Spent some time, but I got my voice communications system up. Tested it and now feel confident that I can stay in touch, wherever I am in the globe, at least wherever there is a GlobalStar Satellite coverage.
My configuration is this :
Hardware/Services :
- Sprint Samsung S7 Smartphone
- 8×8 Polycom Handset
- AT&T Prepaid ZTE Z22 Flip phone( I love the ability to flip the phone to end the call)
- GlobalStar Qualcomm GSP-1600 Satellite handset
- Computer with Internet Access (I use an AT&T Mifi hotspot)
My Sprint phone number is linked with my Google Voice account. For this, you have to have a number with an area code in one of the 50 states. I haven’t tried Puerto Rico.
This linking gives you a lot of features. The most important one is the ability to forward calls to verified phone numbers. In my case, I have a SkypeIn #, an 8×8 phone service, and a GlobalStar Satellite phone. With this feature, calls coming to my Sprint #, ring on all these devices.
To make use of a prepaid GoPhone for use on the AT&T service, I configured the SkypeIn number to forward to the local AT&T number. I wanted this configuration, because when I travel to a location outside of the US, I can just get a local number and then configure Skype to forward to this number.
Is this configuration expensive ? Yes ! However, what is more expensive, is the lack of communications in my line of business.
Over time, I will figure out ways of optimizing this configuration for both cost and dependence on various service providers.
