewalls, and allows you to use the device without registering with a credit card. It loses the ability to do PSTN calls.

If you call overseas from US, you are using VoIP

[brybigs]

A good chunk of international traffic is already converted to IP. All of the major US carriers have contracts with ITXC (http://www.itxc.com) which sends your voice traffic over the internet, and then attaches to local network at the destination. They constantly test a variety of paths to keep QoS at levels where you (the user) have no idea it's not circuit-switched. So VoIP with QoS is not only possible, it's already here and in use. And the best testiment to the quality of the product is the fact you can't tell when you are using it. Not exactly a great marketing slogan...

Is slashdot looking over my shoulder?

[IpSo_]

My VoIP Blasters just arrived last night, and I had a few hours to play with one of them.

The long and short of it is, if your only making calls in North America (from North America) its a waste of time and money. Theres enough flat rate/unlimited calling plans that will be cheaper, and better quality. I have a 1.5mbit/640kbit DSL line and making a call 400km's away up here in Canada was not that great. I would guess the latency was around 150-200ms, and even though I could hear the other party crystal clear 99.9% of the time, they complained my voice was "choppy" and it would miss the first/last bit of whatever I said. (silence detection I assume)

The Windows software is a little clumsy as well, it seemed difficult to control it entirely from the phone, without touching the computer. I'm guessing PC to PC calls (less latency,and not gateways in between trying to minimize network bandwidth) would be much better with this device, as I think the main problem was with InnoSpheres network.

There is something really cool about your cordless phone being plugged in to your computer and dialing 192#168#1#1, only to have the phone connected to that computer ring. :)