Free USA DID
 

Sipgate.com have just launched "Sipgate One". They are offering one free USA DID to people who sign up.

Sipgate.com DIDs are currently available for U.S. residents only.

The funny thing is that they have much cheaper international rates than the german mother branch. Lovely.

911 Emergency charge
 

If you sign up for "Sipgate One", watch out for the 911 Emergency charge:

"Enhanced 911 Emergency Services will cost you only $1.90 a month when activated. E911 Emergency Services will be activated automatically when you credit your account for the first time."

Warning, Will Robinson. Danger! Danger!

Yes it works, just signed up but seems that the free number is limited to a number in california.

After that you could buy more did numbers but at the moment they seem to have limited area codes available.

So yes you can have free number. If you need more number I sugget les.net they have many area codes available.

There are many more states available, but it only gives you a choice of area codes which are possible at the address you give. For the location I gave it in another state, I got a choice of numbers in the current area code, and in the pre-split area code (where some legacy numbers can be found).

But, the numbers are NOT always local. I'm in a very large area code, and the only exchange it offers in the area code is actually over 200 miles away! Still, it sort-of looks local, few would check.

The $1.90 a month E911 charge seems to be required though, if you ever add any money to the account. Don't think you can opt-out.

Any free US DID available for non-US residents?

Sipgate One works without any problem
 

You just need to provide a US address. You don´t need to activate the E911 service.

Username = Authorization name.
Display Name = US telephone number. (I chose not to include a leading "1".)

Sipgate One sound quality is okay with G711u. Everything works fine.

yep, just signed up too. unfortunately no minnesota numbers but got a nice other one till they have minnesota available.
sipgate typical crystal clear sound quality on the calls and fast connects. I use the german sipgate for many years already and was always content.

Chris

Highly recommend sipgate
 

Yes, I agree with you Chris. I´ve used sipgate DE, AT and UK since their launch dates.

Sipgate´s sound quality, technical support, online store, and line reliability have always been first class.

Does anyone know what California area codes are offered?

Does anyone have a name and source for a stand alone phone that will work with this service?

1) I got a 415 code.

2) any phone that supports the SIP standard can be used.
A huge variety can be seen at the german SIPGATE shop: sipgate Voip Shop -

I personally use this one: http://www.sipgate.de/voipshop/siemens/gigaset_c470ip

Chris

Available California Area Codes
 

Most of the California Area Codes seem to be available (except "408"): 209, 213, 310, 323, 415, 424, 510, 530, 559, 562, 619, 626, 650, 657, 661, 707, 714, 747, 760, 805, 818, 831, 858, 909, 916, 925, 949, 951.

To see the current list of available Californian Area Codes, give a "408 area code" address. For example, Los Gatos. You could then select the code you wish to have.

C470IP suitable for USA?
 

Chris, I agree with you that the C470IP is a very good DECT voip phone. However, is the phone compatible with US analogue telephone lines?

The C470IP and C475IP phones (the C475IP has an answer machine) work perfectly as sip voip phones (with up to 6 different voip accounts), even without a normal landline connection.

Don´t order one from sipgate DE - they will give you a 230 volt power supply!

That was just an example to see that there is really a wide range of phones on the market. Of course he should order from the US - but this helps to feed the right brand names in the search engine :-)

Chris

FREE IP Calling with IPKall will give you a free US DID.

It seems pretty nice i will give it a try

Need to use a USA proxy/VPN to sign up.