edpeluffo has left 13 comments

edpeluffo comments on Skype competition

The easiest and cheapest way to obtain a Colombian Phone Number ( DID or Virtual Phone Number) I can think of is thru Orbitel ( http://www.orbitelusa.com ) Plan Tu Linea Directa. If you are not willing to pay at least this much ($15.00 for just the number or $30.00 for number and some credit per month) then there isn't anything cheaper at the moment that I know of. Keep in mind that Orbitel service doesn't work correctly 24/7, there are some quality issues a particular peak times like nights and weekends. There are alternatives out there but they are not easy for then non-technical, non-computer savy person. I personally use my own IP PBX to reduce my phone costs but I use hundred of minutes per day. For calls to Cell phones in Colombia, I haven't found anything better for the price ($0.06 per minute) than Orbitel. (I know others will disagree but I have tried plenty other services). Calls are the cleariest I have heard so far.

edpeluffo comments on $.03 to Cell Phones; FREE To Landline Phones

dwrmte7 goto http://www.orbitelusa.com/ and read about the different plans they offer. The VoIP services from Orbitel are simple, the send you and ATA (just like a vonage box) and you plug it in your router or modem and your phone into it. The ones from SMSDiscount you use thru your computer of if you have an ATA (just like a vonage box) or SIP phone (just like a vonage phone with phone builtin), you can program your account info into your ATA and use a phone instead of the computer. I you need further explanation or technical assistance, I'l be happy to help.

edpeluffo comments on $.03 to Cell Phones; FREE To Landline Phones

After trying most of the VoIP providers, I agree with rocinante, Orbitel has the best sound quality. With Orbitel, people can't tell you are not calling from another cell phone in Colombia. with other providers, (including the betamax ones: voipdiscount, voipstunt, etc) my wife constantly complained she did not understand me or hear me well. Is still not perfect as there some phone quality issues at times, for me, is the best bang for the buck.

edpeluffo comments on Drinking Club Colombia Now!

jorgediaz, where in Texas are these Fiesta and Carnival Stores? are there any in San Antonio, TX ? I would love to buy some aguilas if I could. Thanks

edpeluffo comments on

I just did that same thing a couple of weeks ago and did not have any problems. I arrived via Cartagena; then had to go to Mexico and back via the Barranquilla Airport. I then drove back to cartagena to go back home.

edpeluffo comments on SIM CARDS

You can use any SIM card in Colombia for any city not just Medellin. In other words the cell phone numbers are dialed the same way regardless which city you are in. SIM cards are inexpensive in Colombia. Unlocked GSM Phones are easy to find in ebay. Almost all phones sold in Colombia can be unlocked cheaply; exceptions would be high end phones like blackberry.

edpeluffo comments on Web Design

I know somebody ( a cousin) in Barranquilla that can design very professional looking webpages. He is from barranquilla. PM me is you are interested.

edpeluffo comments on Bogota DID for VIOP or forwarding

Orbitel USA has DIDs available for bogota, cali, medellin and barraquilla (Plan tu linea Directa) for $15.00 or $10.00 if you buy $20.00 credit for local and/or Cell phone calls; catch is you have to buy the SIP ATA device; no SIP credentials are provided. https://www.orbitelusa.com/?option=com_productos&sct_id=1 Larryrn please do keep us posted of DIDs at www.didww.com Thanks

edpeluffo comments on 1 MB to a 4MB line -------- MEDELLIN INTERNET & Vonage & Blackberry ?

Based on what I know about Internet Service in Colombia, it would not make a bit of difference wichever of those speeds you had. Vonage would work with either 1 Mbps or 4 Mbps. You should be able to forward the Vonage Calls to a USA phone number but since this is a USA Phone number, but you are in Colombia, you will be paying Roaming charges which are very very very expensive. In short, there is no free or easy way to do what you want with the Vonage and a US Cell Phone.

edpeluffo comments on High Speed Internet

512kbps Download speed should give about 256kbps upload speed. Normally,the upload speed is half the dowload but not always. When it comes to VoIP, your upload speeds are very important. You need about 128kbps minumum (UPLOAD) to make work Vonage work with the best voice quality ( this assumes you are not using the computer at the same time) In order to be able to use vonage and a computer I would recommend as a mininum 256kbps (UPLOAD) ( Remember, this is base on the best voice quailty ) You can set your Vonage box to use less bandwith to a minimum of about 64kbps UPLOAD You have to keep in mind that the speeds that you are given by any provider in Colombia are never guaranteed; so should buy at least double what you need. These recommendations are base on my experience for the last 3 years using VoIP in Colombia. I currently run a VoIP PBX in my house with several remote extensions in Barranquilla, Bogota and Santa Marta so I have some experience with VoIP. Another thing with makes a big difference with VoIP is the router that the Internet Provider gives you. I personally changed it with my own.

edpeluffo comments on High Speed Internet

If you are in Barranquilla, I would recommend Telecom (Telefonica) DSL first, second Metrotel. DO NOT get Teledinamica (Dinanet) under any circumstances if your primary purpose for having broadband is to talk via Vonage. I you are anywhere else in Colombia then I can't really recommend anybody but I would try to stick with DSL providers. A minimun of 128kbps upload speed will work, but would recommend at least 256kbps upload speeds.

edpeluffo comments on Internet in Cartagena: ETB or Telecom?

Don't know about Cartagena but In Barranquilla... If broadband access in Cartagena is anything like in Barranquilla...

Stay away from ETB if you are planning on using VoIP and they use Wi-MAX (wireless connections).

If what they use is DSL, then I have no recommendation since I havent't tried. I know that VoIP works well with Metrotel using DSL in barranquilla.

edpeluffo comments on FREE CALLS TO COLOMBIA! WOW!

it is true Hi there I am new here...

It is true that you can call fixed lines to Colombia (Mobiles are about $0.084) ... http://www.voipbuster.com, both companies are owned by the Finarea (Which I believe is based in Switzerland?)

The catch is that you prepay with your credit card (or paypal) and they switch the countries where you can call for free without any notice. (The free countries could last for days or months.) It is up to you to check often. VoIPBuster has a message at the beggining of the call tellling you how much the call will call, I don't believe VoIPStunt does but I could be wrong - I just haven't heard the recording when I used VoIPStunt.

There are times where you can place a call and there are times when the call just doesn't go thru.

I have been using it with my Asterisk PBCX (OpenSource VoIP Phone System) and so have my relatives in Colombia who have an extension to my PBX. In Other words they, who are in Colombia, are also calling Colombia for free.

There some quality issues when the call is made in Colombia as well as when the call is made here in The US, although you get a better connection here in the US.

I use a SIP Adapter (Analog Telephone Adapter - Just like the one Vonage gives you) that connects to my own PBX for most of the calls I make to Colombia and of course those calls are free (You pay only the cost of the Broadband Internet Provider in Colombia).

So, If you want to give it a try, pay the 10.00 Euros they ask but I wouldn't recommend this for just anyone as there are better ways to talk to somebody in Colombia