www.vonalink.com

VON@Link DialBridge v1.1 for Windows

User Guide

Last updated Nov. 9, 2007

Table of Contents

1 Introduction
1.1 System requirements
1.2 Choosing a VoIP service provider

2 Setup

3 Using DialBridge
3.1 Starting
3.2 Phone tab
    3.2.1 SIP
    3.2.2 Skype
    3.2.3 Placing an outgoing test call
    3.2.4 Speed Dial
    3.2.5 Method
    3.2.6 Options
3.3 Callers
    3.3.1 Changing the callback number
3.4 Calls tab
3.5 General tab
3.6 Licensing
    3.6.1 Hardware ID
    3.6.2 Transfer license to USB drive
3.7 Calling from your cell phone
    3.7.1 Callback
    3.7.2 Answer without password
    3.7.3 Answer with password
    3.7.4 Caller ID

Appendix A SIP settings for various providers
A.1 Broadvoice
A.2 Callcentric
A.3 InPhonex
A.4 Vonage SoftPhone

Appendix B Frequently Asked Questions about Skype

Appendix C Allowing DialBridge to access Skype

1 Introduction

VONaLink is a suite of software products to enhance the functionality of your VoIP phone by integrating it with your computer.

Directly making a long distance call from your cell phone, especially international, is so expensive that it is unthinkable. Services exist to enable you to call a local access number, enter the destination number, and then be connected at a cheaper rate. The concept of DialBridge is similar, except that the DialBridge software runs on your personal computer so that you can use it with the VoIP service of your choice, benefiting from the ultra-low cost for long distance VoIP.

1.1 System requirements

*For Vonage, SoftPhone add-on plan required

It is recommended to power your broadband modem, router, and computer via a Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), so that if there is a power failure, DialBridge will continue bridging your call.

1.2 Choosing a VoIP service provider

VoIP service providers that use the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) such as Vonage primarily provide the customer with an analog phone adapter that is locked to that service. DialBridge does not use the analog phone adapter. Instead, DialBridge acts as a soft phone which requires a SIP user and password.

Skype uses a proprietary protocol. When used with Skype, DialBridge along side the Skype client.

When DialBridge bridges the call from the source phone to the destination phone, DialBridge has 2 calls to the VoIP provider.
 

Tested VoIP providers

2 Setup

To install DialBridge:

  1. Login to Windows as a user with Administrator privilege
  2. From the downloaded zip file, run VLdialSetup.exe

3. Using DialBridge

3.1 Starting

To start DialBridge, click on the desktop icon:

or the menu item: Start menu > All programs > VONaLink DialBridge

If DialBridge is already running, the icon is found in the System Tray. Click on the icon to open the window.

3.1.1 Disabling "Hide inactive icons" option

Windows Vista

1. Right click on the Windows Taskbar
2. Click on Properties and switch to the Notification Area tab
3. Verify that Hide inactive icons checkbox is not checked
4. Click OK

Windows XP/2003/2000

1. Right click on the Windows Taskbar
2. Click on Properties and switch to the Taskbar tab
3. Verify that Hide inactive icons checkbox is not checked
4. Click OK

3.1.2 First use

When DialBridge is started for the first time, it will prompt you for your evaluation serial number. Enter the serial number and click on Activate.

3.2 Phone tab

3.2.1 SIP

To use a SIP VoIP provider, select SIP. Click on Configure.

Local SIP port The standard SIP port number is 5060. If you are already have a soft phone running on your computer, set the port for DialBridge to a different number, for example, 5070.
User This is the user for authenticating the account with the VoIP provider. It is typically a phone number.
Password This is the password to authenticate the account with the VoIP provider.
Realm This is the realm for your account as provided by your VoIP service.
Registrar This is the Internet name of the server for your account as provided by your VoIP service.
Outbound proxy This is an option used by some VoIP providers.

For screen shots showing settings for tested providers, see Appendix A. If you are not sure of what to enter, contact our support staff and tell us which VoIP service you are using.

DialBridge acts as a soft phone, so the soft phone software provided by your VoIP provider is not required.

3.2.2 Skype

To use Skype, select Skype.

Start the Skype client. DialBridge will try to connect to your Skype client. For security reasons, Skype will ask for your permission before any third party program can communicate with Skype. The file name for the DialBridge service is dialbridge2skype.exe. Select Allow this program to use Skype and click OK.

