FAQs

VoIP Defination:

VoIP phone is technically known as or stands for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). It allows you to make phone calls over a data network, such as the internet. VoIP converts the your voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that travels over the internet then converts it back at the other end so that you can speak with anyone with a regular phone.

Different Terms:

VoIP, VoIP phone, VoIP USB phone, VoIP fone, Broadband phone, Internet phone, USB phone, Internet Telephony, Internet phone, Internet E-phone, E-phone, Net phone, IP phone, Web phone, all the different terms and phone names mean the same thing, but VoIP phone is the only technically standard and precisely defined name.

e-Tone Voip Phone FAQs

How to Install the softpack driver

First insert the attached Disk into the cassette of your PC (desktop or laptop), it will automatically run for installing, you firstly click" next", then one more click "next", and click “yes”, finally click "finished", don't fill up anything when VoIPStunt pops up and just wait until it flashes out immediately and disappears automatically. After you firstly plug your phone into your computer's (any type of pc) USB Port with broadband or cable connection and the icon of phone sign( located at right buttom of right lower corner, beside pc clock) turns green from red, then you are ready to go. No dial tone before dialing phone number & pressing “dial” key. Note: you can install this software/driver on any computer on the planet, and connect your VoIP phone with any type of computer(desktop & laptop) with installed such voip driver, you can enjoy the free local, long distance and international calls(46 countries and regions listed) without time limit, no contract, no bill, no hassle at all.

When you first install the attached CD software, it will automatically be updated and the original VoIP phone Sign or Logo will be changed or updated into a new Square / Rectangle Sign or Logo or Window on the screen of your computer.

How to use: Take off the handset from the phone base, the phone window /sign will pop up on the computer screen, Only when "this client is logged on " appears, then you can dial number, you will be connected ONLY after you press "Dial" key finally, otherwise no dialling will go.

· * key: delete one by one for correction if dial wrong or short.

· # key: delete all at one time for correction, like hang off, if dial wrong.

· Volume-: decrease sound volume.

· Volume+: increase sound volume.

Note: If you want to travel overseas, or out of USA to other country, you must activate this VoIP phone first before leaving USA, it means you must use it first time within USA, otherwise you cannot use this VoIP phone in other/foreign countries.

Q1: What's e-Tone telephone? What's the difference between e-Tone and regular phone?

The e-Tone is a kind of Net Phone which connects directly to USB port of Personal Computer. It looks like regular phone including standard phone key pad and most of regular phone functions, such as touch tone, ringing tone and etc. However, it indeed is a kind of USB voice device. All communication protocols and voice are in strict accordance with the computer and internet protocols. So we can say that it's a "phone-like" USB device. The regular phone uses switching technology. It has a center switch that distributes voice and signals directly to each phone. Therefore, you can hear dial tone when picking up handset, but e-Tone not.

Q2: Is e-Tone a legal product?

Yes, of course, it is absolutely legal ! e-Tone adopts the same communications technology as that of Skype (The company was purchased at a sky-high price of $4.1 billion last September by eBay, a well-known U.S. international auction company). The technology is completely legal with the evidence of Skype winning the case of FCC that many international communication operators sue the Skype in 2004.
FCC gave two reasons for the judgment. In the first place, the global communication backbone has become public property which shouldn't be charged in monopoly by a few communication operators. In the second place, users have rent and paid for the broadband. Now that the communication operator can realize data communication service on voice service line, why can't users realize voice service with data service on the same line?

Now VoIP Phone is getting more and more popular and widely used by business & households because current government legislation tends to support & favor broadband phone companies over traditional phone line companies.

For More information, check the official website of Federal Communications Commission(FCC), USA Governmental Agency: http://www.fcc.gov/voip/

Q3: Which countries and regions can e-Tone reach now?

We currently cover all of landline and mobile phone for North American, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore. Also, we cover landline phone for many Asia, European and other countries and regions, such as Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and etc. Total: calling free 33 countries and regions over the world.

Q4: Why e-Tone has no jamming over Internet?

