| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
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What is Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)?
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| VoIP technology allows you to use your existing home, work, and cell phone to make calls over your broadband Internet. Unlike traditional telephone service providers, your calls are routed along the least trafficked and cheapest lines, which translate to substantial savings on your local, long distance, and international calls. Best of all, you'll enjoy the same voice quality and more great features for less money.
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How does VoIP work? |
| VoIP retrieves analog audio signals from your phone conversations and converts it into digital data that can then be sent out to thousands of possible paths via the Internet. This process is made possible thanks to a small analog-to-digital converter called Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA). Simply plug your telephone cable into your ATA instead of the phone jack and connect your Internet modem/router with the ATA using an Ethernet network cable. You're now ready to make VoIP calls or faxes! Refer to How it Works page to learn more on this topic.
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What are some of the advantages of using VoIP Service?
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| Substantial savings on your phone bill over your traditional phone service is one of the biggest reasons for signing up to VoIP phone service. The amount you save varies on the type of calling plan and your current phone usage. Other advantages include extensive range of features not offered by traditional phone providers, ability to move anywhere and keep the same number, and real-time calling and billing activity shown on your Web Account Portal.
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Will VoIP save me money of a traditional phone service? |
| Yes, VoIP will always save you more money hands down! Routing calls via the Internet is more cost-effective, government legislation favors the VoIP Industry, and the increasing savviness of VoIP technologies are some reasons why your phone bills will be less with VoIP providers.
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Who should be signing up to Times Telecom service? |
Times Telecom broadband phone is ideal for a wide range of High Speed Internet users, including:
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Families or roommates who want to add personal phone line(s)
- Students & young professionals who want to pay less for an equivalent or better telephone service
- Cable High Speed Internet and cellular phone users who have little use for a traditional telephone service, but still want to keep a low cost landline phone
- People who call often to family and friends in other parts of Canada and overseas
- Heavy travelers who want a phone number to follow them wherever they go
- Professionals with home offices
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What do I need before I get started with Times Telecom? |
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You need to have access to a broadband Internet connection, such as DSL or Cable and a traditional touchtone phone or fax machine. Times Telecom will supply you with the phone adaptor that allows you to connect your phone handset to the Internet. Times Telecom has compiled a list of mandatory and optional equipments you will need to make calls using Times Telecom service, found on our Requirements page . Even though a computer is needed to access your online account Portal, a computer is not required to use Times Telecom Service.
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How difficult is it to set-up once I get VoIP service? |
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Setting up Times Telecom Broadband Phone is fast and easy! You don't need to be technically savvy to be able to plug and play. Simply plug your telephone cable into your ATA instead of the phone jack and connect your Internet modem/router with the ATA using an Ethernet network cable. You're now ready to make VoIP calls or faxes! For more information on how to setup your ATA, please visit our How it Works page.
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Is Times Telecom a cell phone or wireless phone service provider? |
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No. Times Telecom is a VoIP service provider. As such, we allow you to make and receive local, long distance, and international calls from your home phone, computer, or cell phone using your broadband Internet connection. By subscribing to our service, you can use your cellular phone to access our network and make free calls within the destinations included in your calling plan. Calls made to other destinations will be billed according to our low “Anytime, Anywhere” rates. Learn more on how you can use you cell phone to access your unlimited minutes here. |
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Do I need a particular type of telephone to use your service? |
| No. Your current phone is fine enough. You can connect any corded or cordless telephone handset and fax machine to the phone adapter. There is no need to buy a special telephone handset to access Times Telecom service. Alternatively, you can acquire a multi-handset telephone which allows you to have more than one phone in your house or apartment.
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Will the voice quality sound the same as my normal phone? |
| Yes. Times Telecom only use state-of-the-art hardware and software so that our voice quality is identical from that of your traditional phone. You will not be able to tell the difference between your new Times Telecom phone and your old traditional phone. You may experience on the rare occasion some quality degradation if your Internet service provider encounters network problems.
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Do I need to keep my computer ON for my Times Telecom service to work? |
| No. Your broadband phone is directly plugged to your active Internet connection, and therefore totally bypasses your computer.
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I have an Apple Macintosh computer. Can I still access Times Telecom service and my account portal? |
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Yes, Times Telecom is compatible with Mac computers. In fact, both features are accessible via any current web browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Netscape, etc), any computer (PC or Mac), and any computer applications (Windows or OSX).
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