ABOUT SIP TELECOM

SIP Telecom is our bundle only premium phone service that delivers: Great call rates Savings off your internet bill Faster SIP Telecom speeds and double your downloads Now includes our new VoIP phone service, SIP Telecom phone, absolutely free. voip, voice over the net, voice over Internet protocol, internet telephony, broadband phone, phone service, video phone, videophone, long distance, SIP Telecom, SIP, ip pbx, voip white paper, voip vpn, voip h323, voip sip, voip service provider, whati is voip, how voip works, voip phone service, voice over ip, voip phone system, voip residential, voip call, web phone, virtual office, net2phone, pc phone, Vonage, Lingo, CallVantage, Broadvoice, VoiceWing, cheap phone service, pc to phone, unlimited calling, dsl phone service, internet phone, att voip, at&t voip, at&t voice over ip, voip technology, cable phone service, att, broadband phone, broadband phone service, broadband calling, bundled calling, unlimited local and long distance, unlimited local and long distance calling, bundled local and long distance calling, phone service savings, international calling plans, international calling, low international rates, CallVantage, Call Vantage, att callvantage, call advantage

CHEAP PHONE RATES

At $29.95 per month for line rental and only 18c per local call, you're getting competitive phone rates and all your home communication needs from one convenient provider. Check out our rates page for more information on call charges. SIP Telecom phone for free! SIP Telecom phone gives you: Huge savings off your phone bill (like 9.9¢ local calls) Free calls across the SIP Telecom network (includes OzEmail) Free second phone line Premium quality sound Bonus phone features for free! Sign up to SIP Telecomphone to receive your own unique phone number. That's two phone lines for the price of one - one for the kids and one for you, or, one for business and one for home use. switching is easy Just pick up the phone and call us - we'll handle all the paperwork. Once you're done we'll roll your internet and phone bill into one easy to read bill, saving you head scratching time and helping the environment. the SIP Telecom bundle Our SIP Telecom premium phone service is only available when you bundle with either SIP Telecom or SIP Telecom. It saves you up to $120 on your internet bill and gives you access to faster speeds and double your download quota when bundled with SIP Telecom. Please note that SIP Telecomphone is not available with SIP Telecom, please refer to the SIP Telecomphone FAQ for more information. what is SIP Telecomphone? SIP Telecomphone uses the Internet to deliver even cheaper call rates (like 9.9¢ local calls) and free calls to friends and family that use SIP Telecomphone. SIP Telecomphone looks, feels and performs just like your ordinary phone except it utilises Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to save you more. To use SIP Telecomphone you simply plug a spare telephone handset into the back of a VoIP/ADSL modem. From then on you use it just as you would a regular phone. If you are still unsure of what SIP Telecomphone is call us on SIP Telecom and we'll fill you in. what do I need to use SIP Telecomphone? What you'll need to use SIP Telecomphone really depends on what hardware you already have at home. If you have a spare telephone handset and do not have a VoIP enabled modem you can do two things: Existing customers can buy an Analogue Telephone Adapter (ATA) device to convert your analogue phone signal to digital, or purchase a VoIP enabled ADSL modem when signing up through our online application. However if you've already got a VoIP enabled modem you can just plug your existing phone into the back and start calling straight away. SIP Telecomphone works with any SIP Telecom account. For more information on SIP Telecomphone equipment visit our setup options page or view the SIP Telecomphone FAQ.

VOIP LEGISLATIONS AND SIP TELECOM

Things You Need To Understand About VOIP Before Ordering IT The Australian Telecommunication’s Act, The Australian Communications Authority (ACA), The State Fair Trading Acts, The Trade Practices Act and the Office Of the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) all have strong views, rules and advice to consumers and voice service suppliers about what a consumer considering using a VOIP service should know and what a supplier of VOIP services must disclose. to a potential VOIP user. The Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) has set out what it believes a VOIP provider needs to disclose to a VOIP user. The balance of this web page provides the information that ACIF suggests be made available to a person considering using an SIP Telecom VOIP service. About The Service What VOIP Service Is Offered By SIP Telecom? SIP Telecom offer VOIP services over the SIP Telecom ADSL network. SIP Telecom does NOT recommend that a line speed of less than 512 kbps be used to carry its VOIP services. What Networks Are Used To Provide SIP Telecom’s VOIP Services? SIP Telecom provides VOIP services via a third party that has switching centres in Sydney and Melbourne and 12 other locations around the world. Your handset is connected to the Sydney VOIP switching via the SIP Telecom or Optus ADSL network to the SIP Telecom Sydney DSL PoP and then to the third party centre which directs your VOIP calls to their destination. This means that there will be transit times of varying length, depending where in Australia you are, that may be noticeable during any VOIP call. In SIP Telecom’s testing of the services prior to offering them these delays were not significant.

