• long running

Landline Phone Number $1/Month with Free Forwarding of Voicemail to Email @ CrazyTel

1420

Not for everyone, but CrazyTel have a deal they’ve been promoting on whirlpool.

Basically, on the PAYG plan it’s free to use and $1/month for a landline number which is forwarded to your smartphone. This can be setup to go to voicemail. The recorded voicemail messages are then emailed to your associated email address as *.wav files so you can return them when you’re ready from your personal mobile (with presumably free calls).

Call forwarding costs to Australian mobiles 0.05c/min and 0.02/min to other landlines. Personally, the straight to voicemail (professional voice actor to record one ~ $30 off Fiverr) > voicemail message sent to email monitored by workplace > free call from mobile is, in my opinion, the ozbargain power move.

Good for businesses who are after a landline to boost credibility without having to worry about the costs and inconvenience of running two phone numbers/lines.

Hope it’s handy to someone :)

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Comments

    • +1

      Any cost to receiving phone calls?

      Only the cost of your data, if you're using mobile data. I read that the data usage is about a gigabyte an hour, but that information is probably outdated by now.

  • Hi Guys,

    Some companies with AU mobile numbers answering calls overseas from overseas call centre:

    They most likely using VPN and using mobile Wifi Calling because they are able to make outgoing calls from the mobile from their overseas locations to AU numbers

    Other possibility is some voip function

    • That is how we setting up calling centre for the scaming callings in bangalahore.

  • +3

    I'm paying 35c per month with CrazyTel for a DID that I ported over from another carrier. There was some promo code at the time when I signed up, not sure if it still works or not but could be worth a quick search.

  • +1

    Website seems down. Can't get the verification call fron them to complete the process.

  • +1

    So essentially this is to get a voicemail service for a landline phone correct as I am pretty sure my Boost Mobile service has an inbuilt voicemail but I do pay a lot for it every month so I assumed that was a given.

    • Yeah, but you’re not really pay the line rental and having to have a physical land line phone.

  • Not directly related but relevant…. does anyone know of a service where you can get a mobile number in a particular country, and have any texts sent to this number automatically forwared to your own whatsapp number?

  • Newbie question here, is this compatible with any NBN service? Do i need a compatible phone that plugs i assume to my router?

    • +1

      is this compatible with any NBN service?

      It should be, but in the past a small number of NBN providers blocked it, trying to force you to use their phone service. I doubt any NBN providers still do this.

      Do i need a compatible phone that plugs i assume to my router?

      There are four ways you can use this service:

      (1) Use an old Android phone, running a "SIP client" app like Zoiper. This will connect to your router through WiFi.

      (2) Same as (1), but using your mobile phone. This can be confusing though, because essentially you have one phone connected to two phone numbers - your mobile number and the "landline" phone number through CrazyTel. While you're on a call, someone can call you on the other phone line, and your phone will ring!

      (3) Many routers have the capability to just plug in a standard corded phone, using a standard phone plug. But if your router was supplied by your NBN provider, it's probably locked, and you won't be able to configure it to use CrazyTel.

      (4) You can buy a box called an ATA, that plugs into your router through a standard network cable. The ATA has a standard telephone socket into which you can plug a corded (or cordless) phone.

      • Thanks for the detailed response very useful

  • +4

    I’ve been using this for my business, I bought a landline number and fax number for the $1 each and have the calls forwarded to a mobile phone the secretary answers. The fax comes through to email. Voicemails come through as emails with a wav file attached.

    If you receive a call that has been forwarded to your mobile number it will be charged at the 5c/min. However…you can set the call forwarding up so it forwards to their app ‘CrazyPhone’ which you install on the mobile and then it uses mobile internet/wifi and doesn’t charge you a thing for having the calls forwarded! I’ve used it for 3 months and it’s fantastic. I’ve used $3.20 in 3 months which is mainly due to the secretary calling outbound numbers using that rather than our other landline and receiving a few faxes .

