What sort of equipment is involved?
How do I hook it up?
Which service should I choose
What do toll calls cost?
How does Midcoast Internet Phone Service differ from other VOIP services?
How does Midcoast Internet Phone Service differ from traditional phone service?
911 Service
Other Equipment
Can I keep my number?
Other Services

What sort of equipment is involved?

To have VOIP, there is typically a special little box (VOIP Adaptor) we provide that connects into your broadband router's network jack. This converts Internet packets into something your existing phones can use. There are also phones available for use with VOIP that plug straight into your network jack rather than a telephone jack. VOIP Adaptors differ in the number of lines they support, features, and backup options. We will help you pick one to fit your needs.

We offer four types of equipment to meet different needs:

1. Grandstream gs286 adaptor - $40.00

Provides a jack for one phone line; plugs into your LAN and power. Simple.

2. Grandstream gs486 adaptor - $55.00

Provides a jack for one phone line. Plugs into either LAN or broadband connection directly to act as a firewall/dhcp server/router for your LAN. Provides better quality of service than gs286 when faced with simultaneous voice and heavy data traffic.

3. Innomedia $TBD

Provides jacks for two phone lines. Plugs into either LAN or broadband connection directly to act as a firewall/dhcp server/router for your LAN. Provides better quality of service than gs286 when faced with simultaneous voice and heavy data traffic. A first choice for business that might need multi-line capabilities and firewall features.

MIS can help you pick one of these choices to best meet your needs. MIS does not make money on this hardware - we provide it priced as low as possible to keep this service affordable.

You do not need to have your computer on to make or receive calls. This service uses equipment that stays on all the time like your broadband radio or DSL modem.

How do I hook it up?

The VOIP Adaptor typically has three connections on it. It has an ethernet jack to connect to your broadband firewall or network. It has a power wire that plugs into the wall outlet or UPS. It has one or more phone outlets for a telephone or house wiring.

To hook up a telephone, just plug the telephone cable from the phone into the VOIP Adaptor.

To hook your home phone wiring up, there are two steps. MIS is not responsible for this, as it's your home's wiring not ours. First, disconnect your phone wiring from the phone company by disconnecting it from the phone company test jack or network interface device (nid). This is typically a plastic or metal box near where the phone wire comes to your house. Then you can connect the VOIP Adaptor to any phone jack in the house to provide phone service to the rest of the house. If this process exceeds your comfort or skill level with wiring, then consult a business that specializes in phone/data wiring to do this properly.

Which of the services should I choose? MIS offers VOIP in two plans for residential or business service.

All residential choices provide your choice of five of the following features..
All business choices provide your choice of two of the following features..
If you need more features they can be ordered ala carte from this list.

If you frequently utilize instate and out of state long distance, we'd recommend the "Unlimited Local, Intrastate, Interstate Calling" plan. You will not have to worry about long distance minutes, except for international calls. It's a simple, predictable, and affordable phone service. If you use multiple lines, this might make a good outgoing line to place all calls on. This will keep your main line free for incoming calls and free of expensive toll calls. You could very well pay for the Internet Phone Service simpy by eliminating toll calls on your traditional line or by gained business from being more available.

The "Unlimited Local Calling" option is closest to what a normal overpriced phone lines provides. Calls outside the local calling area are toll calls. (Our toll prices are very cost effective though). If you rarely call long distance, want a second line for the kids, don't have a line and want to supplement your cell phone, or you don't like to call people, this might be a good choice.

What do toll calls cost?

We charge 3.5 cents per minute for toll calls instate, out of state, and Canada. International call are also affordable but costs vary by country and are too numerous for this page. We do not provide PIC capabilities where you can specify a different long distance carrier. This prevents the widespread practice of slamming.

How does Midcoast's Internet Phone Service differ from other VOIP Services?

The prices differ little, but the way Internet Phone is done and the choices available differ quite a bit.