It depends on the current three types of VoIP. The first is VoIP using .323 protocol (the technology used by the common phone cards). It needs a VoIP server respectively on the calling side and receiving side. When the server on calling side receives a call, it will convert the call into an information pack and send the pack through internet to the server on the receiving side. The server on the receiving side will then transfer the call to the local telecom network. This structure has limited number of phone lines linked to the servers on both sides. Jamming will occur when users call at the same time. This is especially true on holidays when it is quite common to spend 30 minutes or more to get through.
The second type is SIP (also known as soft switch technology). It uses caller's computer to process the caller voice into VoIP with SIP label and then send it to the destination telecom network gateway directly. For instance, someone flies to Beijing from San Francisco virtually and to dial the number on Beijing local telecom network, so no jamming will occur. At present, e-Tone has adopted this technology.
The third type is P2P technology that is similar to SIP in voice communication. However, the main characteristic of P2P technology is its capability to stream large volume multimedia contents. Voice communication is only one of its functions. The quality of P2P voice communication is not as good as SIP sometimes since most of the telecom exchange gateways are not completely compatible with P2P protocol.

Q5: Is broadband required? Does dial-up work with e-Tone?

A:	Broadband service is minimum required, such as DSL, Cable modem, and LAN. Also you can use the e-Tone VoIP Phone by having wireless internet connection. It is compatible with any desktop & laptop computers.

Q6: Can I receive such calls from regular phone line?

Not right now as it is related to the telecom providers. It could be possible if the cooperation with the telecom providers is established.
Currently a 16-digit Universal Phone Number System has been developed. With this universal number, you could be reached through any phone from anywhere in the world. This 16-digit number could be found on the bar code printed at the back of phone set.

Q7: How to dial local & international long distance correctly? Do we need to add country code for local dialing?

The correct dialing procedure is: (country code) (area code) (phone number). For example, Using our VoIP phone to call Marshal Imports' phone number in the United States is (626) 271-2718, of which, 626 is the area code and 271-2718 is the phone number. The country code for USA is 1. Therefore, the correct dialing is 16262712718. Take Chinese city Guangzhou for another example. The local number is 92068586, the area code 020 and the country code 86. The correct dialing is 862092068586. Please notice that the first 0 of 020 must be deleted while dialing. Even local calls should also follow the same principle that the country and area codes be added while dialing. For instance, the correct dialing is 8610xxxxxxxx if the call is made from Beijing to a Beijing local number.

In USA and Canada, even between the same area code, you need to Dial: 1 +Area Code + Phone Number, Press"Dial" Key, get connected, ready to go.

Dial Formula for Local(US & Canada) : 1 + Area Code + Phone Number, Press "Dial" Key.

Dial Formula for International call: Country Code +City(Area) Code + Phone Number, Press"Dial" Key.

Dial Formula for Any Country Domestic call: Country Code +City(Area) Code + Phone Number, Press"Dial" Key. If City(Area) code has a zero-0 as prefix, this prefix 0 must be deleted.

Q8: Why there is no signal when I pick up the Internet phone?

Internet phone does not have the exchange switch which is the major difference between a regular phone and an internet phone. For an ordinary phone, the exchange switch will produce a long steady signal when the phone is picked up. There is no exchange switch for web phone to produce such signal. However, you can hear a dialing signal when you dial a number.

Q9: Can I dial an extension?

Yes.

Q10: Why does the computer screen flash several times when I use e-Tone for the first timer?

A:	When you use e-Tone for the first time, built-in software will scan the USB port to see which port has installed e-Tone. When the port is found, the parameters will be configured automatically without any manual operation.

Q11: Can I dial emergency numbers like 911 with e-Tone?

A:	You can do that, but since the receiving party cannot see your phone number, your call may not get immediate response. Therefore, e-Tone has a clear notice that BL-05 is NOT for emergency use.

Q12: Can I dial free toll number 800?

Yes.

Q13: Can I dial some specially charged numbers in places like the United States?

A:	No. (But in Chinese mainland and Taiwan, some charged phone systems do not shield VoIP.)

Q14: Can I cancel my regular phone service after using e-Tone?

A:	We do not recommend you cancel your regular phone service because e-Tone is currently not able to take incoming calls. If you have no other substitutes (such as cell phone), you'd better keep your regular phone service and set a minimum service package to save money.

Q15: Can I talk with a headset microphone instead of an e-Tone?

No.

Q16: Why does interruption (or delay) occur during the conversation?

This problem is caused by low speed network connection, especially for customers in China whose xDSL connections cannot reach the broadband standard. There will be quality issues if network connection is lower than 50Kbps. The following web site could help you check the speed of the connection.
http://www.intel.com/personal/resources/broadband/speedtest.htm

Q17: Why does disconnection occur occasionally after a few minutes talk online?