    • Awesome. Thanks for the feedback. Sounds perfect!

    • Thanks buddy. Any cost to receive calls on the landline number? With the CrazyPhone app installed, can you be anywhere in the world with mobile internet/wifi and receive landland calls for free?

      • +1

        Any cost to receive calls on the landline number?

        Only the cost of the data, so could be expensive if you're using mobile data, and VERY expensive if you're overseas and using roaming mobile data. No cost if you are using free wifi.

        can you be anywhere in the world with mobile internet/wifi and receive landland calls for free?

        Two parts to that answer. Some VOIP providers will block access from outside Australia, as a measure to block overseas hackers from trying to hack your account. I don't know if this particular provider does that, probably easiest to call them and ask.

        VOIP doesn't always work well overseas. I tried that when I went to England, through the hotel's free WiFi. I was able to make a call, but the audio delay was between two and three seconds due to horrible internet latency, so we were continually interrupting each other. We resorted to saying "over" at the end of each sentence, like old-time radio operators.

        • Thanks for the reply! I always buy a local SIM when travelling so mobile data isnt an issue. If the audio delay is that bad sounds like Skype might be a better option

          • +1

            @dajackal:

            If the audio delay is that bad sounds like Skype might be a better option

            I think much of the delay was due to the hotel's internet, perhaps they were deliberately trying to discourage high usage. And England is about as far away from Australia as it's possible to be.

            You may get better results, particularly in closer countries.

  • Ported my number here from Engin a few months ago and it’s been great. Went from $10 a month to $1 and have the number send all calls to voicemail that I get as an email.

  • +1

    Anyone got lucky to make it work. It is stuck at Enter Code for me, but no call or SMS?

    • Same for me, no call to provide code so I can't continue with sign up.

    • Same for me

    • +2

      Working now

  • Any good deals on virtual sims? As in is there a way to have otp sent to a foreign number without actually owning the SIM card? A lot of streaming services now are requiring OTP authentication in order to sign up.

    Cheers

  • I managed to get the code from the call just now and finally made an account lol

    The other issue now is that I can’t log into the app (on iOS). Getting a weird error that looks like broken HTML headers.

  • Their support team is working today too.

  • Is there a workaround use Boost (Telstra) WiFi Calling overseas avoid roaming charges.

    One solution might be connect the mobile wifi to a router running an AU VPN but that's not more fixed solution and requires me to carry router capable of setting up a VPN.

    Any other easy workaround?

  • I'm assuming this is business only as who even has a landline phone. It's so 80s. I haven't had one for years

    • +2

      who even has a landline phone. It's so 80s.

      Given that nobody was connected to the NBN before 2011, I think you're at least 20 years wrong in your date.

      • Not sure what NBN has to do with it.

        Mobile cap plans started over 15 years ago, which is when people started moving off landlines.

        • Before NBN most internet-connected homes had ADSL2, and you needed a landline for that. While you could get naked DSL without a phone connected, it didn't save you any money, so almost everyone with ADSL2 had a landline phone as well.

          I also know plenty of people who didn't have internet in 2011, but still had a landline phone. At my current home, bought 7 years ago, I was unable to get fixed internet without a bundled landline phone. Telstra and Optus are probably still forcing people to take unwanted landline phones!

          • @Russ: Telstra systems never understood the concept of naked DSL. These days they force you to pay for a bundle that includes unlimited AU calls. If you port your voice number they disconnect your Internet service. Doesn't look like Optus force you to take a voice service, they just make a PAYG service a free option. Other ISPs seem to follow the same pattern.

            • @Stingo: It wasn't a case of not understanding, VOIP was active when ADSL1 was current. I had VOIP on a 512/128kbps ADSL1 line, and at that time, a small number of internet providers could provide naked DSL at a saving of a few dollars a month, compared to "normal" ADSL.

