Hi Janina, First, sorry it's taken me so long to respond. I was traveling for the holidays when I saw this, and knew I wouldn't have time to give it proper attention till I got back home.
Thanks so much for providing such a lengthy and detailed response. This is my first foray into this, so I really appreciate having such a breadth of info. My immediate thought is that I'll either go with CallWithUs, or maybe just check out Magic Jack, for simplicity's sake. I think I'll explore both. At any rate, it's great to know what my options are. I don't have any more questions for now, but I'm sure some will arise as I get further into all this. :) Cheers, Donna > On Dec 26, 2017, at 9:42 AM, 'Janina Sajka' via MacVisionaries > <macvisionaries@googlegroups.com> wrote: > > Hi, Donna: > > Yes, as you need PSTN support, I can be a little more specific. You need > two pieces, a software application that will work accessibly on your > Mac, and a gateway service that your Mac can register with that will > carry calls back and forth to the PSTN. > > 1.) On the app side I would suggest checking out an app called Bria: > > > http://www.counterpath.com/bria/ > > > I have not used this app myself, but a colleague who I trust has it on > his Iphone and is very satisifed with the performance as well as the > accessibility. > > Perhaps there might be others on the list who have some experience with > Bria? > > Among other things, Bria does support IPv6 connectivity, though this is > rather a mixed blessing because there's only one service provider I'm > aware of who supports IPv6. More on that below. > > I get away with insisting on IPv6 because I also run my own PBX on a > remote server in the cloud. To some extent that's a fancy way of saying > I'm being my own phone company for myself. I'm doing that with an > application called Asterisk. > > The reason you might seriously care about this is that configuring your > router to properly support your phone calls can become annoyingly > complicated under traditional IPv4, where you have to insure you've > gotten your NAT rules correctly configured. This is probably only going > to be an issue, though, if you have more than one device using SIP, > though there's some work even for one device. SIP wants lots of ports, > 5060-5080 inclusive for SIP itself, then 10000-20000 for the RTP part, > which is where the actual two way audio goes. > > Now having said all this, another possible solution is Magic Jack. I've > not used it either, but I understand it's quite trivial to use. I know a > number of people who are by no means technical who are happily using > Magic Jack for their phone calls. However, none of these folks requires > accessibility, so I don't know about that--though I suspect all the > Magic Jack smarts are in the USB device itself, so it's likely simple to > manage. > > Magic Jack is also very cost effective. > > 2.)Service Providers > > If you go the Magic Jack route, you have service builtin. If you go the > Bria route, you need a contract with someone. Each of the services below > are good choices. They're all pay in advance services. You pay in some > money then spend down your balance making calls. I believe all of these > services have flat rate monthly plans, though I'm paying by the call. > > The technical term for getting a phone number is "buying a DID." That's > what you want, a DID. > > My current service is Vitelity, where I pay $1.49 per month for each > phone number, except for my 800 number, which is a bit more, though not > much more--I'm sorry I don't remember exactly. Then I pay per call at > the rate of approximately 1.3 cents per minute. International calls > outside of North America are more, though usually not more. Example: > Europe is generally 2.1 cents per minute. > > I get these prices because I'm not relying on them for voice mail, or to > be my PBX. All they're giving me is a phone number and routing. > > Vitelity's web page is usable, but it's really an accessible horror. > > Here are some service options: > > 1.) Call With Us: > http://callwithus.com/ > > This is the only gateway service provider I know of that > supports IPv6. Also, they're very friendly to individuals like > you and me, as opposed to business clients who might buy bigger > blocks of connectivity. Their web pages are also very > accessibility friendly. > > The only reason I'm not on their service is that they don't > support LNP, which stands for "Local Number Portability." This > is where you get to keep a phone number you already have with > someone else. If you're OK with getting a new phone number, go > with these folks. > > 2.) Flo Route: > https://www.flowroute.com > > It's business oriented and fairly technical, but it's a > good service. Web interface is very workable last I used it. > > 3.) Vitelity.net > http://vitelity.net > > They recently changed their web interface for the worse, > imo. I have not tried to use it with Safari, but I know > it works with Google Chrome on the Mac, because that's > how I made my last payment there. Firefox on Linux did > NOT work, as it had been working for years. Otherwise, I > have no complaints. > > 4.) Broadvoice > https://www.broadvoice.com/ > > Another service mostly aimed at small business. > > 5.) Master List of Providers > https://www.voip-info.org/wiki/view/VOIP+Service+Providers > > This web site is the goto place to learn about voip in all > respects. Prepare to spend some time there. > > So, this should get you started. Please don't hesitate to ask questions > about any of this. I expect it's a bit overwhelming, so I expect you'll > have questions. > > Meanwhile, have a most Merry Christmas! > > Janina > > Donna Goodin writes: >> Hi Janina, >> >> Thanks so much for taking the time to write such a comprehensive response. >> It was well worth the wait. :) >> >> It sounds like my needs are very similar to yours. I, too, need a specific >> phone number that clients can call, and would like to be able to receive >> calls from anywhere, either on my Mac or my iPhone.. I don't need a group >> platform, such as that of Zoom. I currently use Skype, and yes, it does >> allow for making and receiving calls from the PSTN. But I have become >> unhappy with the changes Microsoft has implemented in the interface, so have >> begun to look at other options. I like FaceTime, but it has the limitations >> that you mentioned, and Also does not allow one to obtain a separate phone >> number. >> >> It sounds like the solution you use runs under Linux, not Mac. Am I reading >> that correctly? >> >> Again, thanks for taking the time to write such a lengthy answer to my >> question. >> Cheers, >> Donna >> >> >>> On Dec 26, 2017, at 3:07 AM, 'Janina Sajka' via MacVisionaries >>> <macvisionaries@googlegroups.com> wrote: >>> >>> Hi, Donna: >>> >>> My apologies for the slow response. I've been distracted by noncomputer >>> responsibilities these past few weeks. >>> >>> To answer your question I'd need to know a bit more what your needs >>> are. Let me explain: >>> >>> Probably the most widely known soft phone is Skype. Howegver, I myself >>> don't use Skype. Depending on your platform, you might find