If you accidentally click on Do not allow this program to use Skype, and wish to change this, see Allowing DialBridge to access Skype.

Once DialBridge is connected to Skype, click on Configure from DialBridge Phone tab.

You may enter up to 10 SkypeIn numbers. A SkypeIn number is standard phone number offered by Skype to allow other phones to call you. For each SkypeIn number, you may map it to a SkypeOut number, which is a standard phone number, or to a Skype user name. The drop down list is populated with SkypeOut numbers from your Skype contacts. If a phone number is not in the list, you may type it in. All standard phone numbers must start with a plus sign (+). If there is no + sign, the contact is assumed to be a Skype user.

3.2.3 Placing an outgoing test call

Once the SIP account has been specified, or the Skype client is running, click on Test to place an outgoing call. If successful, the other party will hear "Goodbye."

3.2.4 Speed Dial

Click on the Speed Dial button to display this window. You may configure up to 20 frequently used phone numbers.

To use Speed Dial from your phone, enter 0 to 19 followed by the * key after DialBridge plays the voice prompt to enter the phone number. For example, in the configuration shown above, entering 1* from the phone will call the phone number 19057372392.

3.2.5 Method

Callback To use this method, the calling phone number must be in the list of accepted callers. When you dial the DialBridge number, DialBridge will saved the caller ID, but will not answer so that you are not charged for the connection. If you are using SIP, DialBridge will refuse the call. If you are using Skype, hang up after 2 rings. A few seconds later, DialBridge will call you back to allow you to enter the destination phone number. If your cell phone plan includes unlimited incoming minutes, then the call does not incur additional cell phone charges.
Answer call To use this method, the calling phone number may be in the list of accepted callers. For SIP accounts, if the Accept password checkbox is selected, a caller not in the accepted list will be prompted for the password. This is useful if you will be calling from a phone where you do not know its number ahead of time, such as a pay phone.

3.2.5 Options

Phone display format Format mask for display phone numbers. Each # represent a digit. Other valid characters are space, period, hyphen, and brackets. For example:

# (###) ###-####
Retain call logs for ... days A file is created each day to log the calls for that day. DialBridge can automatically delete old logs by specifying the number of days that logs should be kept. Leave the field blank for indefinite period.
Bridge unknown callers to For SIP only. Select this checkbox if you wish to redirect unknown callers to a predefined phone number. Enter the phone number in the text box. An unknown caller is a caller that is not in the Accept and Reject lists. The Answer call method is used.

3.3 Callers

The Callers tab allows you to specify which callers to accept and reject.

The Reject section is not shown when using Skype. To reject callers with Skype, click on the Skype menu: Tool > Advanced > Manage Blocked Users.

3.3.1 Changing the callback number

By default, the caller ID is used to when calling back. To use a different number, select a phone number from the Accept list and click on Edit.

3.4 Calls tab

The Calls tab shows a list of calls for each day.

Go to previous folder
Go to next folder
Delete the daily log
Refresh the list of folders and calls

You can also click on the right mouse button to show a popup menu.

3.5 General tab

Accept calls with Graphical User Interface running only If this checkbox is selected, the calls are accepted only if the DialBridge Graphical User Interface (what you see here) is running.

If this checkbox is unselected, DialBridge can operate in the background without a user interface. This is useful if you want DialBridge to work automatically after booting the computer.
Run automatically upon Windows login Select this checkbox to automatically start DialBridge user interface when you login to Windows.
Minimize on start Select this checkbox to start DialBridge as a minimized window.
Confirm exit Select this checkbox and DialBridge will ask before exiting.
Detailed log Select this checkbox to have more details written to the log file.

3.6 Licensing

Click on the menu: Help > License.

To see the number of days remaining in the evaluation, click on Help > About.

3.6.1 Hardware ID

A license is in the form of a unique serial number. If you plan on using DialBridge on more than 1 computer, buy a USB flash drive, plug it in and let DialBridge reads its ID, then use the ID of the USB drive when buying DialBridge. In other words, if your license is associated with the USB flash drive, you always need to have it plugged into the computer in order to use DialBridge on that computer. Any size of USB flash drive will do.

To purchase a license, click on the menu: Help > License. Click on Buy Now. It will take you to the Buy page of www.vonalink.com

When purchasing a license, you will be asked for the Hardware ID generated by VONaLink. By default, the license will be associated with your computer.