              Telstra noticed the rise of VOIP and did everything possible to cripple it. They made it impossible to get naked DSL, and forced landline phones on everyone.

              Even if your internet came via HFC with your pay-tv subscription, you still had to accept a pseudo-landline phone, connected by radio signals through the HFC.

              • @Russ:

                It wasn't a case of not understanding

                According to past reports from people who've worked for Telstra, Telstra systems are/were designed in such a way that a phone "line" or at least a phone number had to exist for Internet services, but so what people can and did ignore those phonelines except maybe to receive incoming calls and make free outgoing calls and maybe call a destination that was cheaper than what their VoIP provider charged or did not make available, e.g. directory service.

                Telstra noticed the rise of VOIP and did everything possible to cripple it. They made it impossible to get naked DSL, and forced landline phones on everyone.

                I think "everything possible to cripple it" is an exaggeration. Yes, I'm sure they would have recognised it as a threat, but initially a lesser threat amongst others that increased over time. Bundled plans and unlimited calls were probably the response to those. Yes, I don't think it ever been possible to have naked DSL on a Telstra DSLAM which were the most numerous and the only DSLAMs available in some places but I'm not aware of any dirty tricks they used apart from them bad mouthing VoIP and later other people's offerings. I sure though at every opportunity Telstra and its competitors would have lobbied or argued that VoIP be subject to the same legislation as conventional telephony which is not necessary unreasonable, i.e. forcing VoIP providers to offer access to 000. Once ULL was, probably forced, upon Telstra naked DSL become available and other providers could offer their own telephony, Optus chose traditional telephony, TPG offered a hybrid with DSLAMs that contained ATAs and the rest offered VoIP or nothing at all.

                Even if your internet came via HFC with your pay-tv subscription, you still had to accept a pseudo-landline phone, connected by radio signals through the HFC.

                You're talking about Optus here and I think they might have actually used VoIP rather than modulating an analog voice signal directly onto a cable carrier frequency. Telstra has always installed landlines alongside Foxtel. "Velocity" estates and South Brisbane which were wired with fibre were an exception to this.

                • @Stingo:

                  I think they might have actually used VoIP rather than modulating an analog voice signal directly onto a cable carrier frequency.

                  I had Optus cable for a short while, and it wasn't VOIP for the phone. During the daytime, if I was on a call and nobody was talking, I could hear a voice softly in the background, and although I couldn't make out what was being said, it sounded like John Laws. I complained to Optus and they sent out a serviceman to fit what they said was an "AM filter". So it was apparently receiving AM radio, so it must have been an analog system.

                  I ditched them because their system died a couple of hours into every power blackout. They told me each line segment is powered by a battery, which can supply power for "up to 4 hours".

                  • @Russ:

                    I had Optus cable for a short while, and it wasn't VOIP for the phone. … So it was apparently receiving AM radio, so it must have been an analog system.

                    All that proves is that some analog component was picking up whatever frequency John Laws was on at the time. Analog circuitry needs to be present in an ATA.

                    If you look up the specs for cable modems of the era you will find that they indeed support VoIP. For example, take a look at the spec sheet for the Netgear CG3000 from late 2009. The Whirlpool hardware database was a help in tracking down the spec sheet once I had found the model number of an Optus cable modem. There probably is a non-VoIP way of doing telephony over cable but Wikipedia tells me that the standards effort for this dates back to 1997 and Optus deployed it.

                    I ditched them because their system died a couple of hours into every power blackout. They told me each line segment is powered by a battery, which can supply power for "up to 4 hours".

                    That's up to 4 hours more than what you get with NBN HFC.

                    • @Stingo: I didn't have a cable modem, only the box on the outside of the house, and my phone cable came from that. This was in dial-up modem days, circa 2001, before ADSL1 was available in my area.

                      I only had a phone line with Optus, I don't think you could get cable internet from them without signing up for pay-tv first. Which made cable internet way too expensive for me, so I stayed with dial-up until ADSL1 became available.