Skype >>> accessible--or not. For instance it's not accessible on Linux today. >>> >>> On Apple products we have Face Time. I've used it slightly, and my >>> experience suggest it's accessibility is excellent. >>> >>> There are other soft phone clients that people use for voice communications >>> such as Face Book's Whatsapp, or >>> Cisco's GoToMeeting or their Webex product. Accessibility of these >>> varies from very accessible, e.g. Webex on Android, to not very >>> accessible for anyone even when you're not using assistive technology, >>> e.g. Webex on Mac. >>> >>> Now, my situation is somewhat different. I have the particular >>> requirement for an old fashioned phone number. I need the ability to >>> recieve calls from any phone anywhere, and to call any traditional >>> telephone number anywhere. I do this in two ways using the SIP protocol >>> and a gateway service that routes calls between my SIP devices and the >>> standard telephony world, usually abrieviated PSTN, which stands for >>> "Public Switched Telephone Network." >>> >>> 1.) I have hard ware devices that look all the world like old >>> fashioned telephones, but they're different. They're hardware SIP >>> phones, and they connect over computer type network cables--what we call >>> Cat5 (or Cat6) ethernet cables. >>> >>> My current device of choice is the Snom D715, primarily because >>> it's able to use IPv6, where Polycom phones do not. I have not >>> investigated use of the SIP handsets from Digium--though they're >>> on my list to look at the next time I'm in the market for a >>> hardware phone. >>> >>> 2.) I use linphone, and sometimes the fs_cli application >>> provided by FreeSwitch on my Linux computers for placing and >>> recieving SIP calls. This functionality is critical to my work >>> because it allows me to use a high quality headset that connects >>> to my computer using USB, and still allows me to route the audio >>> through a 12 channel audio hardware mixer on my desk. This way >>> I'm able to have my screen reader as well as my telephone >>> conversation in my ears, without the people I'm talking with >>> hearing my screen reader. >>> >>> Of course SIP phones can be used to place direct calls to other SIP >>> phones, just like Skype and FaceTime calls can be made to others who are >>> also using Skype or FaceTime. I believe Skype also provides the ability >>> to call to and from the PSTN, but I don't know anything specific about >>> that, or about any similar functionality among the other soft phones >>> mentioned. >>> >>> The biggest problem with all these services is that they don't >>> interoperate natively, e.g. Webex can't call FaceTime, or vice versa. >>> The standards world is hoping to solve this with specifications called >>> WebRTC. Time will tell how that goes. >>> >>> Hope this helps! >>> >>> Janina >>> >>> >>> Donna Goodin writes: >>>> Hi all, >>>> >>>> I'm directing this question to Janina as she mentioned using a soft phone, >>>> but would be interested in hearing from anyone else who uses one. >>>> >>>> Can anyone recommend good accessible soft phone options? >>>> TIA, >>>> Donna >>>> >>>> -- >>>> The following information is important for all members of the Mac >>>> Visionaries list. >>>> >>>> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or >>>> if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the >>>> owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >>>> >>>> Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. You can reach mark >>>> at: macvisionaries+modera...@googlegroups.com and your owner is Cara >>>> Quinn - you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com >>>> >>>> The archives for this list can be searched at: >>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/macvisionaries@googlegroups.com/ >>>> --- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>>> email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >>> -- >>> >>> Janina Sajka, Phone: +1.443.300.2200 >>> sip:jan...@asterisk.rednote.net >>> Email: jan...@rednote.net >>> >>> Linux Foundation Fellow >>> Executive Chair, Accessibility Workgroup: http://a11y.org >>> >>> The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) >>> Chair, Accessible Platform Architectures http://www.w3.org/wai/apa >>> >>> -- >>> The following information is important for all members of the Mac >>> Visionaries list. >>> >>> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if >>> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners >>> or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >>> >>> Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. You can reach mark at: >>> macvisionaries+modera...@googlegroups.com and your owner is Cara Quinn - >>> you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com >>> >>> The archives for this list can be searched at: >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/macvisionaries@googlegroups.com/ >>> --- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>> email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> >> -- >> The following information is important for all members of the Mac >> Visionaries list. >> >> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if >> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or >> moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >> >> Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. You can reach mark at: >> macvisionaries+modera...@googlegroups.com and your owner is Cara Quinn - you >> can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com >> >> The archives for this list can be searched at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/macvisionaries@googlegroups.com/ >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > > -- > > Janina Sajka, Phone: +1.443.300.2200 > sip:jan...@asterisk.rednote.net > Email: jan...@rednote.net > > Linux Foundation Fellow > Executive Chair, Accessibility Workgroup: http://a11y.org > > The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) > Chair, Accessible Platform Architectures http://www.w3.org/wai/apa > > -- > The following information is important for all members of the Mac Visionaries > list. > > If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if > you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or > moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. > > Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. You can reach mark at: > macvisionaries+modera...@googlegroups.com and your owner is Cara Quinn - you > can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com > > The archives for this list can be searched at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/macvisionaries@googlegroups.com/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- The following information is important for all members of the Mac Visionaries list. If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. You can reach mark at: macvisionaries+modera...@googlegroups.com and your owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com The archives for this list can be searched at: http://www.mail-archive.com/macvisionaries@googlegroups.com/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
