Free US Inbound Numbers from IPKall
Source: asteriskblog.com
Free inbound DID (direct international dialling) numbers can be a very cheap way to assign incoming numbers to your Asterisk PBX. For instance, your company or office can be located offshore, but you can still assign a number from the US, UK or any other country where such services exist.
One example is IPKall, which will assign you a US-based number (usually a Washington area code). Anyone calling this number will be automatically redirected to your SIP account (such as freeworlddialup), which can then be handled by your Asterisk PBX.
The sign-up procedures are actually simple. From the IPKall homepage:
1. Register your SIP IP phone with a VoIP service like www.FreeWorldDialup.com or www.MutualPhone.com. Once you register your IP phone with their VoIP Network, you are able to contact all of the other registered members if they are on-line when you are. These services provide an external SIP contact address like 612@fwd.pulver.net . If you don’t have a Sip IP Telephone: Costs vary from $75 to $300. You can get an SIP IP Gateway such as the CISCO 182 for 2 lines for about $150, CISCO ATA-186, or similar gateway (prices may vary). www.VoipSupply.com You can also utilize your PC with MS Messenger by using a head set or using speakers, a microphone and a sound card.
2. After you receive your SIP address, register that number at IpKall, and you will be assigned a local number in Washington State. Give out your Washington state number to friends, family, business associates, and others around the world. Using this number, they can call you for the cost of a domestic call and you will receive the call through your IP telephone device anywhere in the world.
First thing you do is key in your details at the sign up page. You can choose among the following US area codes: 360, 206, 253 or 425.
You then have to enter the SIP phone number and SIP proxy of your Asterisk box. For instance, if you’re signed up to freeworlddialup and your SIP number is 89028, you key in that number on the textbox for SIP number, and “fwd.pulver.com” on the SIP proxy textbox.
You will then have to input your email address (for verification and contact purposes), and then choose a 4-digit numeric password. You can then opt for free voicemail, and if so, how many seconds before calls are automatically redirected to voicemail if you’re unreachable.
As this is a free service, IPKall gives a caveat that accounts unused for 30 days or more may be terminated. So if you think the number will be rarely used, it’s a good idea to keep the account active, such as by calling in every once in a while. Personally I do know of some offshore companies that use IPKall for inbound DID numbers from the US, terminating to their Asterisk box. It’s cheap and practical.