                      • @Russ: Are you sure it was a phone service over HFC then?

                        I'm not aware of any telephony provided by Optus themselves for residential customers prior to their HFC rollout.

                        Prior to that they simply resold Telstra telephony which they probably continued to do until some time after they rolled out their own DSLAMs.

                        If your number originally came from the Optus service at that address, checking thenumberingsystem.com.au should reveal the wholesale provider.

                        • @Stingo:

                          Are you sure it was a phone service over HFC then?

                          Absolutely sure. In my area, Telstra HFC is underground, and Optus HFC is strung from the power poles. My house had a Telstra HFC pay-TV connection from the previous owners, but no Optus connection. Optus had to come and run a new feed-in from their overhead HFC, and ran a phone cable from their feed-in box (on the outside of the house) to a new 610-type phone socket which they installed beside my existing Telstra socket. Their tech said they weren't allowed to use the Telstra socket as it belongs to Telstra.

                          When ADSL1 became available, I transferred my number back to Telstra, moved my phone plug from the Optus phone socket back to the Telstra phone socket, and then signed up with a third-party ADSL1 provider.

                          If your number originally came from the Optus service at that address, checking thenumberingsystem.com.au should reveal the wholesale provider.

                          I Just tried that, setting roughly the dates when I had the Optus service, and it came back with "No records found".

                          Quote:

                          Whilst Telstra focused on creating a broadband network specifically for broadcast, Optus designed their cable network to provide telephony services in addition to broadcast television.

                          From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optus

                          • @Russ:

                            Optus had to come and run a new feed-in from their overhead HFC, and ran a phone cable from their feed-in box (on the outside of the house) to a new 610-type phone socket which they installed beside my existing Telstra socket.

                            That leaves open the questions of what was in the feed-in box, how was it powered and how it differs from the better-known, at least to me, installation method.

                            Looking at this Whirlpool thread the "feed-in box" contained a "cable access unit" which I would say was the functional equivalent of the Netgear gateway I linked to previously and it seems these were replaced by internal units when they failed and for newer installations. It's interesting that the CAUs were externally powered from Optus plant which probably explains why the Optus design incorporated battery backup while the Telstra design didn't: it being more critical to maintain the functioning of a fixed line telephone service than pay TV.

                            I can't be bothered to find further information about the CAU to confirm its VoIP support other than a remark from a poster on WP which is good enough for me.

                            I Just tried that, setting roughly the dates when I had the Optus service, and it came back with "No records found".

                            Don't bother entering a date. The block the number is in typically remains allocated with the same provider.

                            • @Stingo:

                              Looking at this Whirlpool thread the "feed-in box" contained a "cable access unit" which I would say was the functional equivalent of the Netgear gateway I linked to previously.

                              Incorrect. A separate indoor modem was required for Internet access. However, the CAU did contain a form of ATA but did not do a conversion to VoIP, see below.

                              I can't be bothered to find further information about the CAU to confirm its VoIP support other than a remark from a poster on WP which is good enough for me.

                              I lied. Gough Lui wrote up a teardown of a Motorola CAU. According to him, this technology was pre-DOCSIS and telephony was not over IP. Yes, digital telephony, but not VoIP.

                              Interesting that today some NBN providers e.g. ABB, Exetel, don't bother with using the QOS that can be provisioned in the NBN access network for VoIP when the earlier efforts paid great attention to providing good QOS for telephony.

                              Two steps forward, one step back.

  • Just tried to sign up and would like to purchase a land line number, seems like all available landline numbers are not located in Melbourne, instead of suburban areas, and the number doesnt start with 9

    I am a bit outdated, and i assume melb landline always start with 9 ?

    Just afraid people will think that this is a spam number if the number starts with a different digit, instead of number 9 ?

    • I am a bit outdated, and i assume melb landline always start with 9 ?

      You've answered your own question.

