DID Numbers And How To Keep A Thai Number Alive

[cornman]

Hello everyone.

I am looking for a way to buy a Thai VoIP number starting with 2 (Bangkok area code) and set it up in a way that people calling me on that number can reach me wherever I am in the world based on forwarding rules transparent to them.

Skype works but offers no Thai numbers. Same for Vonage and the others I have found so far.

Anyone with experience with such a set-up, could you please tell us about it?

ref: DID: Direct Inward Dialing

[cornman]

Hello everyone.

I am looking for a way to buy a Thai VoIP number starting with 2 (Bangkok area code) and set it up in a way that people calling me on that number can reach me wherever I am in the world based on forwarding rules transparent to them.

Skype works but offers no Thai numbers. Same for Vonage and the others I have found so far.

Anyone with experience with such a set-up, could you please tell us about it?

ref: DID: Direct Inward Dialing

Moderator: could you please change "Did" to DID in my title? I meant DID as in Direct Inward Dialing in the context of VoIP technology. Sorry for the typo.

//Edit: Title changed. Probably was no typo, but forum software changing it to lower case. - Maestro

Edited August 4, 2008 by Maestro

[TopDogger]

Thai DID number? I heard it was still technically illegal to use VoIP? You could get a standard issue landline then a VoIP router/gateway with an FX0 and do it that way.

Edited August 4, 2008 by TopDogger

[cornman]

Thai DID number? I heard it was still technically illegal to use VoIP? You could get a standard issue landline then a VoIP router/gateway with an FX0 and do it that way.

I wouldn't know whether it's illegal but I started this thread after Googling the topic till I got tired and after reading this article.

I am not in Thailand but would like to have a Bangkok number for people there to call me on. So I don't think I can get a landline (would need an address/ place). However could you please explain the set-up you have in mind? What is a FX0?

Here are a couple more links I found while researching this:

These guys sell Bangkok DID numbers and this is their Knowledge Base.

One of their sites and apparently less technical.

Edited August 4, 2008 by cornman

[TopDogger]

You'd plug the PSTN line into the FX0 and then route incoming calls to a SIP forwarder which would route them via VoIP to a number/numbers/SIP termination point of your choice.

The DID numbers that site provides are wholesale number ONLY and don't come with any VoiP SIP connectivity.

[dotcom]

It is certainly not illegal to use VoIP. Cat & others sell it.

[cornman]

[...]FX0 and then route incoming calls to a SIP forwarder which would route them via VoIP to a number/numbers/SIP termination point of your choice.

There: that's what I need. If you have some time and don't mind explaining, could you please point me in the right direction to assemble the different elements you mentioned and that I'd need for this?

Thank you in advance.

[TopDogger]

It is certainly not illegal to use VoIP. Cat & others sell it.

Someone was definitely saying something along those lines a while back... Maybe the rules have been bent a little bit now that theres an inhouse service.

[TopDogger]

[...]FX0 and then route incoming calls to a SIP forwarder which would route them via VoIP to a number/numbers/SIP termination point of your choice.

There: that's what I need. If you have some time and don't mind explaining, could you please point me in the right direction to assemble the different elements you mentioned and that I'd need for this?

Thank you in advance.

I would but I don't have mine setup the same way as your looking @.

I use one of those Linksys SPA3102 VoIP router's which is plugged into my Modem/Router. You plug your PSTN line into the 3102 and also the telephone jack of the domestic phone, I've got it setup so it dials VoIP by default using a SIP provider that does free calls to Thai mobiles/Landlines and Free calls to both US/UK landlines. It's also configured in that pressing #9 will give you an outside line to dial through the TOT PSTN.

If you have a search on google theres plenty of literature on configuring these any way you like.

[TopDogger]

Also, be aware that due to the state of the internet in Thailand there will be a lot of times peoples calls will not get routed to you or the quality will be terrible.

I've just tried calling a UK landline on VoIP,Cell Phone,TOT PSTN.. Not one of them can get through.

[cornman]

Thank you.

Your set-up uses a landline indeed (which I don't/ won't have). So I will research this a bit more.

Which SIP provider do you use?

[A_Traveller]

On the legality point, if memory serves, VoIP was only given legal status in 2006 and was initially based on the PC to PC model. Prefixes of 06 were going to be offered as VoIP numbers, and the providers had to 'revenue share' under the interconnection charge regime.

Regards

[paveet]

I cant imagine it not being legal now given there are so many Thai providers out there, some providing very competitive rates too. Even CAT is offering VoIP themselves through CAT2Call which provides you a Bangkok based 02-1xx-xxxx DID number, for 200 baht a month which can be used as credits for outgoing calls.

[cornman]

I cant imagine it not being legal now given there are so many Thai providers out there, some providing very competitive rates too. Even CAT is offering VoIP themselves through CAT2Call which provides you a Bangkok based 02-1xx-xxxx DID number, for 200 baht a month which can be used as credits for outgoing calls.

Do you know whether a landline/ residency in Thailand is necessary to obtain service from them?