Any VOIP solutions for POTS?

[cgallery]

I have five POTS lines at work. I have high-speed Internet at work and home. Are there any gadgets that will allow me to add an analog phone at home that will give me access to a work line via the high-speed Internet connections?

Extra credit: My work phone system is an old Norstar 6x16 system. Does Nortel make anything that would allow me to have one of these extensions working from home via the high-speed Internet?

[poolhound]

Technologically the answer is yes but I guess it depends on what you are trying to achive and why as the benefit may not outweigh the cost.

Are you simply looking to save on your home phone bill?
Do you need business calls routed to your house?

Some other reason?

[cgallery]

Technologically the answer is yes but I guess it depends on what you are trying to achive and why as the benefit may not outweigh the cost.

Are you simply looking to save on your home phone bill?
Do you need business calls routed to your house?

Some other reason?

We have no POTS at home. And some days I wouldn't mind taking calls from home a little while before work and a little while after work.

[JR]

Sure, it can be done. Using an old Norstar key system doesn't make in any easier...

You'd probably want a VPN tunnel from home to work. Then VOIP over that. Have you checked Nortel's web site for something they may recommend? I know they have basically replaced the Norstar with a PC-based sytem that's all VOIP (Enterprise Communications Manager?), but don't know what they have as an addon for old systems.

I have a Logitech headset/dongle thing, which attaches via USB to my computer. It acts as an extension from our Cisco system, using an application which emulates a desk phone. You might check the Logitech site to see if there is companion piece for the other end of the line.

JR

[poolhound]

A VoIP gateway connects a standard POTS line into the internet. The need different interfaces (FXO FXS) depending on wether its attached to a PBX or a phone.

The easy way would be to just subscribe to one of the VoIP services at home and forward office calls to that line. This would of course need a service subscription so you would have an "on-cost" i.e. a bill every month. They are not that expensive e.g. $30 month. I use Vonage for my home office phone line. It also has the advantage of an "all you can eat" service i.e. no charges for any calls including long distance. Some also have $0 call charges for international e.g. I can call most of Europe for no extra cost.

You can also get various services some for "free" that will connect direct to your computer e.g. skype. The quality isnt that great but it is mainly a function of how fast and reliable your intenret connection is. You can also get handsets that would connect to your computer and even ones that will work on your home WIFI network.

To actually get a work extension intop your home via VOIP you would need a gateway at the office and at home and then "tie" these together via a fixed IP configuration. This would mean that you would only be using the internet to act as the extension cord. The equipment would be more expensive and might be complex to setup. Remeber that when you made calls from home the cost would be going on to your business bill as well. If you only use local calls and they are "free" then thats a no branier.

I am not saying that the following devices are exactly what you need but they are representative of the type of thing I mean (just gleaned from a quick google search). Whatever you choose I would make sure you get a matched pair that are from the same manufacturer and known to play nicley together.

http://www.telephonemagic.com/qtelne...ne-gateway.htm

http://www.techtoast.com/product/Linksys/SPA3102-NA/g

[poolhound]

Sure, it can be done. Using an old Norstar key system doesn't make in any easier...

You'd probably want a VPN tunnel from home to work. Then VOIP over that. Have you checked Nortel's web site for something they may recommend? I know they have basically replaced the Norstar with a PC-based sytem that's all VOIP (Enterprise Communications Manager?), but don't know what they have as an addon for old systems.

I have a Logitech headset/dongle thing, which attaches via USB to my computer. It acts as an extension from our Cisco system, using an application which emulates a desk phone. You might check the Logitech site to see if there is companion piece for the other end of the line.

JR

Thats definatley a soultion but I think it requires that the PBX system is already VoIP enabled.

[JR]

Thats definatley a soultion but I think it requires that the PBX system is already VoIP enabled.

True enough. Your advice, above, is much better articulated.

JR