    • +1

      I am a bit outdated, and i assume melb landline always start with 9 ?'

      That's true for services that were originally with Telstra. Unless Telstra has exhausted their allocation it still would be true for their services.

      Just afraid people will think that this is a spam number if the number starts with a different digit, instead of number 9 ?

      It's hard to know what people will think. They are less common as relatively few people would be getting new numbers from the smaller players. Some might think it suss. Unless you really want people to call you back on your VoIP service just use your mobile number for outbound caller id.

      If you're interested you can look at the https://thenumberingsystem.com.au to see which ranges each carrier has been allocated. Because of LNP numbers can be moved between carriers but the donor carrier is always involved in the process.

    • You can get a number starting with 9 from Siptalk.

  • I actually don't use Siptalk; I got a Localphone account a while ago when it was free. We have UK (Localphone) and US (IPComms and Goggle Voice) numbers and the speech is fine when relatives call us, as good as using our Aus voip (Maxo and Siptalk) numbers for local calls. We call them using our Coles Mobile as the UK and US are included. I wouldn't expect Sipgate to be any different. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. If you want to test, get a Sipgate number and I'll call you using Coles.
    Ian

  • +1

    Paying $1 a month to get spammed by telemarketing ppls and VoIP random machine calls…. No deal

    Landline is completely stuffed and tarnished due to these idiots

    • +1

      This is an unlisted number. I've had an unlisted VOIP number for more than a decade, and I've never had a telemarketing call.

      On my mobile, however, once or twice a week I'm getting "this is Amazon calling about your delivery" or "this is the Visa and Mastercard anti-fraud department".

      • I have unlisted numbers from pennytel days and still getting hit. Dispite I did the do not call register, I guess it doesn't help

        • +1

          Sorry to hear that, maybe those numbers were stored in a business's database that got hacked?

          the do not call register

          When I had a Telstra landline for ADSL2, I had the same problem, and I agree the DNC register is pretty ineffectual. The spam callers just use overseas call centres that are outside the reach of Australian law enforcement.

  • I thought OzB was about getting deals that were cheaper than the regular price? Crazytel has always been available for this price.

  • Not for everyone, but CrazyTel have a deal they’ve been promoting on whirlpool.

    Doesn't MyNetFone (or whatever they are called now) offer a similar with $10 + $5 a year?

    Asking/suggesting as my VoIP is very much unused nowadays.

    • Which deal is that mate?

      • Grandfathered plans/deals from previous MyNetFone + Pennytel VoIP'ers

        I'll say Stingo's post (next) is up to date.

    • That and the other Whirlpool offer ceased once the business was transferred to Vonex. Even before then MNF increased the cost of new DIDs on Whirlpool Saver to $15/year and as much as $30 on other plans. Generally, the cheapest way for a local number is to get a PAYG voice service bundle with your ISP but those often have more expensive rates for outbound calls but that is not an issue for many people with unlimited calls on their mobiles. However, your ISP can offer better QOS than a 3rd party VoIP provider especially if they request TC-1 be provisioned in the NBN access network which is something they may do for their own services which is particularly useful when the local access network is congested. Nevertheless, there are some drawback of bundled services:

      • They will increase the difficulty of churn between providers and make it take days rather than hours unless the losing provider is able to continue voice service after the Internet ported. Unless the number is ported first there is an increased risk of the number being lost and with many providers porting of the service will result in the Internet service being cancelled which can result in a minor or major disruption of Internet and therefore also the voice service.

      • Often cannot be used from outside the Internet providers network

      • Those that make use of QOS available in the NBN access network (TC-1) for VoIP will typically force you to use their router to access the voice service and won't reveal the VoIP credentials for use with your own gear.

      Of course with a 3rd party VSP you will need your own VoIP gear but for some people a softphone will suffice.

  • Tempting to get a number and forward vmail > email and use that number on webpage signups that have a chance in resulting in spam.

