Alternative Internet telephony and DSL providers

Hi Telecom gurus,
I have an internet phone (dedicated) from somecompany that can be connected directly to the DSL modem (it can only talk to similar devices over internet). If I joined Alice DSL...would there be any problems? do they block transfer of alternative VOIP providers?

No

Or a better answer.. Not yet

That's not a better answer at all. Most ISPs are positively promoting VoIP services to get business away from the Telcos.

I have Alice and am using a VoIP service at the moment without any issues.

Little device plugs into my router and then a standard cordless phone plugs into that - I have a UK 0845 number with it, I get to make cheap calls and almost as important, people in the UK can call me for max 4p a minute peak rate too

4p a minute from UK? Wow! That's outrageous...

thanks guys,
Seems there is no problem...
so I have another question, i just got my phone connected with T-comust 2 days working with free installation and reduced phone price. someone from Alice convincing me it's not a problem to move to their service. is it true even for my condition (just joined) ? another question is the service called Alice 2000 for DSL only...can i just subscribe for this service without anything required from T-com ?

A pre-requisite for most DSL-based Internet services is a Telephone line. Alice are a full service provider. They will provide you with phone, DSL and internet service as a package.

You are (usually) committed to Telekom, who presumably provide your phone and DSL line, for a minimum of one month, thereafter you can cancel anytime with 6 working days (i.e. one week) notice. However, Telekom don't provide the Internet service you use, only the DSL-line to use it over. You almost certainly have another provider for that, possible T-Online (spit, spit) who many people think is the same as Telekom (they are related, but not the same). Like most other ISPs all T-Online flatrate packages have minimum 12 month contracts, and must be cancelled three months before the end of the contract year or renew automatically for another year. So while you might be able to cancel (or move to Alice) your phone and DSL line, you can't move or cancel your internet access. There's nothing to stop you paying for, but not using your T-online service and getting the full package however. You'll need to work out yourself if this is worth the €109.95 (11 x €9.95) you will waste on T-online to do this.

There is one other thorn you might encounter. Depending on your contract, it is possible that T-Online are taking over your DSL-provision from Telekom - this is common in most new contracts, due to the "bulk-resale" deals from Telekom. If this is the case, then your DSL-provision and contract mirrors your internet access, and you may be stuck with that too for 11 more months.

None of this is a problem to move to Alice, like they said, but you may end up paying two companies for one service, which I guess they didn't say...

YL6

YL6
just one comment, I don't have DSL access from T.com I only have the analog phone line, with contract starting 19 June. So I assume I would be obliged to pay until end of August! (6weeks+1month) this seems the problem cause alice will start to charge me from now on. but if I joined today they will have 1month free of charge...this leaves me with some extra weeks double paid...is it true?

Having no DSL/Internet is to your advantage. You have a one-month minimum contract with Telekom, so you can call them now and arrange cancellation for 19 July (one month after connection). HOWEVER, you don't need to call them at all. Alice will take care of this if you sign up to them. I suggest you apply for Alice (if that's what you want) during the first week of July. By the time they get their submission for line-changeover to Telkom you'll be close to your contractual get-out time, so all should be well... Alice should be up and working in 2-6 weeks...