Traveling a lot internationally the last year, I've begun to think more about VoIP solutions. I've got some limitations in my current phone numbers, and I'm hoping that others can tell me what they do and (ideally) how to roll something myself (Asterisks, PBX, hodgepodge mix from Voip-Info.org?). If I can get a few ideas, I'll likely try my hand at installing something on a VM slice.
Allow me to explain... I currently have one Google Voice phone number (+1 949 xxx xxxx) that routes to several other phone numbers (Skype In +1 949 area code, +1 951 iPhone, +1 949 home, etc). In countries that I do significant amount of business in, I will pick up a number for relatively cheap on Skype (small cost considering it lets the NOC guys easily call me on their cell phones without picking up a charge). For the most part, this works great, and calls to Skype or Google transfer in and out okay for being cheap / free / quick. A few problems, however... --Google Voice does not have inbound numbers for non-US country. So, I use Skype In to order a +55 11 xxxx-yyyy number here in Brazil (same as Mexico, +52 11 xxxx yyyy), and then have it forward to various phones when I am away using Skype's control panel. --While in non-US countries, Google Voice does not always let me respond to a texts (unless I log on the web). When I try to do so, it says that there is not enough money on my Google Voice account (even though there is like $100 USD credit). (Presumably because it looks like a weird number without the proper the IDD, NDD, etc digits?) --Calls to my Skype In Brazilian phone number do *not* always transfer properly to my iPhone number (yet calls to Google Voice transfer okay most of the time). --Calls to the US sometimes (from my iPhone) sometimes require the GSM standard dialing (e.g. +1 949 xxx xxxx), othertimes it doesn't take the +1. I cannot figure out why this is the case. I suspect it is because of weird issues between bouncing around the local carriers (Oi, Claro, TIM, etc). --Countries that I am working more and more with do not have Skype In phone numbers (e.g. Kenya). --Google Voice does not allow inbound faxes (I have to use MyFax for that) --The Skype In number for Brazil (+55 11 xxxx yyyy) seems to only forward to my Brazilian cell phone on (Samsung Galaxy on Claro's network, +55 11 xxxx yyyy). I can't figure out why it won't just call my iPhone with AT&T. Ideally, I need... --One US number to ring all my phones (even my foreign cell phones). --Ring all my cell phones (including American one) when I get a call from the local number I set up in that country --Receive texts to all my phones. --Be able to turn up a local phone number very quickly (e.g. African country that Skype In does not service). --Faxes sent to my one phone number magically get routed to my fax. I'm willing to roll my own solution here, as I see all of the hosted solutions as only doing part of what I need.... Any suggestions? Rog
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