** MJ Ray mjr@phonecoop.coop [2007-09-17 14:59]:
Paul Tansom paul@aptanet.com wrote:
Interesting, I thought 0844 was just an extension of 0845, i.e. charged at local rate. Our surgery switched to it a while ago and was very keen to point out that this provided local rate calls to the surgery from wherever you were. [...]
They were probably keen to point that out because it's about the only direct benefit to patients! Some surgeries are being criticised for using 0844, still putting people on hold for long times and banking the revenue-share. This penalises the least healthy (often the poorest) members of the community disproportionately!
Indeed, and to add to the pain the same number was used for the two practices that are part of the same partnership. This means that you have to go through the options to choose which practice you want to talk to even before you get to choice appointments or whatever the other options are! Initially you had no option but to listen to the full message before you could choose as well, and when I timed that it took a full 2 minutes before the phone would even start ringing on the reception desk to make an appointment. This has improved now, so I guess you could argue that they were forcing you to learn the system before allowing the short path. You could also argue they were trying to cover the cots as quickly as possible from call revenue too though.
As luck would have it we now have on line booking for routine appointments, so that saves some hassle :)
<<snip>>
What do you mean by VoIP routing? [...]
Sending calls to my 08 number direct to my SIP URL, rather than via my 01934->SIP converter. Sorry if I abused the jargon.
Ahah, hadn't thought about that. My VoIP number has a full PSTN number local to my area (as in 023 92 000 123 - quite a nice number actually!). It takes a bit of digging in my Wengophone configuration to find that as I don't use the Wengo service itself. I think it has got better in that respect as the project has progressed so I should check for an update - not to mention actually get a desktop machine with Linux configured and working again. I'm struggling with XP at the moment unfortunately, although thankfully using OOo, Firefox and PuTTY to my Linux servers you don't notice too much (well that's what I tell myself!).
One thing I do need to sort out, so I can use the VoIP line for incoming calls, is a better headset configuration. At the moment my headset is plugged into my sound card, so I can't hear the phone ring unless I have it on (hence the number is not published yet). I either need to get a USB adapter (one of those tiny USB sound card things) to plug my headset into; fit a second PCI sound card (which is no good if I'm using my laptop); or get a USB headset. Has anyone tried these USB sound cards? For decent quality and a known brand I like the idea of the Lindy units, but they are much more expensive (that said they have a 2 year warranty and a mute button) and I haven't managed to confirm Linux compatibility. The cheap ones seem likely to work with Linux....
Actually I take that last bit back, the Lindy unit looks to use the Crystal Media CM108 chipset, so should work. I may just splash out a tenner plus and give it a try :) I'm far from being a fan of el cheapo generic hardware. If it has a lesser known brand with a good support site then fine. If it can't advertise the make clearly somewhere I worry about quality!! ** end quote [MJ Ray]