It is also possible to associate the license with any removable USB drive. This allows you to move the VONaLink license from computer to computer.

Choose the device which the license will be associated with, and copy the Hardware ID by clicking on Copy to clipboard. Paste the Hardware ID in the web order form.

After purchasing, you will be given a permanent serial number that is unique to your computer hardware. Replace the evaluation serial number with the permanent one.

3.6.2 Transfer license to USB drive

If your license is associated with your computer and your find the need to use DialBridge on another computer, you can request a transfer of your license to a USB flash drive. Insert a USB drive in your computer and click on the menu Help > Transfer license to USB drive. Select the USB device, and click on Copy to clipboard to save the Hardware ID. Paste the Hardware ID in a message along with your original order details to Technical Support. Once your receive the new serial number, paste it into the Serial # field and click on Activate.

3.7 Calling from your cell phone

3.7.1 Callback

These steps apply if DialBridge is configured with the callback method:

  1. From your cell phone, call your phone number associated with your VoIP account
  2. With the first call your cell phone, the phone number is not in the accepted callers list, so your call will be rejected.
  3. Add your cell phone number to the accepted callers list. You can do this from the Callers tab, or by right clicking on the call from the Calls tab.
  4. From your cell phone, call your phone number associated with your VoIP account
  5. DialBridge will not answer the call, but it has recorded your caller ID. Hang up your cell phone. DialBridge will call you back in a few seconds.
  6. When DialBridge calls, answer the phone. DialBridge will prompt you for the destination phone number. Enter it followed by #.

3.7.2 Answer without password

These steps apply if DialBridge is configured with the answer method without password.

  1. From your cell phone, call your phone number associated with your VoIP account
  2. With the first call your cell phone, the phone number is not in the accepted callers list, so your call will be rejected.
  3. Add your cell phone number to the accepted callers list. You can do this from the Callers tab, or by right clicking on the call from the Calls tab.
  4. From your cell phone, call your phone number associated with your VoIP account
  5. DialBridge will answer the call and prompt you for the destination phone number. Enter it followed by #.

3.7.3 Answer with password

These steps apply if DialBridge is configured with the answer method with password. This option is not available with Skype.

  1. From your cell phone, call your phone number associated with your VoIP account
  2. DialBridge will answer the call and prompt you for the password. Enter the password followed by #.
  3. Enter the destination phone number followed by #.

3.7.4 Caller ID

When the destination party receives the call, they will see the caller ID associated with your VoIP or Skype account, not the caller ID of the originating cell phone.

Appendix A SIP settings for various providers

A1. BroadVoice

User is your 10 digit phone number.

If the status bar show registration time out error, choose a different Outbound proxy from the list below.

Check BroadVoice.com for the current list of proxies.

A.2 Callcentric

A.3 InPhonex

A.4 Vonage SoftPhone

The Realm and Registrar for Vonage are sphone.vopr.vonage.net

Appendix B Frequently Asked Questions about Skype

1. Skype offers call forwarding. How is that different from what DialBridge does?

Call forwarding applies to all callers. If you have several SkypeIn numbers, all calls to these number are forwarded to the same number. With DialBridge, only calls from phones that you allow, such as your cell phone, are forwarded. Each SkypeIn number can be forwarded to a different number. DialBridge can also do a callback instead of answering.

2. Why can I not use DialBridge to bridge any number by entering touch tines ?

At this time, Skype does not support the decoding of touch tones from standard phones.

3. Skype offers Skype To Go. Why do I need DialBridge ?

To get Skype To Go, you need to subscribe to Skype Pro. You are limited to one Skype To Go number, and numbers are not offered in all countries where SkypeIn numbers are available. Furthermore, you can change the destination number only once per week.

In contrast, DialBridge can be used with up to 10 SkypeIn numbers. You can change the destination number at any time and as often as you wish. Also, DialBridge can do a callback instead of answering.

Appendix C Allowing DialBridge to access Skype

If you accidentally denied DialBridge access to Skype, go to Skype's Tool > Options > Advanced > Updates panel. Click on Manage other programs' access to Skype on the bottom of the panel.

Select dialbridge2skype.exe and click Change.

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VONaLink and DialBridge are registered trademarks of Arcosoft Inc.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.
Skype, SkypeIn, SkypeOut, Skype Logo and the S logo are trademarks of Skype Limited or other related companies.