VoipBuster

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VoipBuster is one of several Internet telephony services (also called VoIP-service) of Betamax GmbH & Co. KG in Germany. Formerly VoipBuster was a service of Swiss based Finarea SA. VoipBuster uses a client software with proprietary protocol, but can also be accessed via SIP-protocol. VoipBuster features low call rates. Subscribers can mutually call for free, and call for free to fixed lines in selected countries worldwide (0 pennies per minute and no start tariff) for a limited number of days after payments to VoipBuster.

Unsupported Functionality

Functionality

VoipBuster provides voice-over-Internet services similar to (for example) Skype, but offers a unique phone-to-phone call bridging service.

VoIP-Out

The user selects the name of a listed user, or enters a username or phone number, and the connection is made. User-to-user calls are free, but there is a charge for user-to-phone calls in most countries, with the exception of some countries mostly located in Europe, North America and East Asia.

VoIP-In

Users are provided a Voip-In phone number, which others can call at no cost to the VoipBuster user. VoIP-in numbers are not available in all countries. At one time Dutch users were able to obtain a Dutch phone number, which can be called from fixed and mobile lines. The caller pays the costs for calling to a fixed line in the Netherlands, for the recipient (the user) the conversation is free. VoIP-In provides for nomadic use of a Dutch phone number (a user can log in abroad and be reached there on the Dutch phone number); this is controversial and officially prohibited by the Dutch telecom regulator OPTA. Unfortunately now a free phone number is no longer offered.

Web-based ring

A user enters his own phone number and the recipient's number through VoipBuster software or the VoipBuster website. The user's phone rings, then the recipient's phone. No additional equipment is needed to use VoipBuster on a landline. For both calls (to the user and recipient) call costs are charged, plus a start tariff.

SMS

A user can send SMS to any phone numbers in the world – users submit the message via the software or the subscriber page on the website.

SMSdiscount is another service run by VoipBuster. ^[1] The price drop to 1c/min.

Other

Other VoipBuster options include forwarding all incoming calls to another number and anonymous calling.

Betamax GmbH & Co KG are responsible for Internet telephony services VoipBuster, VoipBusterPro, Lowratevoip, JustVoip(no SIP), 12Voip, VoipDiscount, VoipStunt, VoipCheap, Webcalldirect, SIPDiscount, SparVoip.de, NetAppel.fr, PoivY, Freecall and Internetcalls. These services are very similar, but each has its own rate plans.^[2] One of these services does not support SIP (e.g. JustVoip), which may limit its usability.

Costs

VoipBuster works with prepaid accounts, with no monthly subscription costs. An account is created using the VoipBuster software. Adding funds to an account ("topping up") is done by credit card or bank transfer; the funds will be immediately available as prepaid call credit and are valid indefinitely.

After payment the user is allocated a number of "Freedays", depending on the amount and the used payment method (10€ by credit card adds 120 Freedays). During "Freedays", no costs are charged for calling to designated destinations (the "free" countries mentioned above) listed on the VoipBuster website. These free calls terminate after one hour; afterwards a new call must be made. One can converse up to 300 minutes per week for free, measured over the last seven days. If this limit is reached, or no more "Freedays" are left, the ordinary costs for the destinations are charged.

Accounts with no credit, and no Freedays, are marked as "trial account". With a trial account, a user can only call other users, and place test calls of a few minutes to landlines in selected "free" countries.

Strategy

Appears that the company continuously increases its prices in some hidden ways. It changes terms constantly without notice, i.e. you may discover changes by seeing if there's anything new on their home pages. Originally you could do test calls of 1 minute for free, and then call unlimited forever by paying 1 euro. Then a 300 minute limit per week was introduced, and then forever became 120 days, and then 90 days, and 1 euro became 10 euros - which you eventually may spend as free nations are no longer free after 90 days. Also number of nations get reduced frequently, but they keep launching web sites with new names several times per year with more nations to tempt you to switch. These are advertised for in the voip software as they become live. Normally popular nations like USA are removed after some time.

They've launched in 2007 a fee to pay them (like Ryanair) and also a fee if you want a VOIP-in number (used to be free). Latest feature seems that the 10 euros you pay to get "free nations" can no longer be used as credit, you lose the money after 90 days. Any non-free destinations need a separate 10 euro credit. This seems not yet to have been implemented on all older brand names, but currently used on their latest 12voip.com brand service.

You should therefore watch out for constant changes to their terms, one day it may become more expensive than alternative providers.