PC please call home

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[Kathy Stevens]

In recent weeks we have been setting up a number of laptops to use while traveling.

During the process, we learned that a number of “telephone companies” offer windows apps that allow PCs to send and receive calls using an “old fashion” phone’s number.

Susan Bradley stated, “On the ATT and the Verizon site is a Lenovo laptop (my favorite laptop) that comes with built in LTE so you don’t have to have two devices.  You can buy it over time so the cost is reasonable.  But if you want to have a good laptop that is self contained, I highly recommend it.” within the recent Refurbished HP ProBook AskWoody topic.

And on their business VoIP service Vonage offers a Windows WiFi app. See

https://www.vonage.com/

Has anyone configured their PC to make VoIP phone calls.

• This topic was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by Kathy Stevens.
• This topic was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by Kathy Stevens.
• This topic was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by Kathy Stevens.

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What’s the relevance of the quote? Do your travel laptops have LTE?

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https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/refurbished-hp-probook/

 

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Before head down that path, try a free ad support and see if you or users will like them. In Europe, LTE in laptop have been common for years now. In US, they are not very common but do exist.

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Kathy Stevens

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All of the HP ProBooks that we are setting up have LTE Mobile Broadband Modules.

However, it is my understanding that LTE modules are designed for traditional wireless internet network traffic via cellular service.

We are not looking for another option for internet service.

We are looking a Windows app that will mimic a traditional telephone.  We would like to be able to dial a phone number on the computer, make a connection, and then communicate via the PC’s microphone and speakers.

If someone calls our phone number, we would like to answer it using the computer.

In other words, we are looking for a computer based Voice over IP (VoIP) phone service.

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For making calls your laptop needs SIM or eSIM (it probably has), with mobile number and data plan.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/cellular-settings-in-windows-905568ff-7f31-3013-efc7-3f396ac92cd7

Just like with a smartphone you should be able to configure calls-over-wi-fi.

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We are not looking for more smart phones.

We are looking for a Windows app that will mimic a desk telephone.

See, “Send calls, receive texts and control your Vonage Business Communications phone system directly from your computer. Complimentary to Vonage Business Communications customers.”

https://www.vonage.com/downloads/

If someone calls my office phone I would like to be able to pickup the call even if I am 1,000’s of miles away from home base.

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Kathy Stevens wrote:

We are not looking for more smart phones.

This has nothing to do with smartphones.
If your PC has LTE it means it has a SIM/eSIM card installed.

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Ok, lets assume that my computer has a SIM/eSIM card installed.

But I do not want to make phone calls that are routed via cell towers.  I want to make and receive a calls using VoIP via a WiFi connection.

And, I want to use the same phone number as my VoIP desk phone (not cell) back in the office.

How do I setup a Windows computer so I can make and receive calls using a VoIP service using my desk phone’s telephone number?

What software should I get?

One option is Vonage’s app. Are their others?

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Kathy Stevens wrote:

I want to use the same phone number

As I understand it you need the VOIP system to allow such things, via software on the PC. This is will depend on the VOIP system you are using, not on the PC.
Do you know what the system is?
Is it a local PBX (hardware in your office)?
Is it provided by your ISP?

cheers, Paul

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Kathy Stevens

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We are looking for North American ISPs who provide VoIP services that include the ability to share a phone number between a desk phone and a computer.

In other words, if we want to call the White House (202-456-1414) from our VoIP number (xxx-yyy-1776) we can make the call using either our office desk phone or a laptop computer.

We will not be using a local PBX for these calls.

It is possible that the VoIP service will provide  “PBX services” remotely.

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Let’s see if I can help with some useful detail by describing my current setup.

My team and I recently switched to this type of system. Eight of us function completely autonomously in/out of the office with no change in what callers see when they call us or when we call them.

There are many providers, but we are trying “Zoom Phone.” That’s right, the video meeting company. It is working well for us.

We can make/receive calls anywhere we can install the Zoom app – the same app you are probably familiar with (that’s a plus and may influence which provider you choose).

