How does an ATA work?

An analogue telephone adaptor (ATA) converts the voice signal from a typical home phone into packets of data (like email). These data packets are sent via your broadband connection to Mytel’s voice servers. When the voice packets arrive at Mytel’s servers the call is either converted back into a regular PSTN call and sent out via our gateway to PSTN or cellular networks or is passed on to another VoIP device, for example if you’re calling “on network”.

Is there a catch?

A VoIP call uses up your download limit so be very careful if you're not on an unlimited plan.

Why is a VoIP call cheaper than a traditional call?

By using the internet to carry your call VoIP technology bypasses the traditional public switched telephone network (PSTN) in whole or part. When a call is made from a VoIP handset the call is carried from the customer's handset to the VoIP carrier without paying to use PSTN infrastructure. This means that the first leg of a VoIP call avoids the charges of the traditional telephone company, the owner of the legacy PSTN network.

You could avoid the use of the PSTN network altogether if you call from a VoIP handset to another VoIP handset. These calls are called 'on-network' calls and are free of charge other than data download charges that your ISP may impose. As more people use VoIP rather than traditional telephony the number of 'paid' calls we make will reduce.

So, if it's so good, why doesn't everyone use VoIP?

These products have only been in the Australian mass market at affordable prices since around December 2004, so it's only relatively recently that the product quality and prices have hit the right point. We’ve also recently seen the pricing, availability and popularity of broadband services improved to such an extent that broadband connectivity is now common place.