SIP to SIP Calls and e164.org

[pmerrill]

A quick question to see if my understanding is correct. I have put my home PSTN number on e164, so presumably if anyone makes a call to my PSTN via VoIP, the call will be free if their provider looks the number up on e164 first.

The process, as I understand it, is that my home pstn 9452XXXX would get translated to my sipme number 1777XXXXXX and the call would be placed directly to the 1777XXXXXX number for a cost of $0 (in most cases depending on their VSP provider).

I've tried to test my home number with voxalot (which I thought did the e164 lookup) and was expected it to route the call directly to 1777XXXXXX@sip.sipme.com.au but instead it routed it to 029452XXXX@sip.sipme.com.au.

Is this correct?

Another thing I don't quite understand. From reading about sipbroker, and given that I have a DrayTek 2100V, it appears that I have to route my calls to sipbroker first so that it can sort out where to send the outbound call. But since I have a DID provided by sipme, doesn't that mean that sipme would be unable to route calls to my DID (especially from the PSTN network)? So if someone phoned my DID from the PSTN, there is no way SIPME could route the call to me unless they too used sipbroker on the inbound call? So,

Call to 02XXXXXXXX (my DID) from someone on the PSTN
PSTN routes call to SIPME exchange
SIPME looks up 02XXXXXXXX on sipbroker and finds there is a match to 1777XXXXXX@sip.sipme.com.au
SIPME routes call to 1777XXXXXX@sip.sipme.com.au
***but since my ATA is not registered with sipme but with sipbroker, then sipme thinks I'm off-line and fails the call???

The only way that I can see this all working is for the VSP (sipme in my case) to use sipbroker in their routing process.

Am I on the right track or completely in left field?

[melbournelees]

Originally Posted by pmerrill

I've tried to test my home number with voxalot (which I thought did the e164 lookup) and was expected it to route the call directly to 1777XXXXXX@sip.sipme.com.au but instead it routed it to 029452XXXX@sip.sipme.com.au.

You have to instruct VoXaLot to change the number to International format before sending to ENUM Lookup. You can do that in Dial Plans, Advance Mode. International format is 6129452XXXX It will not affect the number sent to Sipme.

Lee. ^#^

[pmerrill]

Thanks for the info, it seems to work.

However, just for my info, in order to take advantage of e164, do I have to do it by using services like sipbroker or voxalot or do most VSPs use the service so that I don't have to?

[DracoFelis]

Originally Posted by pmerrill

However, just for my info, in order to take advantage of e164, do I have to do it by using services like sipbroker or voxalot or do most VSPs use the service so that I don't have to?

Pretty much any VoIP provider could add ENUM to their service, if they chose to do so. But many still don't for some reason (although the numbers that do use ENUM are slowing rising). So for the time being, using some ENUM enabled service (such as SIP Broker or VoXaLot) is the easiest way for most users to dial e164.org numbers.

NOTE:
It's possible to get "customer owned" equipment that will do e164.org/ENUM lookups directly, without going through any VoIP service to dial ENUM. For example, the open source http://www.asterisk.org IP-PBX, has direct "built-in" support for ENUM. So with the right equipment, you can do the ENUM lookups directly (and then just have your VoIP equipment make the direct "peer to peer" call shown in the ENUM database). It's just that most "end users" find it easier to use a service like VoXaLot (to make the ENUM calls), than to have to get/use fully ENUM enabled VoIP equipment...

[pmerrill]

Originally Posted by DracoFelis

Pretty much any VoIP provider could add ENUM to their service, if they chose to do so. But many still don't for some reason (although the numbers that do use ENUM are slowing rising). So for the time being, using some ENUM enabled service (such as SIP Broker or VoXaLot) is the easiest way for most users to dial e164.org numbers.

NOTE:
It's possible to get "customer owned" equipment that will do e164.org/ENUM lookups directly, without going through any VoIP service to dial ENUM. For example, the open source http://www.asterisk.org IP-PBX, has direct "built-in" support for ENUM. So with the right equipment, you can do the ENUM lookups directly (and then just have your VoIP equipment make the direct "peer to peer" call shown in the ENUM database). It's just that most "end users" find it easier to use a service like VoXaLot (to make the ENUM calls), than to have to get/use fully ENUM enabled VoIP equipment...

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, the problem of inbound DID always appears then. In order to use Voxalot I need to register with Voxalot and then SIPME cannot route calls made to my DID. What I need to somehow do is register with SIPME and route calls to Voxalot, which then can route calls back to the "best" provider, which could include SIPME. Unfortunately, that means that Voxalot would need to provide some other means of identifying me other than me registering with them.

Asterisk is a great solution but I don't want to run a PC all day and night. That's why my router's there.

I guess I'll wait until the industry matures a bit and these problems sort themselves out.

[martin]

Originally Posted by pmerrill

Unfortunately, that means that Voxalot would need to provide some other means of identifying me other than me registering with them.

VoXaLot does not require your ATA to be registered with our proxy. The ATA can use VoXaLot as a gateway (if your ATA supports this).

Just means that the your VoXaLot inbounds will either goto voicemail or use call forwarding (if set-up).