Here is the step where I might lose you – or offend you by assuming you lack some knowledge – but here we go.

We are all familiar with “phone numbers” and there is a relevant acronym we might as well use here: “DID” – Direct Inward Dialing.  You probably have a DID for your office, a separate one for your cell phone, maybe others.  You are also familiar with “forwarding” calls from one DID to another.  For instance, you forward your office phone to your cell phone.

What number appears on caller-ID when you call other people? You might say “the phone in my hand” but that can be a bit more complicated. Take my workplace of over 1000 DID numbers.  Placing a call from any phone in the place will appear as one generic “main” number!

My point here is that someone made that decision. This notion of numbers being attached to physical hardware (cell phones, desk phones, computers) is false.  An outgoing call can display whatever the system is programmed to display.  This get a bit tricky, because guess what! People figured out they could “spoof” other people’s numbers, making it hard to pin down who is or isn’t a telemarketer.

(Reputable) providers will not allow you to just “set” your outgoing caller ID to your office number for that reason.

The Solution: “Port” your (DID) phone number to a virtual phone system provider.  Call it VOIP if you like, but the distinction between wired and virtual no longer really matters.

Have you ever switched cell phone providers while keeping your existing (DID) phone number? Same concept.  Once the DID phone number is “in the cloud,” you can into and out of it from anywhere, and with any hardware (oversimplification).  Your desk phone will probably have to be replaced with one compatible with your preferred provider.  In essence, it will be a box with software, just like your cell phone, just like your computer. It doesn’t matter how it gets a connection to the internet (ethernet cable, WiFi, cell phone network, satellite).

You can receive calls on any DID number you control. You can “dial out from” any DID number you control (oversimplification).

There is no “app” you can install – or service you can buy – which will give you the ability to “call from” someone else’s DID number.  You must have the right to “port” the number to a different service (Vonage, Zoom Phone, or literally thousands of their competitors).

IF you own the business or are assigned the power/responsibility to manage the DID numbers, you can make this happen.

I’m rambling now. What questions do you have?

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wavy, Kathy Stevens, TechTango

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Thanks deanm.

Took a look at “Zoom Phone For Business Only” and noted that their US & Canada Unlimited plan includes:

• Unlimited calling within US and Canada,
• US & Canada number,
• Domestic SMS & MMS,
• Making & receiving calls from multiple devices and/or apps,
• One management portal, and
• Optional add-on: unlimited calling to 19 countries/territory.

It appears that a Zoom Phone allows a user to make calls and check voicemail from a computer.

What I have been unable to determine, from their website, is if an incoming call directed to a single DID can be answered using either a desk phone or a computer.

Thanks again for bring Zoom to my attention.

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I think your questions have been answered here, but if not, please clarify.  Many MANY providers offer the services you describe. Specifically, you asked about calling from desk phones and laptops.  YES, most products can do this.

Again using Zoom Phone as an example, various manufacturers market Zoom-compatible desk phones. Here is a list on their website: Zoom Certified Hardware.

The capability is SO widespread that I would encourage you to look at technology providers  – consider something that is integrated with your existing tools: Microsoft, Webex(Cisco), Google

Smaller players exist too…  search “Virtual PBX” if you want to be overwhelmed.

Depending on the size of your business and your budget, you might save yourself a lot of time and money by hiring a UCaaS consultant.

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Kathy Stevens

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Kathy Stevens wrote:

Has anyone configured their PC to make VoIP phone calls.

This comment is not regarding any particular VoIP service, but rather about using it with a laptop. The client software is referred to as a “soft phone” on your laptop.

A while back I was working remotely using the company based enterprise VoIP system, which allowed voice calls in/out using our assigned work number from a laptop based “soft phone”.

