TalkBroadband™ FAQs
- How is Broadband Voice/TalkBroadband different from my current local line?
- Whom is this service ideal for?
- Does TalkBroadband work with all types of High Speed Internet connections?
- I have a DSL Lite service. Can I still take advantage of TalkBroadband?
- Can I use your service over the dial-up Internet connection?
- Can I transfer my current phone number to TalkBroadband?
- Can I use my internal home wiring to get TalkBroadband in the different rooms?
- What do you mean by “selecting your area code”?
- Does your Broadband Voice service include 911 or 411 service?
- Can I get multiple phone lines?
- What is the “Alternate Number” service?
- Can my alternate number have a different area code than my main TalkBroadband number?
- Do I need to know a lot about computers to use this service?
- What do I need to use TalkBroadband?
- When will my TalkBroadband start?
- Do I need to turn my computer on to use TalkBroadband?
- Can I keep the service if I move?
- Can I keep the service if I travel?
- Can I use fax with your service?
- Can I get multiple phone lines?
- How is the service provided?
- What is a Voice Gateway?
- How much bandwidth do I require?
- Please tell me more about the 60-day trial period?
- How can I access my TalkBroadband VoiceMail remotely?
Answers:
- How is Broadband Voice/TalkBroadband different from my current local line?
- TalkBroadband is a leading edge technology that transforms your High Speed Internet service into a phone line – without the hassle of a service call. It works virtually the same way as your phone service does with your local telephone company, has a wide selection of local features and can be used with a standard phone set. And it is much less expensive. All you need is a Broadband Voice Gateway (which is sent to you free of charge) and you can start saving immediately.
- Whom is this service ideal for?
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TalkBroadband is ideal for a wide range of High Speed Internet users, e.g.
- Families with teenage children who need a cost-effective solution for additional phone lines
- Cable High Speed Internet and cellphone users who would like to replace their landline service
- People who have family and friends in other parts of Canada
- Home offices.
- Does TalkBroadband work with all types of High Speed Internet connections?
- TalkBroadband can work with virtually any always-on High Speed Internet service: DSL, DSL Lite or Cable modem. As well, TalkBroadband will work with most wireless ISPs. Most common wireless and wireline ISPs include Bell Sympatico, Rogers Cable, Shaw Cable, Telus, Videotron, Look and, of course, Primus.
- I have a DSL Lite service. Can I still take advantage of TalkBroadband?
- Yes. TalkBroadband is available for DSL Lite users.
- Can I use your service over the dial-up Internet connection?
- No, TalkBroadband is build specifically for always-on High Speed Internet connection and cannot be used with any type of the dial-up Internet service.
- Can I transfer my current phone number to TalkBroadband?
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Currently you can transfer to TalkBroadband any landline phone number within serviceable areas of Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, London, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Kitchener, Waterloo, Mississauga, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City and Halifax. We will be adding other area codes soon.
- Can I use my internal home wiring to get TalkBroadband in the different rooms?
- If you have Cable High Speed Internet connection, this may well be possible. Click here for the TalkBroadband Home Wiring Guide.
- What do you mean by “selecting your area code”?
- As a TalkBroadband customer you are not limited to the local area code of the place you live any more. You can select any other area code that is within TalkBroadband service area. For example, you could live in Vancouver or Orangeville and select a Toronto phone number (416 area code). This means that all your calls to Toronto as well as all calls to you from Toronto will be considered local (not long distance).
- Does your Broadband Voice service include 911 or 411 service?
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411 service is available now. Operator Services not offered at launch, however development is underway and we expect the services to be enabled in the near future in a number of markets.
9-1-1 Service is also available. TalkBroadband looks and appears to work like a phone, however it is different in that it connects to the Internet, not a telephone line. There are several important factors to consider regarding the impact of this service on your emergency calls. The type of 9-1-1 Service available to you depends on where and how you use your TalkBroadband service.
- Can I get multiple phone lines?
- At this point there is a limit of two phone lines/numbers per TalkBroadband gateway. However, if you need more than two phone numbers to receive incoming phone calls, you may benefit from our Alternate Number service.