VOICE OVER IP

Who Owns The VOIP Network? The network used to carry your VOIP traffic to and from your handset to the SIP Telecom Sydney PoP is owned by either SIP Telecom or Optus. The network used to process your VOIP calls is owned by a third party with whom SIP Telecom has a contractual relationship. The networks that carry your traffic from the VOIP switching centre are owned by major National and International carriers. How Does The Phone And Line Numbering System Work? SIP Telecom recommend that the user retains their current telephone number from their current land line provider. This current number is used by callers who wish to call the VOIP customer on the number listed in the telephone books/known to friends and acquaintances. Additionally SIP Telecom provide a VOIP phone number that can be used to receive calls from other SIP Telecom VOIP users that incur no charges to the incoming caller or to the customer when they call another SIP Telecom user. What The Potential Customer’s Requirements May Be What Hardware And Software Is Needed? To use a VOIP service from SIP Telecom the customer will need: An ADSL modem with two Ethernet ports An ATA that is used to connect a ‘standard’ handset to the ADSL modem A standard telephone handset A standard PSTN line connected to an ADSL network Enough technical knowledge to be able to connect the devices and perform some simple software loading. What Kind Of Broadband Service Is Needed? An ADSL service with a line speed of at least 512k/128k. SIP Telecom can’t support its VOIP product over cable broadband. What Warranties And Service Standards Apply To The SIP Telecom VOIP Service? None. The VOIP service in terms of availability is determined by too many factors outside SIP Telecom’s control for SIP Telecom to offer any performance or availability guarantees or warranties or service levels. How Long Does It take To Get SIP Telecom’s VOIP Service Activated? 48 hours from time of order. What Controls Are Available For A customer To Limit Access To The Service? The VOIP service is password protected. Access to the service is restricted to those users with knowledge of the password that activates the VOIP send service. The VOIP receive service is ‘always on’ provided the ADSL service is operational and the modem is switched on. The Limitations Of VOIP Can The Fixed Line Be Cancelled? Not if the customer is using ADSL as the ADSL service requires a standard PSTN line to operate. If the customer is using Wireless Broadband then a PSTN telephone line is not necessary. What Access Is There To Emergency Services None. It is an essential requirement for the customer to retain a PSTN line to both be able to dial 000 numbers and for their street address to be recognized by the emergency service. Can SIP Telecom’s VOIP Be Used To Call 000 Emergency Numbers? No What Is The Quality Of The VOIP Calls. Often close to the quality of a standard telephone line but not always. What Provisions Are Offered For People With Disabilities? None at this stage. What Technical Support Is Provided And How? Telephone support is provided for hardware supplied through SIP Telecom. Costs Related To Te VOIP Service How Are The VOIP Charges Calculated? Call charges are billed monthly in arrears to the customer by way of an electronic bill that can be accessed from an SIP Telecom web site. Call charges for Australian destinations can be found by clicking here Call charges to international destinations can be found by clicking here What Is The Effect Of My ISP ‘Throttling’ My ADSL Service? Your VOIP service will be negatively affected and may be unusable. What Is The Cost Of the Hardware And Software Needed To Use SIP Telecom VOIP? A suitable 4 Ethernet port modem will cost around $100.00 if you don’t already have one. A suitable ATA will cost around $120.00. The only software required is provided with the hardware. What Contract/Term Is Offered? There is no contract term.