MIS Internet Phone Service can provide local phone exchange numbers in the local Verizon areas. Few companies can offer a Camden, Boothbay, or Waldoboro phone number for example. A national provider might provide a Portland or Augusta number. (Nobody can get phone numbers from the independent phone companies such as TDS, Tidewater, or Fairpoint).

MIS Internet Phone Service calls go over the Internet a shorter distance. Most VOIP providers have their switching and phone networking equipment in distant places, and the traffic goes through many intermediary paths neither the VOIP provider or the customer has control over. This can be a cause of fluctuations of quality and can make troubleshooting difficult. MIS uses switching gear located in our Portland Maine. We have business relationships with the companies that provide the paths to this switching equipment in Portland and can provide better reliability and service as a result.

MIS Internet Phone Service equipment is setup to work with most MIS broadband. (It works with other broadband systems too!) If you need claification if your broadband connection is suitable please contact us at: (207) 594-8277. Typically when the two services are provided by different companies, each company can only go so far when providing tech support or fixing things. Sometimes this leads to finger pointing or mixed communications instead of problem solving. With MIS Internet Phone Service and broadband, we can troubleshoot or investigate any part of the combination for better and more efficient service.

MIS provides a range of equipment choices to best meet your phone needs. Single line VOIP adaptors, VOIP adaptors with POTS (plain old telephone system) failover/backup, multiline VOIP adaptors, and VOIP phones. Most VOIP companies have a one size fits all answer where you get what ever cheap hardware was on closeout that month. We can discuss our equipment options when you order so you get what best suits your needs. We do not profit from selling VOIP adaptors, it is just a necessity for using an Internet Phone Service.

How does Midcoast Internet Phone Service differ from traditional phone service?

VOIP :

• is less expensive, both for toll and per month use
• has fewer taxes or surcharges than normal phone
• provides choices of phone exchanges
• provides great calling features
• is available without special wiring
• requires electricity to operate
• works with phones, but not modems or credit card machines
• is not regulated by the state of Maine
• services places phone lines cannot

911 Service

For Emergency 911 service, address information you provide will be used to identify your phone's location. VOIP phone technology is portable. If you wish for 911 location capabilities to be accurate, that information should be updated by you if you change locations. VOIP requires power for the VOIP adaptor and broadband equipment. If you lose power, VOIP will not work. Many computer stores sell UPSs that can keep your VOIP and broadband running during moderate duration outages.

Other Phone Equipment

VOIP is not compatible with all fax devices. You will need to check your owners manual to disable ECM, and reduce connect speed to 9600 or lower. VOIP cannot work as a modem line. If you need to use a modem, such as for credit card authorization, satellite pay-per-view or Tivo like DVR/scheduling services, you should keep a traditional phone line for that. Non-DirectTv Tivos can be setup to use ethernet instead of phone with the purchase of a USB ethernet adaptor. If you have an elevator or phone-connected alarm system, you may need to keep a traditional phone line. These are beyond the scope of our technical support though. If you use a phone system such as a key system or pbx, the line from the Internet Phone Service may be able to connect up to a CO line port. This is best attempted by the company that services your phone system, not MIS. If you have a VOIP phone system, we can provide the SIP settings needed to use our Internet Phone Service.

Can I keep my number?

If you have a Verizon area number, it can be ported to the MIS Internet Phone Service. This takes about a week. You can still use your Internet Phone Service while this order is processing, but you won't receive calls to your old number on the Internet Phone service until the the order is complete. This takes time because there are two phone companies that are involved and they have to update various databases.

If you have a phone number from an independent phone company (Tidewater, Lincolnville, TDS, Fairpoint, or another rural company), it can not be ported, as those exchanges are operated differently and under different rules.

Other Services

MIS is also not in the yellow pages business. If you need that, keep a traditional phone line.

MIS Voip will also work on other broadband systems; if you can't get MIS broadband, our VOIP may work with another broadband service.

594-8277 25 Oak Street Rockland Contact Midcoast Internet Solutions 563-8563 7 Hall Street Newcastle