Should I Port In My Number To Fongo Mobile or Freephoneline?

[jaysoya]

I got the Fongo Mobile app running on my iPhone and I've got the freephoneline unlock credentials set up with my ata at home. Both numbers presently have area code 437 (I'm in Toronto by the way). I am deciding which of the 2 services is better to port in my 416 number to.

For the past 2 years the 416 number was hooked up to an Ata. There was very little outbound and inbound calling going on because I was using a free mobile texting and calling app as my main number and it worked pretty good and still does. The benefit of the 416 number, which was connected to the ata is for the last year I've had it set up with my building as a buzzer number so I could buzz people in. Another reason was that I could dial toll free numbers if needed. Both of those do not work on my mobile call and texting app and are important to me. It's also what I call my "home phone", so that if someone can't reach me on my free mobile app number, they can call my "home phone" number. It is also what I give out as a more professional number.

Now, since trying out Fongo Mobile it was nice to see that the app could call toll free numbers as well as buzz people in my building.

So I'm trying to decide if it would be better to port the 416 number to Freephoneline and have that forwarded to Fongo Mobile to simultaneously ring so that I could buzz people in the building or receive "home phone" calls both on my ata at home and on my iPhone while on the go. I could also dial toll free numbers from Fongo Mobile as well if needed.

Now if I were to do it the opposite way, port my 416 number to Fongo Mobile and have it forwarded to simultaneously ring on my freephoneline number on my ata at home, I would still be able to buzz people in at either location and make toll free calls, and also answer it as my more professional "home phone" number.

I know the difference is very minimal, but there are some differences I'd like to bring up....

1) Reliability & Sound Quality. So I am assuming that the freephoneline line setup with the ata will have better quality audio than the Fongo Mobile, but I'm not sure how much better. Remember I'm only really using it for the reasons stated above. So not sure if I should worry too much about the difference as much. Can some of you comment on the reliability and sound quality of how they compare? Perhaps what codecs and how much bandwidth each service uses? Also, if freephoneline temporarily goes down and I have it set up to forward and simultaneously ring on Fongo Mobile, will Fongo Mobile still ring? Same question for the reverse. If Fongo Mobile temporarily goes down and I have it set up to forward to freephoneline to simultaneously ring, will freephoneline still ring?

2) Texting. This one is obvious. If I port in my 416 number to Fongo Mobile, it will have the added benefit of texting if needed, which is a nice feature to have. Even though I will be still using my other free mobile app for that more often.

I think those are my main concerns. If anything else comes to mind, I'll be sure to update the thread. Thanks!

[Jake]

I don't think call quality should be a concern to you. Calls to the Fongo app will always be one quality and calls to the ATA will be another. It doesn't 'pass through' one to get to the other when set to ring simultaneously. In essence, if you are going to set it up to make both ring at the same time, it won't really matter which service you port to. If you want to test call quality, you can always set it up now and test with your FPL/Fongo numbers that you have now. Nothing will change quality wise once you port in a number.

As long as nothing changes for you in the plans for usage, the only thing I can think would make a difference is which device you are more likely to make an outgoing call from, and you want it to show the ported number as the calling number. For example if someone calls you on your mobile app and you miss the call, if you call them back using a number they do not know they might not pick up. If they recognise your number it will probably be less confusing for them.

Personally I think I would port it to the Fongo app. Purely so people would be able to send text messages also (even if you have not bought a texting package from Fongo), then you would be able to reply on your other service. Otherwise I don't see much difference.

[jaysoya]

Thanks Jake. I will test both over the next few days like you suggested. As long as the quality is nearly the same on each I guess the Fongo Mobile app might be better for the reasons you mentioned. Will have to test each out some more.

Do you know if they both use the same audio codecs?

[Jake]

I doubt it. I know the ATA will use G729 or G711 where as according to this post http://support.fongo.com/entries/256629 ... -AOSP-ROMs the phone app seem to be using either PCMU or SILK.

[jaysoya]

I hope the mobile app does use PCMU. That's a clear codec. I don't really care about bandwidth usage that much