With a laptop it is a necessity to use a compatible over-the-ear USB headset for the speakers and microphone. There are various reasons for that including noise/echo cancellation. There are two types of solutions that both work well, but both have drawbacks:

• Corded – can’t get up and move around very far while on a call
• Wireless – expensive, but allows you to move freely about the room

Regarding the recommended VoIP options for small business users, I will leave that to others.

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

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Kathy Stevens

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As a footnote: VoIP for home use example…

At home I am happy with Ooma, which I ported my AT&T land line to over 10 years ago with no regrets. It has a proprietary base module that plugs into my router via ethernet, and allows me to pair various Ooma branded wireless devices such as desk phone(s) and cordless phone(s).

With Ooma Premier I get advanced calling features as well as the Ooma mobile app on my smartphone (mobile data or Wi-Fi required) which allows me to make and receive VoIP calls using my home number if I wish.

Don’t have a laptop/desktop solution here with Ooma for home, but they do have a Small Business phone system that I am not familiar with. Their Pro edition has a desktop app. https://www.ooma.com/small-business-phone-systems/desktop-app/

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

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Kathy Stevens

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John W

I see that the Ooma Office Pro plan, “… provides a convenient desktop app so you can use your business phone system right from your computer.”

What they do not make clear is if you can make calls using the same phone number (caller id) from a PC or desk phone.

But reading between the lines it looks as if you can.

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Kathy Stevens wrote:

What they do not make clear is if you can make calls using the same phone number (caller id) from a PC or desk phone. But reading between the lines it looks as if you can.

I would assume that you can, as the phone number is registered to the Ooma account. I only have one phone number registered and it is accessible from either my base station and connected devices, or the Ooma smartphone app.

My local Ooma home hardware unit is networked to Ooma servers over the internet, and appears to be identified by its hardware MAC address. So you can move the base unit and plug it into another network at a different location it will re-connect to Ooma. However it is essential to then update the physical street address in your Ooma account so that E911 services will respond to the actual physical location in an emergency. VoIP is unlike cellular mobile E911 that can detect your approximate location via the cell towers.

Not sure how closely this corresponds to the Ooma business pro version details, but the underlying technology should easily allow access to your phone number from anywhere.

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

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Kathy Stevens

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Kathy Stevens wrote:

if an incoming call directed to a single DID can be answered using either a desk phone or a computer.

I wouldn’t think that should be an issue for a provider. But it’s something you should ask them about. The provider should be able to route a call to any endpoint that is registered to their system and online.

For example, with my Ooma Premier account I can easily set it up for an incoming call to my single number to simultaneously ring on both my home phone and my mobile Ooma app. So I can answer calls to my home number when I am out and about, or let them roll to voice mail, which I can also check remotely.

 

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

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Kathy Stevens

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Thanks everyone for participating in this topic.

It looks as if we have enough information to find a provider and setup the service.

Thanks again.

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JohnW

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After searching for a phone company that offers a windows app that allows a PC to send and receive calls using an “old fashion” phone’s number we moved on to other projects.

However, during the process we learned that we could setup an Android cell phone to make calls via WiFi by going to Settings, Connections, and then turning on WiFi Calling.

WiFi Calling works in places where we can not get a cellphone signal!

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Very true!  I didn’t realize that was the problem you were trying to solve.  You can also install cell phone signal “repeaters” – they are common in larger buildings, even required by many municipalities so that first responders don’t lose connection in the bowels of some large building.

 

https://www.waveform.com/pages/cell-phone-repeaters

https://www.amazon.com/cell-phone-repeater/s?k=cell+phone+repeater

 

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The original problem that we were trying to solve was the mirroring of our desk phones with our PCs. We were able to identify a number of voice over internet carriers that offered the service but did not peruse the option.  Maybe later.

We do use our cell phones and laptops while traveling.

Right now I am sitting in an interior office of a New York high rise. No cell signal but strong “guest” WiFi connection.

Phone works well over the WiFi. Next step will be to install a VPN on the cell phone.

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Kathy Stevens wrote:

Next step will be to install a VPN on the cell phone.

Maybe should have been a good first step.

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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