[LINK] Naked ADSL and dumping the voiceline

[Kim Holburn]

On 2010/Nov/01, at 9:53 PM, Roger Clarke wrote:

> At 19:24 +1000 1/11/10, Rick Welykochy wrote:
>> Perhaps this has been discussed before. I'm considering dumping the
>> voice line, keeping the land line and adding VoiP to the mix.
>> 
>> A few questions arise.
> 
> Great start, but please add some more questions:
> -   what number(s) can you get for people to call you on?

I got a number with two lines from my VOIP company who happens to be my ISP.  I assume each VOIP company buys some numbers from some shadowy government organisation which controls phone numbers (ACMA?).  My number appears to be in Canberra where I live but I could probably get one that appears to be anywhere in Australia and if I went with an overseas company somewhere overseas.  I could have several numbers if I wanted.

> -   what number(s) are displayable when you call someone?

It appears to everyone just like a normal number.

> -   can you keep any of the numbers associated with lines you dump?

I don't believe you can but I could be wrong.

>     [Declaration:  I have one line purely for ADSL, two for voice,
>     (but no mobile-phone) - 'bout time I rationalised, right?!!]
> 
> And, switching from the personal to the policy level:
> -   what constraints on number-choice are inherent in technology?
> -   what constraints on number-choice are reasonable transitional
>     arrangements from POTS to whatever-we-call-the-next-future?
> -   what should we be saying to ACMA's review?

I've been thinking about this and have no idea.  It's nice and we're all used to having geographic numbers.  Perhaps we could have a group of VOIP numbers.  05, 06, 09? It's be nice to have free calls between VOIP providers but eventually when there are few POTS phones how will they make money?

> 
>> * what device can I then connect to the naked line to give my current
>>   (simple residential) telephone equipment full POTS connectivity?
>> 
>> * there obviously must be some POTS gateway/interface in the mix?
>> 
>> * does the switch to naked ADSL affect my internet data connection,
>>   modem or PC in any way?
>> 
>> * do I pay anything for the naked line?
>> 
>> * who maintains the naked line?
>> 
>> * and the big question: would my only ongoing cost for VoiP then
>>   be the bandwidth I use over the ADSL?
>> 
>> i.e. this is a cost reduction exercise. Quite applicable to a move
>> to FTTH if that ever happens where I live :)
> 
> -- 
> Roger Clarke                                 http://www.rogerclarke.com/
> 
> Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
>                    Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
> mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au                http://www.xamax.com.au/
> 
> Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre      Uni of NSW
> Visiting Professor in Computer Science    Australian National University
> _______________________________________________
> Link mailing list
> Link at mailman.anu.edu.au
> http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link

-- 
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
T: +61 2 61402408  M: +61 404072753
mailto:kim at holburn.net  aim://kimholburn
skype://kholburn - PGP Public Key on request