A:
It's quite complicated. In addition to the network reasons, the call could be affected by PC performance, firewall configuration and using habit. As discussed above, this is an Internet phone with a data stream higher than 40Kbps. If user opens many applications or web sites, PC resources could be overly consumed. Also, applications may have frequent data exchange with hard disk cache. If the hard disk is full of data, the exchange time will be extended. When the exchange time is longer than 300ms, voice package could be lost, which leads to disconnection of the call. Also, some virus detection program may terminate normal voice call.
Our recommendation: turn off other applications and IE when you are about to make a call.

Q18: How to recover the system after break down?

As this Internet phone set is being used with different types of PCs, old and new, USB interfaces could be jammed sometimes with following situations: a). Legitimate user, but leave the line unconnected for long (Normally a legitimate user will be automatically logged on 10s after picking up the phone. But sometimes the user fails to set up connection after trying several times on-hook and off-hook. b). User couldn't see e-Tone interface after picking up the phone, although the microphone icon at the lower right corner of PC screen is green. Sometimes, the icon is red even with phone connected to PC (Note: you could use an USB drive to make sure the USB interface is OK.). There might be other problems. Re-plug phone set to the USB interface or try another USB interface and restart your PC to see whether the problems are solved. If it is still not working, restore the system with following procedure:

STEP 1: Find the microphone icon at the lower right corner of PC screen.

STEP 2: Right click the icon. The system will let you choose between: "run" and "quit". Choose "quit", and the icon will disappear.

STEP 3: Find the big green icon of microphone on your desktop. Double click the icon and you will find the microphone icon at the lower right corner again, which is green first, then red, and finally turns green (make sure phone is connected to the PC). Now you can make phone calls.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is VoIP?

VoIP (which stands for "Voice over Internet Protocol") is a very simple but extremely valuable service that allows you to make phone calls much more cheaply than through your old phone company. All of our recommended VoIP service replaces both your local and long distance services . It sounds the same to both you and the person on the other end.

The biggest difference you'll notice is the price. VoIP companies can provide this service so cheaply because the calls are sent through the Internet instead of phone lines. The only difference is cost. Our VoIP Cost is almost Zero per minute at average, we beat any competitors and guarrantee lowest price on the planet.

For more information about VoIP, please check or visit Voice over IP - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voip

What equipment do I need to use VoIP?

You need to have a broadband internet connection (cable, DSL, or satellite, not dial-up) to subscribe to a VoIP Service. Most problems that consumers have with VoIP are the result of a slow or unreliable internet connection.

Once you receive your VoIP package shipped from us, even the most technology-challenged can get the service set up in just a few minutes.That is : install the attached software on the CD disk, it will automatically run for installing, you firstly click" next", then one more click "next", finally click "finished", don't fill up anything when VoIPStunt pops up and just wait until it flashes out and disappears automatically. After the icon of phone sign turns green from red, then you can plug your phone into your computer's (any type of pc) USB Port with broadband connection. Then you are ready to go.

How much money will I save?

Most VoIP subscribers save at least hundreds of dollars a year and many save thousands. In a January 2006 survey conducted by Consumer Reports, almost 80% of those who saved money by switching to VoIP saved at least $20 a month ($240 per year) and 34% saved at least $40 per month ($480 per year). Since we are the most inexpensive VOIP service provider, you will save at least $120 to $200 each month($1440 to $2400), depending on your usage or your business.

Is the call quality and reliability as good as traditional phone service?

Our testing as well as other third-party, independent research continues to show that most consumers find VoIP quality and reliability as good or better than traditional phone service. In a recent study by research firm Telephia, 71% of VoIP users found that VoIP was equally as reliable as traditional landline service, with 16% finding VoIP more reliable and 13% finding traditional service more reliable. Similarly, in a January 2006 survey by Consumer Reports, half the users found VoIP and traditional phone service equally reliable, with the rest evenly split as to which service was more reliable. In terms of call quality, the Telephia study showed that 67% of users found VoIP and traditional phone service to have the same quality, with 19% finding VoIP better and 14% finding it worse. 57% of the Consumer Reports respondents found VoIP quality to be as good or better than traditional service, although 43 percent found traditional service better.

