Canada Unlimited Plan from FPL

[georox]

Hi,

I'm trying to get the Canada Unlimited long distance plan working from my free phone line account (using my own ATA).
When I call the local access number on my cell phone, I get a new dial tone and I can make Canada-wide long distance calls. I note that as soon as I press the first digit of the long distance number that I am calling, the dial tone ceases.
However, when I call the local access number through my ATA and get the dial tone, the dial tone persists even as I am keying-in digits. The remote end does not seem to be receiving the digits of the long-distance number I wish to connect to.
Is there a special activation procedure required on the ATA to get my Canada Unlimited Plan to work through my FPL account?

Also, please note that voicemail DTMF detection is working fine and when I call a landline from my ATA handset, DTMF tones are heard normally on the remote end.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
George

[FONGO_kris]

Good morning George,

The Worldline DTMF is having some bugs with the FPL service, we are currently working to fix this and though I cannot say when it will be fixed I can say that it will be shortly.

I will try to keep this post updated with new information as I receive it.

If it is a major city in Canada, just try dialing direct as this is a feature in FPL to have free long distance to all major cities in Canada.

[FONGO_kris]

Another option is adjusting the DTMF settings on your ATA.

[georox]

Hi,

Still no dice after fiddling with my ATA's DTMF settings. I am experimenting with a Linksys SPA 3102 latest firmware.
The long-distance phone number is not being recognized by the Worldline service.
I have confirmed that tones are actually being produced by the ATA by calling a land-line and listening in...

Any good way to troubleshoot this issue?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer...

[linuxguytmb]

If FPL and WorldLine are partners, why do FPL users need to dial an access number from their FPL phones to use the $3.95 all Canada feature anyways... isn't there a way that FPL can automatically know what phone plan you pay for and not require the access number?? I understand having to use it from a cell or secondary line (PSTN, etc)... but if I understand the issue correctly, it makes no sense that subscribers would have to dial an access number to access long distance service on the phone on which the access is subscribed to??!

No other service that I can think of (Bell/Rogers/etc) require this.

If this is the case, this is an obvious area of "improvement needed".

;?

[FONGO_kris]

Thanks for the tips, but keep in mind we are VoIP, they are "PSTN ONLY" which can have these features added at low cost.

To even bypass the two stage dialing would require quite a lot of work and resources which we do not have at this time.

[FONGO_steve]

I know there are many plans to further develop the long distance for the future so I will make sure this suggestion is heard. I think the current plan underway is our "Per-Minute" worldwide calling for those of you who do not call enough or do not wish to subscribe to a monthly service. We'll see what's next!

[appost]

I wonder if there is a way of using the dial plan configuration of the ATA so that if the phone number entered is not part of the free long distance (e.g. Kingston Ontario numbers like 613-544-xxxx) it will use a dial plan to first dial the access number? Is this possible?

[FONGO_kris]

It is possible yes, but you would need to figure out the dial plan out your own.

Unless there is a huge demand to create this sort of dial plan unfortunately we won't do it.

[bwoodland]

Appost, did you ever give this a try? I also asked about it in a different thread, and was told to use a speed dial on the phone. I'll let you all know if I have any luck in my attempts. Just received my ATA tonight though, so haven't tried much yet.

[Bloodsong]

I assume because of the two stage dialling for the unlimited Dial Plan that follow-me won't work to numbers that would require this secondary number? (I.E. Barrie Ontario numbers.)

[FONGO_kris]

Well right now almost all of Canada is free to call and is expanding every day.

FollowMe would not work to something that requires two stage dialing you're right.

[TreeHugginHippy]

So, if I subscribe to unlimited calling to all of Canada I will be required to use tricky dialing procedures from my home phone to make a simple phone call?
I can't just pick up the phone connected to my ATA and make my call, unless it's covered under the Free Calling Area? Do I need to dial an access number or something?
... Am I understanding this correctly?
If so, what exact procedures will i need to go through to make calls to a location in Canada not covered by the free calling area, if I where to subscribe to unlimited Canadian Service?

From the official FAQ

What’s the catch? Do I need to enter a password, PIN number or listen to advertisements before I make my free call?
NEVER! We offer you free phone lines with zero catches. There will never be advertising, tricky dialling procedures or any other catches when it comes to making your free calls!

[FONGO_kris]

Free call refers to every call. Our LD right now IS 2-Stage dialing - Pay as you go and Prepaid to come, VERY SOON!

[FONGO_steve]

The FAQ post just refers to basic free calling - not the long distance plans