Welcome to C-talk.co.nz VoIP with service for NZ businesses
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between "normal" phone service and C-talk phone service? C-talk provides VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone service. In a nut shell, it means that your phone service (lines) are trunked through your internet connection, instead of going over Telecom's analgoue network. This is how we're able to provide you with equivalent phone service at a much lower cost than with Telecom or another analogue service provider.
Do I have to change my phone number if I switch to C-talk service? No. We are able to port (transfer) any existing landline number, or tollfree (0800 or 0508) number, and use it with the C-talk service. So you won't have to change any phone numbers if switching to C-talk from another provider. Number porting has a one-off fee of $20 per number. See the Downloads page to download the comprehensive C-talk porting guide.
Do you provide internet along with the VoIP service? No. You will need to retain your internet connection with your current provider. If you do not currently have an internet provider, or are looking at using naked DSL with your C-talk VoIP service, we can recommend a provider - please contact us for details.
What type of internet connection do I need to use C-talk VoIP? You need some form of broadband (high speed) connection. The most common type is ADSL, and most people use C-talk VoIP over an ADSL broadband connection. You can also use Wireless broadband. Wireless broadband is different to mobile broadband - see next question.
Can I run C-talk VoIP using my T-stick or Vodem (mobile broadband)? Unfortunately not. While theoretically it does work, we do not advise customers to do this, as both Telecom and Vodafone explicitly ban VoIP traffic from being used over their mobile networks in their terms and conditions. If you did so, you could be liable for suspension of your mobile account.
What broadband speed do I need to use C-talk VoIP? This depends on what voice codec you use. You can use either an uncompressed, high-bandwidth codec, or a compressed, low-bandwidth codec. Most customers use the low-bandwidth codec, and are happy with it. Using this codec, it is recommended to have at least 150kbps of bandwidth (upstream and downstream) for each number of "lines" you want (ie. the number of simultaneous calls you'll make). Some ADSL plans are limited to 128kbps upload speed. This is usually fine for a single-line VoIP connection, but if you want >1 lines/calls, you'll need a plan that is full speed upload and download.
How much data does VoIP take? This depends on two key factors: What voice codec you're using (see above) and how much you're on the phone! Using the most common voice codec (low-bandwidth), a 10 minute call will use about 3.5 megabytes. So most customers VoIP data would be under a gigabyte per month.
Can I get a C-talk account for my home phone? Yes you can. Often people ask this question when they see or hear "$35 for a single line and FREE calling...", however there's a few things you will want to consider first. The main way to use VoIP for your homeline, and make it cheaper than an analogue homeline, is to use naked DSL or wireless broadband (broadband without a phone account). Changing from a "normal" phone line to naked DSL or wireless broadband with a C-talk VoIP account takes a few steps. Contact us and we can advise you on how to go about this.
If you have a home-business, the situation is easier. You can keep your existing phone line and broadband for home use, and then ADD a C-talk single line plan for your business, which is separate to your home line, and has a unique phone number for your business.
What important things do I need to know about the C-talk VoIP serivce? The most important is that it is an internet-based service, meaning it it dependant on your internet connection for use. Internet connections have improved greatly in the last year, and are now generally very reliable. However, they can still go down from time to time, and if this happens, you may lose part or full functionality of your VoIP phone service. In most cases, a business will still have at least one analogue line with which they can make outgoing calls. Incoming calls can be divereted to either the analogue line, mobile phones, or to voicemail until the internet is restored.
What payment options do you offer? C-talk bills in a traditional manner, with an invoice at the end of the month, and payment is required on the 20th of the following month. You can pay by direct credit (internet banking/bill payment), cheque, or credit card. C-talk has a strict overdue policy - see Downloads for the the C-talk Overdue policy and procedure document