Most VoIP quality issues that consumers face are caused by a slow or unreliable internet connection. The higher the speed of the connection, the more likely it is that you will have excellent call quality. We recommend that you have at least 90 kbps upload and download speed in order to have good voice quality. Typically the download speed will not be a problem but occasionally upload speed is too low because of subpar service from an ISP. We have found a very helpful free test that estimates the quality of VoIP call you can expect to receive based on your internet connection. or click this link for your VoIP speed test: http://www.voipreview.org/voipspeedtester.aspx

Do I need to keep my existing phone line?

Yes, The main reason some people decide to keep their regular phone line is that in a power outage, your VoIP service will not work because it is dependent on your broadband connection which is in turn dependent on power (your VoIP service also will not work if your broadband internet provider has a service outage). However, many people today already use cordless phones which are dependent on power so also do not work in a power outage, even with traditional phone lines. Additionally, most people have wireless or cell (mobile) phones as a backup. Users with DSL internet service through their phone company need to keep in mind that most DSL providers will require you to maintain a phone line and number to get DSL. Thus you will likely have to keep a phone line in order to maintain DSL service, but you can change your traditional phone service to the minimum required. Alternatively, you could switch to a cable internet service provider.

Broadband Phone Service FAQ

What is Broadband Phone Service?

Broadband phone is technically known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). It allows you to make phone calls over a data network, such as the internet. VoIP converts the your voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that travels over the internet then converts it back at the other end so that you can speak with anyone with a regular phone.

What kind of equipment do I need?

An essential part of Broadband Phone Service is a broadband internet connection, also knows as a high speed internet connection. This is required for anyone who is using a broadband phone service. This connection can be found through a cable modem, or a high speed service such as DSL. You can either hook a phone up to your personal computer(desktop and laptop) or you can connect a phone through the telephone adaptor.

What are the main advantages of Broadband Phone Service?

One of the advantages of Broadband Phone Service is that VoIP offers many additional features that a traditional phone is not equipped to offer. If you have a broadband internet connection, there is no need to pay the additional cost for a line just to make phone calls

A second advantage to Broadband Phone Service is that you can talk to people around the world for as long as you want if they have an Internet connection. Also you can talk with multiple people at the same time without any additional cost, like Skype.

A third advantage to switching to a Broadband Phone Service provider is it may significantly decrease the cost of your phone bill.

Will the Broadband phone line sound the same as my normal Phone?

Yes. Millions of dollars have gone into research and development by VoIP providers to ensure the best quality service possible. Broadband Phone Service Providers are making certain that the phone quality is indistinguishable from your regular phone line. Most internet customers are not able to tell the differences between their old phone and their new broadband phone. Occasionally you may experience some difficultly with your internet line because it is based on your internet connection and its speed. This occurrence is extremely rare and customers usually experience an extremely small amount of downtime and interference.

Will Broadband Phone Service save me money?

Yes! You may save a considerable amount of money over your traditional phone service. Generally, broadband phone service is much cheaper than conventional phone services. This is because of current government legislation tends to support & favor broadband phone companies over traditional phone line companies. As technology continues to grow and become more conventional, prices are expected to fall.

Complimentary Country Code Listing

For your convenience, we have provided a list of country codes as follows

Country	Country Code
Afghanistan	93
Albania	355
Algeria	213
Andorra	376
Angola	244
Anguilla	1264
Antarctica	672
Antigua	1268
Argentina	54
Armenia	374
Aruba	297
Ascension	247
Australia	61
Australian External Territories	672
Austria	43
Azerbaijan	994
Bahamas	1242
Bahrain	973
Bangladesh	880
Barbados	1246
Barbuda	1268
Belarus	375
Belgium	32
Belize	501
Benin	229
Bermuda	1441
Bhutan	975
Bolivia	591
Bosnia & Herzegovina	387
Botswana	267
Brazil	55
British Virgin Islands	1284
Brunei Darussalam	673
Bulgaria	359
Burkina Faso	226
Burundi	257
C“te d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)	225
Cambodia	855
Cameroon	237
Canada	1
Cape Verde Islands	238
Cayman Islands	1345
Chad	235
Chatham Island (New Zealand)	64
China (PRC)	86
Christmas Island	53
Cocos-Keeling Islands	61
Colombia	57
Comoros	269
Congo	242
Congo, Dem. Rep. ofÿ (former Zaire)	243
Cook Islands	682
Costa Rica	506
Croatia	385
Cuba	53
Cyprus	357
Czech Republic	420
Denmark	45
Diego Garcia	246
Djibouti	253
Dominica	1767
Dominican Republic	1809
Ecuador	593