INFORMATION ABOUT SIP TELECOM

General Information Q: What is VoIP? VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. It is a method for taking analog audio signals (like the kind you hear when you talk on the phone), and turning them into digital data that can be transmitted over the Internet. (computer.howstuffworks.com/ip-telephony.htm ). Basically, using VOIP allows you to make calls using the internet (using additional hardware) to phone numbers you would usually call at a reduced cost or in some cases, for free. If you are phoning another person using the same VoIP provider then the call will be totally free. Q: What is SIP Telecom? SIP Telecom is SIP Telecom's state of the art telephone service that allows you to make cut price telephone calls over the Internet using VOIP technology. SIP Telecom converts the voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that travels over the internet then converts it back at the other end so you can speak to anyone with a regular phone number. SIP Telecom works in exactly the same way as any other conventional telephone service but with many additional features. Q: What are some advantages of SIP Telecom? - Savings off your regular phone bill - No connection fee applies, you'll only be charged for the calls you make - CD quality sound - Get your family and friends on SIP Telecom and make calls for free - Free basic products including call forwarding, voicemail, three way calling and many more. Q: How do I qualify for SIP Telecom? To be eligible for SIP Telecom you need an SIP Telecombroadband2 plan bundled with SIP Telecom phone. Additional hardware requirements are covered in the equipment section of this FAQ.

SIP TELECOM FAQ

Q: How can I make an SIP Telecom Call? Simply pick up your phone and dial the number in the same way as you always have. Q: Who can call me? With SIP Telecom you will receive your very own SIP Telecom telephone number so anyone can call you, even if they don't have an internet connection. Friends/family simply dial your SIP Telecom number from a standard telephone and your phone will ring! Q: What about the dial tone? Customers using VOIP will not hear a traditional dial tone they will hear a continuous tone instead. Q: Can I use my computer and talk on the phone? Yes, you can use your computer whilst talking on your SIP Telecom. Your computer is not affected in any way. Q: Can I take my phone adapter when I travel? No. SIP Telecom works off your home or business SIP Telecom connection. Q: Does my computer have to be turned on? No, your computer does not need to be turned on when you make a call, but your internet connection needs to be active (with your modem/router turned on). Q: How do I know I have an SIP Telecom phone call? It will ring like any other call. Q: Can I call normal landline and mobile numbers? Yes. You can make and receive calls like you do on a fixed line telephone service. Q: Can people on landlines and mobiles ring me? Yes. Q: Can I take the service and my number with me if I move? This works like the standard phone service. You can only keep the same number if you move within the same calling zone. Q: Can I use the service from overseas? No, you can only use your service (dial out) from Australia. You can however make calls to local, national, international and mobile numbers. Q: Can I use a fax machine with the service? Yes, faxing from/to a Belkin VoIP enabled unit with a standard fax machine plugged in will work with SIP Telecom. Q: Can I choose my own SIP Telecom number? Designed and Developed by Stella Design 2005 We will offer you a range of 15 numbers when you sign up for iiphone so you can pick your favourite. These all have to be numbers assigned to your local area. For example if you live in Perth you be allocated numbers from the Perth calling area. Q: Can I keep my existing phone number (Local Number Portability)? Unfortunately, at this time local number portability is unavailable. Q: Will I be listed in the White Pages? No, the numbers on the SIP Telecom system will not be listed in the White Pages at this time. Q: How much does SIP Telecom cost to set up? SIP Telecom does not have any monthly set up fees. The only costs you pay are those for your outgoing calls. SIP Telecoms rates are extremely competitive for a premium grade service. Please visit our rates page for more information. Q: Will I be charged for uploads and downloads? No VoIP only uses small amounts of data (around 2-3 KB a second). Customers will only be charged for the length of their calls. Q: What is the effect on SIP Telecom when download quotas are reached? SIP Telecom has Quality of Service (QoS) so SIP Telecom will not be affected when download quotas are reached. Q: Do I have to keep my landline telephone line? Yes, you will need to keep your current phone line. In order to maintain your ADSL connection, you must have a standard telephone line and in order to utilise our SIP Telecom service, you must have an SIP Telecom plan. It is also recommended that this product is used as a second line service and not as the primary telephone line. As SIP Telecom utilises your SIP Telecom connection any interruption to your internet connection will affect the use of your SIP Telecom. Unfortunately problems with the network pop up from time to time and while we endevour to fix these problems ASAP, those people that rely on SIP Telecom more than others will ultimately be affected the most. Similarly a power outage that affects your ADSL modem will have a similar effect on your SIP Telecom. This is why we recommended that you maintain another fixed line service or mobile phone with signal available s your primary line, particularly in the case of an emergency. Q: Can I call 000 Emergency Services using my SIP Telecom? You can, however it is advised that this service is only used as an add-on to your existing telecommunication requirements and that you have another fixed line service or mobile phone with signal available in case you have to make an emergency call. ii accepts no responsibility for you being unable to make or receive emergency calls while your service is unavailable. It is recommended that Emergency calls are made from your primary line. This is because the primary line is more stable than the VOIP service, for example the primary line is not affected if the internet connection to it is unavailable. In addition if the power is out, the handset used for VoIP will not work. It is recommended that you have a non-powered telephone at your residence to make Emergency calls when the power is down. Q: What happens if the Internet Connection goes down or the Power is out? If the internet connection to our services is unavailable or the power is out, you will be unable to use the service. Please also note that if the power drops out while you are on a call your connection will be broken and you will be unable to continue the call. In which case it is recommended that you have another fixed line service or mobile phone with signal available in case you need to make an emergency call. Q: What is the call quality like compared to a traditional phone call? SIP Telecom is a PREMIUM GRADE VoIP service. Under normal circumstances the sound quality is the same as a standard (PSTN) telephone service. We can't discount the possibility that there may be problems, however this only generally happens if you are sharing your internet bandwidth with another bandwidth intensive application. Q: Do I need to have an SIP Telecom plan to use SIP Telecom? Yes, our SIP Telecom service is only available to customers that have an SIP Telecom Internet Service with full iiPhone. Q: Can I use SIP Telecom with a dial-up connection? To ensure the best possible experience while using SIP Telecom we do not offer with dialup. Our SIP Telecom service is specifically designed to utilise the high speeds of our SIP Telecom services. Q: Is SIP Telecom secure? Yes. Although there have been reports that some VoIP software may be susceptible to hackers enabling eavesdropping on telephone calls, be assured that ii's VoIP service is highly secure, and is not vulnerable in this way. As long as you do not divulge your VoIP password to anyone, your VoIP service is secured. Q: Do location based 13 numbers work? Our Geographic number range is not suburb based, it is based on Call Collection Areas (call collection areas are invariably larger than suburbs). Therefore if you call a location based 13 number (for example a pizza vendor or taxi company), your call will most likely not be connected to your local store/supplier. Q: Am I allowed to use an over ride code to preselect another provider for a call? No, as part of your CRA, you agreed that you would not use override codes when using this service. Q: Am I allowed to preselect to another provider when using SIP Telecom? No, as part of your CRA, you agreed that you would not preselect to another provider when using this service.