  • This deal got me wondering about how long I've had that old free PennyTel account (turns out it's 8 years)… and then this appears in my inbox!:

    As of the 30th of April 2022, MyNetFone will be closing your account and all associated services and numbers will be terminated.
    If you wish to retain the telephone numbers associated with these services, you will need to port them away to another carrier before this date.

    • +1

      Perfect timing, McFly

    • As of the 30th of April 2022, MyNetFone will be closing your account and all associated services and numbers will be terminated.

      It's appears that your service did not transition to Vonex for some reason. Mine did and so far I haven't received the email but I expect Vonex will discontinue $0 plans at some stage.

      For people whose service has transitioned to Vonex, don't panic, yet! You will be told when to panic.

      • Hmm, well I never got any notifications about/from Vonex, but my account is all there in their portal…

        • Puzzling. I'd got service transfer notifications and so far I haven't received any notification about my ex-PT account. Fingers crossed I won't. There is apparently some disconnect between Vonex and Symbio, You should call one or the other or both if you'd rather stay where you are and not risk disconnection.

      • You will be told when to panic.

        Priceless …

  • Does this work for receiving SMS? For me more important than the voice call is those pesky 2FA that send codes via SMS. If only there a virtual number that can forward all the text to email, we don't really need international roaming anymore.

    • No, though there is a slim possibility that the Telstra fixed line Talking Text voice service might work on an ex-Telstra number but the SMS sender would have to prepared to send text messages to non-mobile numbers which in general they don't. Some will provide codes via an automated voice call or their own app though.

      If only there a virtual number that can forward all the text to email, we don't really need international roaming anymore.

      There is but you'll need to pay, for example Crazytel $7.95/per month for a mobile DID, or slightly cheaper overall if the Whirlpool DID Saver offer is still available. Aussie mobile providers with WiFi calling are another option if they allow the service to work from foreign IP addresses or can be tricked with an AU VPN end-point. Roaming isn't an issue with SMSs as no AU provider charges to receive them. Lack of roaming in some countries is an issue though.

      • The thing is that all those DID are very expensive. In comparison, a new physical number from ALDI costs $5 and last for a year.

        Roaming isn't an issue with SMSs as no AU provider charges to receive them

        That is right, but some providers does not support roaming at all, eg: coles, boost.

  • +1

    I bought a block of ten numbers from SipTalk for $0.0969 per day ($2.95 per month), then ported them all to CrazyTel and now I'm paying $0.35 per month each. I can buy more numbers in any city for a minimum monthly cost of $0.35. The value really is crazy.

    • So cheap and interesting. What is this for? What would they be used for? Would it be to use as a local number in each city for a big business?

      • Having a block of numbers means I have a number that ends in 00. The fax number ends in 01.

    • what's the advantage of getting a number from siptalk compared to getting a crazytel number directly

      • I can't speak for zzymurgy but Siptalk is able to offer different number ranges. They were offering numbers starting with '9' for Sydney and Melbourne when I checked previously. They still differ from the local numbers most people would be familiar with though - only Telstra and whoever resells their products can offer those.

        • Bingo, the number ranges are way better at Siptalk.

          • @zzymurgy: Not that many to choose from though and no outer zones. I'm starting to become accustomed to seeing numbers starting with '8' but it was real shock to see a number starting with '7' on a business. It's probably wasn't the sort of business I'd do business with anyway, but I think I might just draw the line at calling numbers starting with '7' in Sydney and Melbourne. I didn't take it well the first time I saw an Optus number either! How can I possibly call someone without knowing which exchange they're on. ;-)

            • @Stingo: Agree 100%. In this case I was looking for some numbers that would look familiar to people in St Kilda Vic. Siptalk provided a block of numbers beginning with 993 (on the Optus network) which is close enough :-)

              • @zzymurgy: That was good luck. Melbourne's Telstra allocations for 03 993x seem to be spread over exchanges all over the place.

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