- What is the “Alternate Number” service?
- As a TalkBroadband customer you can select one or two additional phone numbers, attached to the same phone line. When anyone calls your Alternate Number, your phone will ring differently, compared to your main TalkBroadband phone number. This service could be used to indicate calls to different members of the household, as incoming fax line or (unique to TalkBroadband) to let your family and friends from out of town to call you locally (see the question below). Outgoing calls are billed as if made from your main TalkBroadband line.
- Can my alternate number have a different area code than my main TalkBroadband number?
- Yes, this is possible. Please note that all your outgoing calls are billed as if made from your main TalkBroadband phone number.
- Do I need to know a lot about computers to use this service?
- No. TalkBroadband is very easy to install and you will use the same phone set you would normally use with your local telephone company.
- What do I need to use TalkBroadband?
- The only things you need to have are a High Speed Internet service (Cable or DSL) and a standard phone set. Primus will provide the additional equipment required to set up and use TalkBroadband - free of charge.
- When will my TalkBroadband start?
- Your TalkBroadband Starter Kit will arrive in within 7 days. You can install and start using it in minutes.
- Do I need to turn my computer on to use TalkBroadband?
- No, TalkBroadband does not require a computer. However, TalkBroadband allows you to talk and surf the Internet at the same time.
- Can I keep the service if I move?
- Yes, you can keep your service and your phone number. You just need to have a High Speed Internet connection at your new location.
- Can I keep the service if I travel?
- Yes, in most of the cases you can keep your service and your phone number when you travel, domestically or abroad. Just plug your Broadband Voice Gateway into a High Speed Internet connection at your new location – and you are ready to go. All your calls will be treated the same way as if made using TalkBroadband at your home. For example, if you travel from Toronto to Montreal or Hong Kong, you can take your service with you, plug into High Speed internet there, and make calls as if you were still in Toronto (i.e. people could still reach you at your 416 # or you can call their 416 # and neither party would be charged long distance). Due to the different network setup, there are cases when the service cannot be used in a new location.
- Can I use fax with your service?
- Yes, you can. There is no additional charge for using fax with TalkBroadband, however we need to know if you are planning to do so, so we can configure your service accordingly. Please also note that lower speed Lite internet services (such as DSL Lite or Cable Basic) will not support faxing.
- Can I get multiple phone lines?
- Yes! TalkBroadband for Business is available on a per line basis. Whether you need one, two or twenty-four (or greater!) lines, TalkBroadband for Business can meet your needs.
- How is the service provided?
- TalkBroadband for Business is provided through a PRIMUS supplied Voice Gateway. Depending on your specific business needs, you may receive a 2- 4- 8- or 24- port voice gateway - you will only pay for the number of active ports that you have ordered. Example: If a customer needs three lines in a centralized location, they may receive a 4-port voice gateway with three ports activated and will only pay for the required three lines.
- What is a Voice Gateway?
- The Primus supplied TalkBroadband for Business Voice Gateway carries out two main functions: converting your analog voice signal into a digital signal that can be transmitted over the internet, and providing a level of Quality of Service (QoS) to ensure that your voice packets receive a higher priority than data packets. The result is high quality voice calls with little impact on your overall network performance.
- How much bandwidth do I require?
- We recommend that you get in touch with our technical sales team to help determine your exact bandwidth requirement needs, but as a general rule of thumb, you need approximately 40kbps for a single voice call and 100kbps for a FAX call.
- Please tell me more about the 60-day trial period?
- TalkBroadband for Business requires a one-year term commitment commencing on the date of service activation during which time the first 60-days are classified as a trial period. During the 60-day trial period, the customer may return the equipment and cancel the service with no penalty. The customer is responsible for paying for the monthly service charge along with all applicable long distance charges from the time of activation (including the 60-day trial period).
- How can I access my TalkBroadband VoiceMail remotely?
- You can access your voicemail from any phone by dialing your TalkBroadband number, pressing * when you hear the voicemail prompt, and entering your password. You are now in the TalkBroadband voicemail system.