HOW VOIP WORKS

Designed and Developed by Stella Design 2005 Technical - VoIP guide What should you look for in a VoIP provider? -Emergency Services. Ensure your VoIP provider has procedures in place to handle 000 Emergency calls. -No contract. If possible, choose a VoIP plan that doesn't lock you into a fixed-term contract. This leaves you free to change plans if a better deal comes along. -Live technical support.? Ask if you VoIp provider offers technical support, with real people you can speak to if you get stuck (not just an email address). -Australian provider. Choose a VoIP company that is based in Australia, to ensure you are protected by Australian consumer and telecommunications laws. -Voicemail included. If your VoIP provider will include Voicemail in your plan, this will save you a lot compared iwht landline or mobile voicemail. VoIP - coming to a phone near you? Voice over IP (VoIP) makes it possible to route the voice signal over data pipelines normally reserved for internet traffic, instead of over traditional fixed lines. This usually results in lower costs, especially for long-distance calls. Because the internet protocol is a much more efficient way to transmit data than a traditional landline, the cost to the networks is much lower, and they can pass this on to the consumer in the form of lower rates. VoIP is at its most competitive (effectively free) where you, and the person you are calling, are either on the same private network, a broadband connection, or within a local call of your nearest VoIP exchange (point of presence, or POP). What do you need to use VoIP? Home users need a permanent broadband internet connection, such as ADSL, wireless or cable internet. You can then make calls through a normal handset plugged into a special adapter, or directly through your PC using VoIP software. Home users should factor in the costs of maintaining a permanent broadband connection when considering whether VoIP is the best option for them. Corporate users that have an intranet, private network or several branches can reduce their intra-company voice calls using VoIP. The voice calls you would normally make to your colleagues can be carried over the company’s network infrastructure, for virtually no incremental cost. Limitations

VOIP IS A HIGH QUALITY SERVICE

Many users report the sound quality of VoIP calls isn’t always as high or consistent as standard calls; somewhat like the small echoes or delays one would experience when making international calls 15-20 years ago. However, this doesn’t seem to bother those who are making big savings with VoIP. You should also ask your VoIP provider whether they offer support for 000 Emergency calls and whether their service is available in a blackout. Not all VoIP providers can do this, so keep your landline on, just in case!