Clear Voice FAQ's

• What is VoIP?

  VoIP is a technology that allows you to make telephone alls over any IP based network. Instead of using a traditional phone line, you can use the Internet to make calls. By making calls over the internet, you can lower you monthly phone bill considerably.

• How do I start using VoIP?

  You will Need Hardware (IP Telephone or Gateway), software (IP Soft phone), Bandwidth (ADSL, Wireless, Diginet (3G not recommended).

  First and foremost you will need a reliable and fast, dedicated for voice bandwidth connection. Depending on your needs there are several different options available to enable the use of the Clear Voice VoIP service. The easiest and often the cheapest solution is a good broadband internet connection.

  Next you will need an IP Phone that looks and operates like a traditional phone, but understands the required VoIP protocols, or a soft phone which is software on your pc.

  To enable you to utilise your existing telephony equipment and infrastructure to make use of a VoIP service you will need a Gateway. The simplest method would be to install a VoIP gateway behind your old analogue telephone and start making VoIP calls.

• Can I keep my number?

  Geographic Number Porting is one of Clear Voices value added services. We will port your existing geographic number to Clear Voice, this will ensure you get to keep your number and wont lose any business.

• What is pre-paid?

  All Clear Voice Clients are on a prepaid system, the advantages of Prepaid functionality is that it allows flexibility when planning and accommodates everyone's budget. You can make payments on a weekly, monthly or select longer periods in between should you so wish. You and our billing department will very quickly establish what your telephony usage is, and can than plan ahead accordingly.

• How do I get my telephony Account ?

  Clear Voice offer you an online account login, to see your call records in real time. Invoices are sent via e-mail, as are account balance threshold warnings.

• What is Hosted PBX?

  Hosted PBX is the replacement of tradition PABX in the new era. All your phones are connected and provisioned via and IP network. Your calls can be delivered to any place on Earth via the Internet at a faction of the usual cost. All system configuring is done from your web browser.

• What is an IPC Account?

  An IPC Account is a point to point link that runs from the Telkom Saix backbone directly into our Clear Voice data centre, it runs on our secure private network these accounts have no internet access/breakout. It virtually removes all threats from hackers and crackers. The IPC service provides access to a variety of information that gives us the ability to resolve various problems remotely.

• What is a SIP Account?

  A session initiation protocol, which is the main technology used for VoIP, SIP is used for setting up a session i.e. the parties between a call, and the various agreements between them, such as voice quality.

• What is the difference VoIP vs Skype?

  Skype Technology utilises open internet connections i.e. it is not on a secure network, with no service guarantees in terms of call or service quality. This service works well for home users, for whom this is not a concern.

  Clear Voice's VoIP solution is a full end to end voice solution for businesses and corporates, for whom quality of service is paramount.

• What is ViBE?

  ViBE is the latest in a tunnelling technology that prioritises voice data packets meaning all the problems with VoIP calls, including jitter and latency, simply stop being a problem. ViBE uses header compression or multiplexing to reduce the overheads associated with VoIP, this reduces the amount of bandwidth required which enhances the call quality and allows for a much increased number of concurrent calls. Rain Mode (real time redundancy) offers a vast improvement on quality and call drops, even if one of the links fails completely the user will not even notice a dropped call. It provides the best of both links (ADSL/Wireless) at any given time, if the one link degrades the other link will still keep the quality high.